Everything To Know About Netflix’s 1899, The New Mystery From Dark Creators

Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese, the creators of the mind-bending German time travel show Dark, are back with a new mystery hitting Netflix later this year. First announced in 2018, 1899 is the second project for the German filmmakers under their overall deal with Netflix and promises to be an entirely different ride compared to the show that put them on the map. At the time of the announcement, Netflix Vice President, Originals, Europe & Africa Kelly Luegenbiehl said, “The fact that this concept is so radically different from Dark is a true testament to their creativity and versatility as creators and we are excited to continue this journey with them.”

Four years after the initial announcement, we’re finally getting our first look and more information about the highly-anticipated series. Read on to learn everything we know about 1899 so far.

Is There An 1899 Trailer?

As part of Netflix’s weeklong celebration of genre content #GeekedWeek, the 1899 trailer premiered on June 6, 2022. Narrated by a character named Moira Franklin played by Emily Beecham, the trailer depicts a group of people aboard a mysterious ship who are “all running away from something.” Smash cuts within the trailer show a woman being tortured and another woman running fearfully through the woods, indicating that while they are trying escape difficult pasts, sinister things may be in store for the passengers aboard the ship.

When Will 1899 Be Released?

1899 will premiere later this year and an exact date has not been announced, but some unverified rumors indicate that Netflix might be looking at a November 24th, 2022 release. The first season will consist of eight one-hour episodes and the pilot episode is titled “The Ship.”

What Is 1899 About?

The creators are holding the plot details close to their chest but the trailer indicates a thrilling immigration story aboard a ship at the turn of the century. Netflix described the series in an 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.”

The trailer has ominous vibes reminiscent of Dark, but the creators are careful not to tread on familiar territory and have dispelled rumors about introducing time-travel within the 1899 universe. “We don’t repeat ourselves, we really hate that, but it’s going to be a fun puzzle for the audience. We are going back to our mystery roots,” said Odar in an interview with Deadline. Friese added, “All the passengers on the ship are traveling with secrets that they don’t want to get out. It’s built like a puzzle again.”

Fans have already begun speculating what exactly the series is about by dissecting every second of the trailer, with dedicated profiles and video explainers springing up across social media.

Who Is In The Cast Of 1899?

Netflix is taking a page from HBO’s book and keeping a lot of the cast in their own international talent family: Dark fans will recognize Andreas Pietschmann, who played the gruff grown-up version of Jonas, while Elite’s Miguel Bernardeau and The Rain’s Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen are also involved.

Other cast members include Emily Beecham, Aneurin Barnard, Maciej Musial, Rosalie Craig, Yann Gael, Mathilde Ollivier, Isabella Wei, Gabby Wong, Fflyn Edwards, Alexandre Willaume, and more.

What Language Is 1899 In?

While Dark was a German show that offered dubs in various languages, 1899 be a multi-lingual show where each cast member speaks their native language. Talking to Deadline, the creators expanded on the importance of this decision: “We felt that with the past years of Europe being on the decline, we wanted to give a counterpoint to Brexit, and to nationalism rising in different countries, to go back to that idea of Europe and Europeans working and creating together,” Friese said. “Being true to the cultures and the languages was really important, we never wanted to have characters from different countries but everyone speaks English. We wanted to explore this heart of Europe, where everyone comes from somewhere else and speaks a different language, and language defines so much of your culture and your behavior.”

Where Was 1899 Filmed?

The show was filmed in Germany in a state-of-the-art “virtual production facility” called “Volume.” Virtual production is a new technology also used on Disney+’s The Mandalorian, employing a virtual background akin to that of a video game and eliminates the need for a green screen, allowing the filmmakers to access any location from their stage via LED screens. On November 24, 2020, Odar revealed a first look at the show via a lens test from the day one of shooting.

The lockdown also exacerbated the need for flexible shooting: “We originally planned to travel to Spain, Poland, Scotland, all kinds of locations,” Friese told Deadline. “Quite quickly [after the lockdown started] we knew that might not be possible in the new future, so we fully embraced the idea of bringing Europe to us.”

Netflix invested in this stage with the promise that multiple series will be filmed on the stage, including the entire first season of 1899. The streaming service hasn’t announced anything beyond Season 1, but Friese confirmed that they have every intention of making it a multi-season show.

This post will be updated as more information about 1899 is released.