EXCLUSIVE: Keshet International is doubling down on its German business by launching a standalone scripted arm in the European country.
Keshet Germany will launch with a slate that includes another remake of False Flag, the Israeli format that was recently remade by Keshet UK as Suspicion, starring Uma Thurman and Kunal Nayaar. Also on the slate is a reboot of the Dr Mabuse crime franchise from Paradise writer Boris Kunz and a reimagining of 14th century German pirate myth Klaus Störtebeker.
The division is born out of Keshet’s Tresor TV, which launched scripted division Keshet Tresor Fiction (KTF) five years ago. Following the adaptations of Stockholm, known locally as Unter Freunden Stirbt Man Nicht (You Don’t Die Among Friends), for RTL+, and production of How to Dad for ARD Degeto and thriller Der Schatten for ZDFneo, it’s been decided to relaunch KTF as a standalone business.
Officially debuting today from Tresor’s Munich office, Keshet Germany will be run by joint Managing Directors Axel Kühn and Christina Christ, who is promoted from her current role as KTF’s Director of Fiction Programs.
The company will employ all staff currently working for KTF, including producer Tina Hechinger, Head of Production Bernd Krause and script consultant Konstantin Kühnle, They have been with KTF since its inception in 2018 alongside Christ. Kühn will continue as MD of unscripted producer Tresor TV.
“I am incredibly proud of what Christina and Axel and all the team at Keshet Tresor Fiction have achieved in the five years since we launched the scripted division in Germany specifically to leverage KI’s scripted catalogue there,” said Keren Shahar, KI’s CEO. “Their hard work, determination, and sheer talent for what they do has propelled our scripted operations in Germany forward and I look forward to seeing what comes next from them and Keshet Germany.”
“How time flies when you are having fun,” added Kühn and Christ in a statement. “Relaunching as a standalone scripted production company demonstrates how successful our scripted strategy here in Germany has been so far, with high-quality successes like Der Schatten, Unter Freunden Stirbt Man Nicht and How to Dad to show for our efforts. Our focus at Keshet Germany will be on rebooting internationally recognized IP like Keshet’s False Flag and Dr. Mabuse, while also reimagining characters of cultural significance in Germany, like legendary pirate Klaus Störtebeker.”
Der Schatten‘s Stefanie Veith is head writer on the German False Flag, which has based on Amit Cohen and Maria Feldman’s thriller for Keshet 12. We recently revealed Apple TV+’s decision to axe Suspicion after one season.
The Dr Mabuse adaptation is being developed in partnership with producer Alice Brauner and CCC Films. The Dr Mabuse character was born in Norbert Jacques’ 1921 novel Dr. Mabuse, der Spieler (Dr Mabuse, The Gambler) and was first adapted as Fritz Lang’s epic silent movie of the same name, which was released in 1922.
The Klaus Störtebeker series is billed as “gripping and gritty” and is from Robert Krause, who wrote on RTL’s Sisi, and Florian Puchert (Joyn’s Dignity). The pirate is well known in Germany for his outlandish attitude remarkable death by decapitation.
Keshet Germany has several other projects at various stages of development, its execs said today.