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The new ARD series “Schwarzes Gold” starts on December 22, 2025: Starring Harriet Herbig-Matten and Tom Wlaschiha, among others, the series tells of the German oil boom in the Lüneburg Heath around 1900. The soundtrack for the series comes from Hans Zimmer.
From small farmer to oil tycoon: The Wild West in Lower Saxony
The ARD production is based on the oil history in Wietzen in Lower Saxony. At the turn of the 20th century, a boom broke out there after the discovery of a huge oil field, which shaped the Lüneburg Heath in many ways. Small farmers became rich, workers flooded into the region, and a whole new infrastructure emerged to transport the oil. Lower Saxony became the “Wild West”.
A farmer’s daughter fights for her existence
This history has now been staged on film and packaged in a six-part series. The story revolves around the fate of the farmer’s daughter Johanna Lambert, who tries to secure the existence of her family as a maid. Her secret lover Richard knows about the oil and tries to keep their relationship when the fight for the oil deposit begins. Here you go Trailer the series.
Star cast with “Maxton Hall” and “Game of Thrones” stars
A few stars have been booked for the series: Johanna Lambert plays Harriet Herbig-Matten, known from “Maxton Hall”. Aaron Hilmer from “All Quiet on the West” and “Sløborn” as well as “Game of Thrones” star Tom Wlaschiha are also on board. The mother of the main character is played by the German film actress Jessica Schwarz.
Hans Zimmer creates a new musical world
The soundtrack is by Hans Zimmer. His music for “Pirates of the Caribbean”, “Interstellar” and “Dune” has already shaped film history – now the Oscar winner has set the German historical series to music. In an interview with ARD, he emphasized: “I’m always fascinated by creating not just a story, but a whole new world.” The 68-year-old found the connection between the German countryside and the oil situation typical of the Wild West particularly exciting. “The history, the oil, the corruption, that’s all exciting, but it’s the human fates that captivate you,” he continues.
The “Black Gold” theme as a musical basis
A challenge was to write music that seemed modern and at the same time historically authentic. A recurring idea on which the series’ music is based is the B-La-CG theme, which was created through a play on words on the “Black Gold” theme. This theme dresses rooms in the garments of a wide variety of musical moods.
The series will be published in the ARD media library on December 22, 2025.