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Home > Screenings > ZDF Studios > The Swarm

Director: Barbara Eder, Luke Watson, Philipp Stölzl

Producer: Schwarm TV Production, ZDF, France Télévisions, Rai Fiction, Viaplay Group, Hulu Japan, ORF, SRF, Bravado Fiction, Beside Production, ATHOS

Executive Producer: Frank Doelger (Showrunner), Mark Huffam (The Martian, Game of Thrones, Saving Private Ryan), Ute Leonhardt (White Lotus, The Great, Killing Eve), the novel’s author Frank Schätzing, Jan Wünschmann, Till Groenemeyer, Barbara Eder, Luke Watson, Moritz von Kruedener, Robert Franke, Jan Theys

Writer: Steven Lally (Strike Back), Marissa Lestrade (Deep State), Chris Lunt, Michael A. Walker (Young Wallander, Devils)

Cast: Alexander Karim (The Lawyer), Cécile de France (The New Pope), Leonie Benesch (Babylon Berlin, The Crown), Joshua Odjick (Unsettled), Barbara Sukowa (Hannah Arendt), Krista Kosonen (Blade Runner 2049), Takuya Kimura (2046, I Come With The Rain)

Genres: Drama


8 x 45’

The world’s oceans are exhibiting strange happenings causing global unrest. Engaged by an oil company to conduct a biological survey, Sigur Johanson, a professor of marine biology, discovers a destabilising ice worm threatening the continental shelf and triggering tsumamis. Molecular biologist Cécile Roche struggles with deadly bacteria poisoning drinking water, while whale researcher Leon Anawak tries to explain why the largest ocean mammals are displaying unusually dangerous behaviour, aggressively attacking boats.

The situation becomes increasingly ominous, yet nobody can draw a connection between the seemingly random occurrences. Believing something bigger is at play, this group of scientists come together in their belief there is an intelligent life force, dwelling in the deep Artic Ocean, capable of manipulating its environment, the ocean, and everything that resides in it. No one believes the scientists theory that this sophisticated creature has borne witness to man’s destruction of the seas and has decided to drive humanity to extinction.

An existential threat to all, they undertake a daring mission, manning a cutting edge, technologically engineered vessel to track this intelligent life force, delving deep within the Arctic Ocean into the endless ice in search of an unknown menace.

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