The Swarm (TV series)

Not to be confused with Swarm (TV series).

The Swarm
Official poster
GenreScience fiction
Based onThe Swarm
by Frank Schätzing
Screenplay by
Directed by
Starring
Music byDascha Dauenhauer
Country of origin
  • Belgium
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Sweden
Original languages
  • English
  • German
  • French
  • Dutch
  • Swedish
  • Japanese
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producers
  • Frank Doelger
  • Eric Welbers
  • Mark Huffam
  • Ute Leonhardt
  • Jan Wünschmann
  • Till Grönemeyer
  • Barbara Eder
  • Luke Watson
  • Moritz von Kruedener
  • Jan Theys
Cinematography
  • David Luther
  • Dominik Berg
Editors
  • Philipp Ostermann
  • Sandy Saffeels
Running time46 minutes
Production company
  • Schwarm TV Production
Budget€40 million
Original release
NetworkZDF
Release22 February (2023-02-22) –
8 March 2023 (2023-03-08)

The Swarm (German: Der Schwarm) is a German co-produced science fiction television series directed by Barbara Eder, Luke Watson and Philipp Stölzl. Adapted from the novel by Frank Schätzing, the series depicts the struggle with aggression by a mysterious deep sea intelligence that is reacting to human-caused environmental damage.

Produced with an estimated budget of €40 million, the most expensive German TV production (produced in English) of all time, it had its world premiere at 73rd Berlin International Film Festival in Berlinale Series on 19 February 2023, where the first three episodes were screened out of competition. The Swarm premiered on ZDF between 22 February and 8 March 2023.

