Netflix, the world’s leading internet entertainment service, continues its investment in Europe with today’s announcement of The Wave, the third original series coming from Germany.

The Wave will be produced for Netflix by the creators and producers of the award-winning film of the same name from 2008. Christian Becker will be Executive Producer on the series for Rat Pack Filmproduktion (Jim Button, Fack Ju Göhte) along with Dennis Gansel (The Wave, Before the Fall, Mechanic: Resurrection) and Peter Thorwarth (Bang Boom Bang, Not My Day) and in co-production with Sony Pictures Television (producer Astrid Quentell). The first season will start its production later this year and is expected to be available to Netflix members globally in 2019.

Inspired by a real experiment that shocked the world and the highly acclaimed hit movie, The Wave follows a group of rebellious teenagers. In pursuing their dream of a better tomorrow they build a community that spreads into a mass phenomenon. What begins as an idealistic and playful uprising against the establishment, soon starts to take a terrifying turn - but the power of The Wave has already grown out of control…

“We are excited to produce The Wave for Netflix and enjoy the creative freedom to turn this powerful and compelling story into a German series with a strong global appeal”, said Christian Becker and Executive Producer Dennis Gansel adds: “The Wave conveys a message that is more relevant than ever - and not only in Germany, but worldwide.”

"We are thrilled to announce our third original series coming out of Germany. Based on a highly acclaimed book and film, The Wave has everything it needs to excite global audiences,” said Erik Barmack, Vice President of International Originals at Netflix. “With DARK we have already proven that Germany is a home of great and globally successful storytelling. The combination of the powerful plot and the strong line up of German creatives that will be working on The Wave, makes us very excited."

About Rat Pack Filmproduktion (Germany)

Rat Pack was founded in 2001 in Munich by Christian Becker and Constantin Film AG. With more than a hundred productions to his credit, Christian Becker is a visionary German producer who has helped shape German cinema. Becker’s credits as a producer include - besides most of the films by Gansel and Thorwarth - some of the most successful German feature films and TV productions such as the franchises of Wickie, The Crocodiles and The WIXXer as well as Fack Ju Göhte, Turkish for Beginners, Jesus Video, The Wave, Nicht mein Tag (Not My Day), and just recently the most expensive German movie of all time, Jim Button, based on the bestseller by Michael Ende.

About Netflix

Netflix is the world's leading internet entertainment service with over 125 million members in over 190 countries enjoying more than 140 million hours of TV programmes and films per day, including original series, documentaries and feature films. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on nearly any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without adverts or commitments.