Filming has kicked off on Ludwig, a high-end historical crime series that reimagines the eccentric life and enigmatic death of King Ludwig II of Bavaria. The international co-production offers a fresh perspective, intertwining the investigation into his mysterious death with an intimate psychological portrait of a man who could not find his place in his own era.

Set in Bavaria in 1886, the series follows the events surrounding the king’s death in Lake Starnberg. When Gustav Zimmermann, a young investigator, is tasked with uncovering the truth behind Ludwig’s demise, he becomes entangled in a volatile web of political tension. As Gustav delves deeper into the king’s private world, he uncovers evidence of Ludwig’s forbidden romance with a young officer, Paul, and secrets that could destabilise an already weakened dynasty. Ludwig’s devoted support for composer Richard Wagner, whom he visits in exile in Switzerland, has provoked unrest within the royal household and political circles alike. Even Ludwig’s former confidante Sophie appears to have turned against her ex-fiancé. Caught in a net of deception and ambition, Gustav must determine whether he is witnessing a tragedy or becoming a pawn in a dangerous coup.

German actor Luis Pintsch (22 Bahnen) leads the cast as Ludwig II, alongside Swiss actor Felix Mayr (Unorthodox [+lee también:
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entrevista: Marie Kreutzer
entrevista: Marie Kreutzer
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The series is directed by Nina Vukovic (Der Schatten) and Sebastian Ko (Wir Monster), who also co-wrote the scripts. Head writers Dominik Kempf and Marianne Wendt led the writers’ room, which included Lukas Becker, Magdalena Grazewicz, Hanna Hribar, Julia C Kaiser, Boris Kunz, Anja Marquardt, Christian Schiller and Carolina Zimmermann. The cinematography is by Jan Prahl.

Oliver Vogel, managing director of W&B Television, commented: “We all know Ludwig II as a fascinating artistic figure – melancholic, extravagant and lost in fantasy. With Ludwig, we challenge these old myths, uncover the man behind the masks, and tell a visually powerful story about queer life in a repressive era.” Christoph Pellander, head of Editorial and Programme Management at ARD Degeto Film, added: “We are retelling the story of the legendary fairy-tale king as a fictional cold case, reopening it and shedding new light on his mysterious death.”

The shoot will continue until early February 2026 across locations in Germany, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. The premiere of the series is planned for 2027.

Ludwig is being produced by W&B Television in co-production with Germany’s ARD Degeto Film, Bayerischer Rundfunk, Austria’s ServusTV and Swiss broadcaster SRF. The producers are Oliver Vogel, Quirin Berg, Max Wiedemann and Dominik Kempf, with Stefan Mütherich and Gretha Heisig serving as executive producers. The series has received support from the German Motion Picture Fund (GMPF), FilmFernsehFonds Bayern (FFF Bayern) and the Czech Audiovisual Fund’s Production Incentive.