Cast

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"Episode 1"Luke WatsonFrank Schätzing, Steven Lally, Marissa Lestrade, Michael A. Walker, Chris Lunt22 February 2023 (2023-02-22)
In South Pacific - Huanchaco - Peru, a fisherman is killed by a school of fish under the water in an ocean. In North Pacific - Vancouver Island - Canada, a dead Orca / killer Whale is washed ashore. At Murray Cove, Kit informs Leon and Jack about an Orca attacking a boat. Charlie, a marine biologist, is assigned to an outpost in the Skaw - Shetland Islands - Scotland. At a bar, Charlie befriends Douglas McKinnon, a fisherman and Iona, the bartender. While launching a device in the ocean, Douglas and Charlie find many scattered pieces of methane hydrate / fire ice floating on the ocean water. Charlie sends a video about Fire Ice to the Institute of Marine Biology at Kiel - Germany. At Murray Cove, Jack talks to Alicia Delaware about his past experiences in the U.S. Navy. Leon goes in a boat named Zodiac to see a group of Orca returning to Vancouver Island. Leon's friend, Lizzie starts a trip with tourists in Lady Wexham, an excursion boat to see the Whales. A huge Orca destroys Lady Wexham and a group of Orca kills many tourists. Leon helps the surviving tourists to get aboard Zodiac but Lizzie is killed by an Orca.
2"Episode 2"Luke WatsonFrank Schätzing, Steven Lally, Marissa Lestrade, Michael A. Walker, Chris Lunt22 February 2023 (2023-02-22)
In Saint-Jean-De-Luz, France, at a restaurant named Le Sinquet, a chef dies after a lobster spraying something on his face and another chef, Gilberto, is hospitalized in a coma. At the hospital, Doctor Cecile and Doctor Sophia discuss the chef's condition. At Murray Cove, Leon, a Cetologist, befriends Samantha, an astrophysicist. On the Thorvaldson - Research Vessel which is sailing in the Norwegian Sea, the Captain, Jasper shows the part of the Ocean bed covered by Sirsoe Methanicola / Ice Worms to Sigur and Tina. While analyzing an Ice Worm, Sigur theorizes that the Ice Worms might be a new species and Sigur and Tina agree to work together. At the Institute of Marine Biology at Kiel - Germany, Sigur and Tina discuss the Ice Worms. At Hovedstad Energy - Bergen - Norway, Johanson Sigur and Tina meet Aaren and Erika to discuss the Ice Worms. Cecile searches to find out what happened to Gilberto. At the hospital, Gilberto dies. Cecile finds Alaina, an apprentice at Le Sinquet, dead at Alaina's flat. Leon Anawak meets Clive Roberts and gets to know about the increasing whale attacks. The ocean water becomes strange around Thorvaldson and a strange explosion happens near Thorvaldson. At the Institute of Marine Biology at Kiel - Germany, Professor Katharina Lehmann explains about the explosion and also explains about a new strain of bacteria growing where the Ice Worms were found. At the Juno - Research Vessel which is sailing in the Arctic Ocean, while reading a message from Charlie, Jess sees a strange reading on the monitor. The ocean water becomes strange around the Juno and the Juno is sunk, killing Jess and Tomas.
3"Episode 3"Barbara EderFrank Schätzing, Steven Lally, Marissa Lestrade, Michael A. Walker, Chris Lunt22 February 2023 (2023-02-22)
In Venice - Italy, people watch a river filled with Jellyfish. Rahim informs Charlie about the Juno. Cecile finds Vibrio Vulnificus, a bacterium, in Gilberto's blood sample. Cecile theorizes that this Vibrio Vulnificus must be mutated / a new strain of bacterium. Sophia informs Cecile about more deaths similar to Gilberto. Dr.Oliviera, Leon and Alicia discuss the Mussel attached to Barrier Queen. Oliviera theorizes that these Mussels must be mutated / a new species. Leon performs an autopsy on the dead Orca and finds a small clot in the brain stem and something growing around the brain. Cecile understands and informs Sophia that the Vibrio Vulnificus is spreading through the water system. Cecile sends her children, Louis and Isabelle, away with her husband, Michael. At Mifune Foundation - Geneva - Switzerland, Johanson Sigur meets and gives a report of Ice Worms to Sato. At Mifune Enterprises - Tokyo - Japan, Mr. Mifune is informed about the Ice Worms by Sato. Sigur and Tina spend the night together. Leon understands that the whale attacks happen on the migration route. Leon attaches a camera on one of the big whales. Riku Sato contacts and sends information about the Ice Worms to Sigur. Charlie, Rahim and Katharina Lehmann watch the footage of the Juno at the bottom of an ocean. Jack, Oliviera, Leon and Alicia watch the footage of whales diving deeper into the ocean.
4"Episode 4"Barbara EderFrank Schätzing, Steven Lally, Marissa Lestrade, Michael A. Walker, Chris Lunt1 March 2023 (2023-03-01)
At Kenton - on - Sea - Eastern Cape - South Africa, a swarm of crabs enters the land from the sea. Charlie, Rahim and Katharina Lehmann mourn the death of Jess and Tomas. Leon, Jack and Alicia talk about the bioluminescence and a strange sound in the footage of whales. Jack suggests that the strange happenings might be a secret military activity. Sophia Granelli and Cecile Roche recommend to stop fishing and using tap water. While investigating the Ice Worms on Thorvaldson, Jasper, Tina and Sigur find something which leads to an argument between Sigur and Tina. Cecile watches the news about the swarm of crabs making landfall across South Africa, Rio de Janeiro, Okinawa, Mumbai and Tangier. Oliviera gets reports of the mutated or new species Mussel from different locations including Madagascar, Toamasina, Asuncion - Paraguay and Lake Victoria - Uganda. Leon gets caught while trying to get more samples from the restricted area at Vancouver port. Leon explains everything to Sato about the Mussels and Sato agrees to help Leon. Sato informs Mifune about the Mussel and Leon is given more samples. Leon suggests Alicia to contact Samantha Crowe to talk about the strange sound. Charlie watches a video recording of Jess from Juno.
5"Episode 5"Barbara EderFrank Schätzing, Steven Lally, Marissa Lestrade, Michael A. Walker, Chris Lunt1 March 2023 (2023-03-01)
Cecile analyzes the crabs and finds Vibrio Vulnificus. Cecile theorizes that the crabs must be mutated / a new species. As the crabs made landfall, more people were killed by the crabs than the people died due to lobsters. Cecile suggests that the strange happenings might be the Wrath of God. Charlie finds bioluminescence and a strange sound from Jess's video and the Juno's footage. and. Katharina Lehmann informs Sigur and Rahim about a strange event involving Ice Worms at the Nankai Trough. Charlie explains about the bioluminescence, the strange sound and rise in water temperature before the Juno sank to Rahim, Katharina Lehmann and Sigur. Sato informs Sigur about the Mussel. Sigur contacts Leon to inform about the Ice Worms and Leon explains about Mussels and Whale attacks. It is revealed that Tina resigned from her job at Hovedstad. The bioluminescence and the strange sound in Jess's video and Juno's footage is identical to Leon's whale video. Sigur visits Charlie to give equipment and shows Leon's whale video to Charlie. Katharina Lehmann informs Sigur about a Tsunami. Kari abandones Tina. Sigur saves Charlie. Douglas and Tina are killed in the Tsunami.
6"Episode 6"Barbara EderFrank Schätzing, Steven Lally, Marissa Lestrade, Michael A. Walker, Chris Lunt1 March 2023 (2023-03-01)
Cecile Roche explains about the Vibrio Vulnificus infesting the water system in a press conference. Sigur contacts Cecile. Sigur, Leon, Charlie, Rahim, Katharina Lehmann and Cecile meet and discuss at the Institute of Marine Biology. Sigur suspects that an unknown intelligent life force is behind all the recent events. Katharina Lehmann disagrees and walks out. Sigur names the intelligent life force as YRR inspired by Leon's bracelet. Sigur wants to contact the YRR to make a peaceful resolution. Samatha suggests to Leon and Alicia that the strange sound from YRR might be some kind of language and informs that a similar sound was recorded in Antarctica and Arctic Ocean. Alicia and Samantha agree to join Sigur's team. Mifune agrees to help Sigur's team but Rahim decides to walk out.
7"Episode 7"Philipp StölzlFrank Schätzing, Steven Lally, Marissa Lestrade, Michael A. Walker, Chris Lunt8 March 2023 (2023-03-08)
Sigur's team along with Riku Sato and Sara Thompson travels on Thorvaldson, captained by Alban Jasper. Based on Samantha's data, Charlie suggests that YRR could be at Molloy Deep. Alicia volunteers to document everything. Sigur's team theorizes that the YRR is controlling and modifying the species through the nervous system using glutamate. Samantha broadcasts a signal to contact the YRR. Luther Roscovitz and Charlie dive into the ocean using a small submarine to find the YRR. Thorvaldson radar shows something strange, Samantha picks up a signal from the YRR and Charlie sees the bioluminescence. After sometime, Alicia sees the bioluminescence and the power goes off. When the power is back on, Alicia is knocked unconscious and Samantha picks up another signal. Strange marks appear on Alicia's body and Cecile runs some tests. Charlie shares to Leon about the death of her parents due to a storm while sailing in the Arctic Ocean. Cecile tests show that Alicia is infected by the YRR. Samantha broadcasts another signal indicating human evolution and Charlie sees the YRR. Samantha picks up another signal from the YRR.
8"Episode 8"Philipp StölzlFrank Schätzing, Steven Lally, Marissa Lestrade, Michael A. Walker, Chris Lunt8 March 2023 (2023-03-08)
Mifune arrives at Thorvaldson and Sigur explains about the YRR. Samantha shows the message received from the YRR which indicates YRR was formed in the Panthalassa Ocean 250 million years ago. Charlie suggests that the YRR might have infected Alicia to know more about humans. Leon suggests to Samantha about sending signals to the YRR as whale sounds. Mifune informs Jasper that the Thorvaldson's chief Officer Kofi's hometown - Lekki - Nigeria is hit by a massive Tsunami. Jasper informs Kofi Musa about the Tsunami. Cecile tests YRR samples and finds that a drug named Ketamine could kill the YRR. Cecile injects the YRR with Ketamine and YRR reacts with a loud noise resulting in power outage. Luther is found dead. The YRR crashes Thorvaldson on an Iceberg and corners Thorvaldson with many Icebergs. Sigur suggests injecting Luther's body with YRR to communicate further and make peace. Samantha broadcasts another signal. Sato, Sara and Cecile take Alicia and leave in a helicopter. Charlie takes Luther's body and dives into the ocean using a small submarine. Charlie decides to communicate with the YRR rather than using Luther's body. Charlie ejects herself into the ocean deep after injecting herself with the sample of the YRR. The YRR takes control of Charlie and release Thorvaldson from the Icebergs. Charlie wakes up ashore.

