The Swarm, an Intaglio Films and ndF International Production eight-part environmental thriller, has begun production in Italy. Frank Doelger (Game of Thrones) is executive producing Germany’s first English-language series together with ndF IP’s managing director Eric Welbers. The European Alliance headed by ZDF, France Télévisions and Rai is co-producing The Swarm alongside ORF, SRF, Scandinavia’s Nordic Entertainment Group and Hulu Japan.
The series is directed by Luke Watson (Britannia), Barbara Eder (Thank You For Bombing), and Philipp Stoelzl (The Physician). The Swarm is based on Frank Schaetzing’s bestseller, which has been translated into 27 languages and sold 4.5 million copies in Germany alone.
The series chronicles the struggle of humankind against an unknown swarm intelligence that lives in the depths of the sea. When the reckless treatment of the oceans threatens the natural habitat of this mysterious collective, it strikes back. In a very short time all human life is at stake — and the fate of the entire world population rests in the hands of a small group of scientists.
The international cast ensemble includes Cécile de France (The New Pope), Alexander Karim (The Lawyer), Leonie Benesch (Babylon Berlin), Barbara Sukowa (Hannah Arendt), Takuya Kimura (I Come With the Rain), Krista Kosonen (Blade Runner 2049), Rosabell Laurenti Sellers (Game of Thrones), Takehiro Hira (Giri/Haji), Lydia Wilson (Black Mirror), Joshua Odjick (Unsettled), Eidin Jalali (Para-We Are King), Jack Greenlees (Star Wars – The Last Jedi), Dutch Johnson (Veep) and Sharon Duncan-Brewster (Star Wars: Rogue One).
‘The Swarm’ goes into production
Shooting in Italy is scheduled to wrap in August and move to Belgium for the highly anticipated underwater filming. ZDF Enterprises and Beta Film are handling worldwide sales.
