Netflix and Dark Ways film the series '1899' with the avant-garde LED Volume system at Babelsberg Studios

Netflix y Dark Ways, the new production company directed by Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar, have started the production of the new mystery series on a virtual filming set 1899.

The filming of this historical drama will take place in a virtual film set Brand new that has been custom built. Its about largest LED technology study of its kind in Europe, a studio that allows you to capture a significant number of shots with complex visual effects from virtual sets and locations created with common technology in video games.

Property of Dark Bay, a company created by Dark Ways and Studio Babelsberg with the backing of Netflix, this cutting-edge virtual production will remain in Babelsberg Studios, just outside of Berlin and provides creators with new and innovative ways for their storytelling.

The director, producer and showrunner, Baran bo Odar, explains about the virtual stage of Dark Bay that “the collaboration with Netflix has allowed us to realize our vision of 1899. Thanks to their early support and commitment, we were able to build the Volume, turning 1899 into a pioneering title for Germany and for the entire region. “This new infrastructure is completely innovative and cutting-edge for the German production landscape, and could be a huge creative benefit for content creators and filmmakers around the world.”

Rachel Eggebeen, director of original content for Netflix EMEA, adds: “We are very happy to have been able to help Jantje and Bo find the perfect solution for their creative vision of 1899. The virtual set infrastructure will create new opportunities, and we are fully committed to bringing these technological advances to the entire German entertainment industry.”

Odar and Friese join forces once again with an exceptional team behind the cameras, which includes names known to the universe of their previous success Dark as the director of photography Nikolaus Summerer, the set designer Udo Kramer or the composer Ben Frost, who work on this project together with new collaborators such as the casting director Lucy Bevan, the Oscar-nominated costume designer, Bina Daigeler and special effects supervisor Framestore Christian Kaestner.

The creators of Dark, a German series that was applauded by audiences and critics around the world, have brought together for their new production an international cast made up of Emily Beecham, Aneurin Barnard, Andreas Pietschmann, Miguel Bernardeau, Maciej Musial, Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen, Rosalie Craig, Clara Rosager, Maria Erwolter, Yann Gael, Mathilde Ollivier, José Pimentão, Isabella Wei, Gabby Wong, Jonas Blockt, Fflyn Edwards, Alexandre Willaume and Anton Lesser, among others.

The goal is for it to become a truly multilingual series, in which each character will speak in their native language.

The screenwriter, producer and showrunner, Jantje Friese, highlights that “1899 is a truly European series, with characters from different countries speaking their native language. “We feel very lucky to have found such a wonderful cast, coming from all over the world to embark on this exciting journey with us.”

Mystery on the high seas

The eight episodes of this series, each one hour long, follow the mysterious circumstances surrounding the journey of an immigrant ship from the old continent to the new. The passengers, of different origins and nationalities, are united by the same hopes and dreams for the new century and their future abroad.

But when they discover another migrant boat adrift on the high seas, their journey takes an unexpected turn. What they will discover on board will turn their journey to the promised land into a nightmarish enigma that will connect the past of each of the passengers through a complicated web of secrets.

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