Netflix announces eight-part series of the German-language Netflix Original "Freud"

Marvin Kren directs mystery thriller series Freud

Principal photography of the eight-part production with Robert Finster, Ella Rumpf and Georg Friedrich as lead characters is set to start in January 2019

Amsterdam, Vienna, Munich, 9 October 2018 - Sigmund Freud is the focal point of a new series developed by ORF, Satel, Bavaria Fiction and Netflix. This will be the first collaboration between ORF, which will premiere the series in Austria, and Netflix which will premiere the series everywhere else in the world. Principal photography will commence in Vienna and Prague at the beginning of 2019.

Almost 80 years after the death of the founder of psychoanalysis, Robert Finster is taking on the role of the young Sigmund Freud - not a Freud who is spending his time on the couch with theory and analysis, but one who is on a restless, heated and wild hunt for a murderer. The young Sigmund Freud is lurching from one professional crisis to the next. The world is simply not ready for his theories - until a murderous conspiracy begins brewing in the dark alleys of turn-of-the-century Vienna pulling him into the most hidden corners of human consciousness. At Finster's side are Ella Rumpf as the infamous medium Fleur Salomé, and Georg Friedrich as war veteran Alfred Kiss.

The extravagant Vienna of the 1890s, famous for its decadence and the dark underbelly of its high society, is the backdrop for mysterious murders and political intrigues in the eight 45-minute episodes of the new Austro-German production. The series is directed by award-winning filmmaker Marvin Kren, who also wrote the scripts together with Stefan Brunner and Benjamin Hessler.

Director and author Marvin Kren said: "I want to show a 'Freud' that we don't know and have never seen before - a man in search of recognition, one who is caught between two women, between reason and instinct. His psychoanalysis and the concept of id, ego and super-ego weren't created in a vacuum - they're based on the experiences of a troubled genius who has experienced all sides of humanity."

Amy Reinhard, Vice President of Content Acquisition at Netflix, said: "Freud is a compelling series that provides an exciting opportunity to collaborate with local partners like ORF, Bavaria Fiction and Satel, who share our goal of telling local stories with global appeal."

Executive Producers, Heinrich Ambrosch (SATEL Film) and Moritz Polter (Bavaria Fiction) added: "Thanks to the unique combination of Netflix and ORF we are now at the start of an incredible journey. We're delighted to bring this modern take on the mastermind of psychoanalysis to life, complete with all his flaws and short-comings. The series will lead us into a Vienna, seen through the eyes of a genius who is in search of his own voice. We know Marvin Kren's masterful approach will get the most from both cast and narrative - he will make this a deep layered and powerful experience."

ORF Director General Dr. Alexander Wrabetz comments: "This series project is ORF's first cooperation with the successful streaming provider Netflix, and will further consolidate the broadcaster's role as a strong and reliable partner for international content alliances. I am very pleased that a high-calibre Austrian team will be standing in front and behind the camera in this international cooperation project, and that turn-of-the-century Vienna will serve as the backdrop. Our 'Freud' is a modern, international event series with a surprising take on an Austrian personality whose sphere of influence extends far beyond the borders of this country."

Freud is a German-language Netflix Original series in co-production with ORF. The authors of the eight-part series are Marvin Kren, Stefan Brunner and Benjamin Hessler. The producers of Freud are Heinrich Ambrosch (SOKO Donau/Wien) for Satel Film and Moritz Polter (Das Boot) for Bavaria Fiction; co-production is supported by Filmfonds Wien (Vienna Film Fund). ZDF Enterprises will handle international distribution.

About director Marvin Kren

Born in Vienna in 1980, Marvin Kren shot to fame for the horror film Rammbock, which he made in 2010 as part of "Das Kleine Fernsehspiel". With his eclectic mix of different styles and influences and his unconventional points of view, he quickly established his own cinematic signature and is now considered to be one of the most promising directors of his generation. Marvin Kren was twice awarded the Max Oph�ls Prize (for the short film Schautag and Rammbock); he received several Austrian Film Awards for his second horror film Blutgletscher and the German Television Award for 4 Blocks.

About Bavaria Fiction and Satel Film

Bavaria Fiction (formerly Bavaria Fernsehproduktion) is one of the most successful production companies in Europe. A subsidiary of Bavaria Film and ZDF Enterprises, it is headed by the Managing Directors Jan S. Kaiser and Manfred Haus-Pfl�ger as well as Chief Creative Officer Oliver Vogel. Satel Film is among Austria's leading film companies. Heinrich Ambrosch has served as Managing Partner since January 2007.

About Österreichische Rundfunk (ORF)

The Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF) is a public service media organisation and Austria's largest TV/Radio/Online provider with its headquarters located in Vienna. 95 percent of the Austrian population use the rich variety of program offers weekly: 4.7 mio. listen to the radio daily, 3.6 mio. watch the ORF-TV-programs and more than a million uses the ORF-websites daily. The company offers 24/7 news coverage, is a cultural mediator and event organizer, produces regional content, provides minority groups with broadcasts in their native languages and produces Austrian entertainment for a million listeners, viewers and users in all genres.

About Netflix

Netflix is the world's leading internet entertainment service with 130 million memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.

About Freud

It is the year 1886 in Vienna and the revolutionary theories of 30-year-old Sigmund Freud (Robert Finster) are meeting with fierce resistance - except from the famous medium Fleur Salomé (Ella Rumpf) and Alfred Kiss (Georg Friedrich), a war veteran and policeman. With these two allies at his side, Freud soon finds himself in the midst of a murderous conspiracy that has all of Austria holding its breath.