Warner TV Comedy produces eight-episode series Greenlight – German Genius, starring Kida Ramadan
by Teresa Vena
- German-Turkish director Cüneyt Kaya and German helmer Detlev Buck are directing this comedy series that uses a mockumentary style to depict the national entertainment industry
The end of November saw the start of the shoot for the new comedy series Greenlight – German Genius in Berlin. In eight episodes, the series will offer a self-deprecating journey through the ups and downs of the German television landscape and entertainment industry. The script has been developed by four writers – namely, Detlev Buck (Asphaltgorillas [+see also:
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interview: Albrecht Schuch
film profile]) and Seraina Nyikos.
The inspiration came from a tweet by British comedian Ricky Gervais, who reacted to the remarkably successful German series 4 Blocks. In it, Kida Ramadan plays the role of a clan leader who controls one specific neighbourhood in Berlin.
Kida Ramadan is also at the centre of Greenlight – German Genius. Taking the tweet about his fictional character in 4 Blocks as the starting point, he contacts Gervais because he wants to adapt the latter's series Extras for the German market. But what he has to realise is that Germans are not famous for their particularly original sense of humour, and the process of finding his protagonists spirals out of control.
The directorial duo composed of Detlev Buck and Cüneyt Kaya have assembled the who’s who of the German entertainment industry for the show, including actors, musicians and comedians. Among the most well-known names are Frederick Lau, Tom Schilling, Veysel Gelin, Olli Schulz, Heike Makatsch, Maria Furtwängler, Sascha Geršak, Katrin Bauerfeind, Britta Hammelstein, Christina Große, Trystan Pütter, Wim Wenders, Volker Schlöndorff, Leander Haußmann, Kurt Krömer, Thorsten Merten, Anne Ratte Polle, Kathrin Angerer, Marc Hosemann, Marvin Kren and Seumas F Sargent. Ricky Gervais himself will make a brief appearance as well.
The eight 30-minute episodes are being produced by Warner TV Comedy and W&B Television. Greenlight – German Genius is a cooperative effort between CAB Film and Macadamia & Mothermilk, in collaboration with BBC Studios Germany and Studio Babelsberg.
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