It’s been 19 years since Frank Schätzing’s disaster thriller “The Swarm” became an international bestseller. Since then there have been repeated talks about a possible film adaptation, but the projects usually petered out quickly. Until now: At the beginning of March, “The Swarm” will be released as an eight-part series, with “Game Of Thrones” producer Frank Doelger acting as showrunner.
In “The Swarm” mankind is attacked by an unknown swarm intelligence from the sea: whales behave aggressively, lobsters transmit deadly viral diseases, mussels capsize ships. In order to get to the bottom of the threatening natural phenomena, marine biologists, whale researchers and doctors are starting to network with each other around the world. The series adaptation of the bestseller is one of the largest international productions under German leadership to date.
And it’s not just the production companies that come from all parts of the world – the filming locations and the acting ensemble are also spread across the globe. One of the cast members is Klaas Heufer-Umlauf, best known in Germany as one half of the television duo Joko and Klaas and host of the late night show Late Night Berlin. In “The Swarm,” Heufer-Umlauf plays Luther Roscovitz, a deep-sea submersible operator on the Thorvaldson, piloted by Captain Alban (Oliver Masucci). We met Klaas Heufer-Umlauf for the video interview to talk to him about shooting with such an international and prestigious team, nervousness and torn diving suits.
Klaas Heufer-Umlauf on “The Swarm” in a video interview:
“The Swarm” was produced by ZDF, in cooperation with France Télévisions and the Italian Rai from the European Alliance, Hulu Japan, the Viaplay Group from Sweden as well as SRF and ORF. On February 22, 2023, the first three of the eight episodes can be viewed in the ZDF media library, from March 6, 2023 the episodes will run weekly on linear television. Also present are “Babylon Berlin” actress Leonie Benesch as marine biology student Charlie Wagner, “Dark” actor Oliver Masucci as Captain Alban and Cécile de France as doctor Dr. Cecile Roche.