Everything we know about Netflix’s ‘1899’ from ‘Dark’ creators

Netflix’s German hit-series Dark ended only a little while ago, but the creators Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar have known their next project for quite some time. In November 2018, Netflix announced their next series titled 1899 as part of the duo’s overall deal with the streaming service.

As the title suggests, the new series will be a period drama and the synopsis, which you will find below, might suggest there will be thriller/horror elements to it.

The series is very early in production but due to who is behind the series we feel like many will be playing close attention to the show’s development. Here’s what we do know thus far from the upcoming series from the creators of Dark and their production company, Dark Ways.

What’s the plot of 1899?

The synopsis of the new series is described as following in the official press release:

“The original series revolves around a migrant steamship heading west to leave the old continent from London to New York. The passengers, a mixed bag of European origins, are united by their hopes and dreams for the new century and their future abroad. When they discover another migrant ship adrift on open sea, their journey takes an unexpected turn. What they find on board will turn their passage to the promised land into a horrifying nightmare.”

In a joint statement, Friese and Odar commented:

“What really made us connect to this idea was the concept of having a truly European show with a mixed cast from different countries. At its heart is the question of what unites us and what divides us. And how fear can be a trigger for the latter.”

What language will 1899 be in?

During a panel at the Berlinale in February 2020, the showrunners revealed that unlike Dark, the primary language for 1899 will be English.

During a panel at the Berlinale, Baran bo Odar revealed that the writers’ room for “1899” will open this year and that shooting starts in early 2021! Main language of the new Netflix series will be English. pic.twitter.com/CnmhSu6c9u

— 1899 Netflix (@1899Netflix) February 24, 2020

Who is cast in 1899?

At the moment no cast members have been announced. We should be expecting some announcements in the coming months. It is not unlikely that some cast members from Dark will make an appearance.

Where is 1899 in production?

According to Production Weekly, who listed the show back in issue #1185, production is set to take place in London, UK and Berlin, Germany and other European cities.

As seen in the tweet just above, writing for 1899 started in 2020. As of March 2020, filming was scheduled to begin in February 2021 with prepping starting in September 2020. However, filming seems to have been rescheduled. As of November 2020, according to a job description of a language assistant posted on filmarche.de, production is now set to begin in April 2021 and end by September of that year.

On November 24, 2020 showrunner Baran bo Odar revealed on his Instagram that pre-production for 1899 has begun with a lens test, offering us a first glimpse at the costumes and the setting of the show. Sadly, this is not a cast reveal, as the people in the photos are stand-ins.

How many episodes will 1899 season one have?

1899 will have eight one-hour episodes in its first season. The pilot episode is called “The Ship” as revealed by showrunner Baran bo Odar on his Instagram.

What’s the release date for 1899?

Initially the series was expected to drop on Netflix in 2021, but with an April 2021 production start and a September 2021 wrap, that is now impossible and the first season will certainly be released sometime in 2022.

Our final recommendation for those wanting to keep up-to-date with everything regarding 1899 is to follow the fan account we’ve featured several times throughout this article. You find their latest tweets here.

Are you looking forward to the next project from the creators of Dark? Let us know in the comments.