“Where’s Wanda?” Apple TV’s first German series, proved a major hit for the streamer. The show’s creative team at UFA Fiction have now raised the stakes with Season 2.
Set in the town of Sundersheim, the series’ first season followed parents Carlotta (Heike Makatsch) and Dedo (Axel Stein) Klatt on their desperate search for their missing daughter (Lea Drinda), with the help of tech-savvy son Ole (Leo Simon).
Obtaining gear from the darknet, they spy on their neighbors and local residents, uncovering in the process many of the town’s hidden secrets.
Wanda was finally found at the end of Season 1. But, found standing over a dead body, Wanda ends up behind bars in Season 2.
“Where’s Wanda?” Season 2 was created, written and executive produced by Oliver Lansley, whose credits include the Anna Paquin drama “Flack,” alongside award-winning executive producer and UFA Fiction managing director Nataly Kudiabor (“Arthur’s Law”) and Oliver Ossege (“Helgoland 513”). The series was co-created and based on a story by Zoltan Spirandelli (“Vaya con Dios”) and is directed by Tobi Baumann (“Faking Hitler”) and Christian Ditter (“How To Be Single”).
Speaking to Variety about the success of “Where’s Wanda?” Kudiabor discusses the hit show’s popularity, the challenges of maintaining momentum and an ensemble cast that boasts some of Germany’s top acting talent.
Season 2 picks up at “a fantastic starting point,” Kudiabor notes. Without revealing spoilers, it’s suffice to say a major plot twist at the end of Season 1 “opened up a whole new set of possibilities.”
“Wanda’s parents Carlotta and Dedo are once again desperately trying to protect their daughter, this time by proving her innocence and finding the real killer. Meanwhile, Wanda finds herself in prison, where she encounters some familiar enemies and faces threats of her own.
“So, while we’re telling an entirely new story, we’re staying true to the emotional heart of the series: just how far would you go to save your child?”
It was that concept that propelled Season 1 and made Apple TV’s first German-language series a solid hit.
“For us, the priority was always to tell a compelling story that would connect with audiences, regardless of where they live,” Kudiabor stresses. The question of how far parents would go to save their child is a universal one, she adds.
“We were delighted that Apple TV shared our belief that this was a theme with strong international appeal.
“At the same time,” she adds, “it was very important to us that the show retain its distinctly German identity. This was also something our co-creators Zoltan Spirandelli and Oliver Lansley felt strongly about. Even though Sundersheim is a heightened, somewhat absurd version of a German small town, we wanted audiences to feel that this story is genuinely rooted in Germany.
“I believe that authenticity is actually what helps a story travel internationally. You don’t have to make something less local to make it more universal.”
Identifying the key elements that have contributed to the show’s success, Kudiabor says: “I think our secret ingredient is dark comedy. Alongside a genuinely gripping and emotionally grounded crime story, humor has always been an essential part of the DNA of the show: particularly for our writer and creator, Oliver Lansley.
“Oliver has an extraordinary ability to balance real emotions and very human problems with increasingly absurd and sometimes outrageous situations. You find yourself laughing at moments when you probably shouldn’t, while still being completely invested in the characters and their struggles.”
It’s precisely that balance that gives the show “its distinctive tone and sets it apart from other crime and mystery shows,” she adds.
Another element that has made the show so appealing is its star-studded cast. This season Sam Riley (“Mint”), Alexandra Maria Lara (“All Those Things We Never Said”) and David Schütter (“Barbarians”) join the series.
Returning cast members include Nikeata Thompson (“Späti”); Harriet Herbig-Matten (“Maxton Hall: The World Between Us”); Gisa Flake (“Berlin Station”); Palina Rojinski (“Welcome to Germany”); Suzanne von Borsody (“Run Lola Run”); Kostja Ullmann (“A Most Wanted Man”); Devid Striesow (“All Quiet on the Western Front”); Frederic Balonier (“Maxton Hall: The World Between Us”); Sascha Geršak (“Murder Mindfully”); Torben Liebrecht (“Altered Carbon”); Aaron Maldonado-Morales (“Sun and Concrete”); and Anton Dreger (“Two Sides of the Abyss”).
“We’re incredibly fortunate to have such a brilliant ensemble from Season 1, and we’re thrilled to welcome some fantastic new actors for the second season,” Kudiabor says.
“For us, it’s a huge compliment when actors of this caliber tell us they loved the first season, really connect with the scripts and are excited to become part of the show.”
“Having Alexandra Maria Lara and Sam Riley — who are married in real life — playing the mysterious new neighbors of Carlotta and Dedo, portrayed so wonderfully by Heike Makatsch and Axel Stein, is a real gift. Their characters arrive in Sundersheim with a big secret of their own, adding another intriguing layer to the story.
Kudiabor stresses that “bringing together such an exceptional cast, including familiar faces in unexpected roles, creates a real sense of excitement and curiosity for the audience.”
Looking beyond Season 2, Kudiabor teases the possibility of future adventures.
“Let’s just say that Oliver Lansley and all of us still have a few tricks up our sleeves when it comes to the future of the Klatt family. But for now, we’re very much looking forward to sharing Season 2 with audiences when it premieres on Apple TV on Oct. 21.”