Production

Development

Frank Doelger announced in 2020 at Cannes, as part of the International Market for Television Programs (MIPTV), that his next TV series The Swarm was going to be the adaptation of novel The Swarm by Frank Schätzing. The series was produced by ZDF within the framework set by the European Alliance, with France Télévisions and RAI, and in co-production with ORF, SRF, Viaplay Group and Hulu Japan who formed the joint venture 'Schwarm TV Productions GmbH & Co KG'. The series is the first project from Doelger-led Intaglio Films, a joint venture formed in 2019 by the German production company Beta Film and ZDF Enterprises.[3][4]

Produced with an estimated budget of €40 million, this makes the series the most expensive German TV production (produced in English) of all time.[5] In an interview, Barbara Eder confirmed that there are ideas already for a second season, but their implementation has yet to be decided after the figures for the first season have been evaluated.[6]

Casting

The international cast is selected by casting director Robert Sterne, and includes European actors, Cécile de France, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Jack Greenlees, Lydia Wilson, Krista Kosonen, Alexander Karim, Leonie Benesch and German star Barbara Sukowa with Japanese actors Takuya Kimura and Takehiro Hira. American actors Rosabell Laurenti Sellers and Dutch Johnson, and Canadian Joshua Odjick also feature in the series.[7]

Writing

The script was written by Steven Lally, Marissa Lestrade, Chris Lunt and Michael A. Walker in consultation with experts, such as polar and deep-sea researcher Professor Antje Boetius, from the Alfred Wegener Institute, and Dr Jon Copley, professor of Ocean Exploration from the University of Southampton. Barbara Eder, Luke Watson and Philipp Stölzl directed the series.[4]

Filming

Filming began on 7 June 2021 in Italy and Belgium.[8] The final scenes of the series were filmed at a €23 million underwater studio on the outskirts of Brussels.[9]

Release

The Swarm had its world premiere at 73rd Berlin International Film Festival in Berlinale Series on 19 February 2023, where the first three episodes were screened out of competition.[10] The Swarm is available for streaming on ZDF from 1 March 2023.[11] It was also made available on RAI, France Télévisions, Viaplay, Movistar, ORF, SRF and Hulu Japan from March 2023.[12] It began screening in Australia on 7 June on streaming service Binge. The US distribution rights were sold to The CW in May 2023; the series premiered on 12 September.[13]

Reception

Mike McCahill reviewing for Variety wrote that the series is reassuringly straightforward and familiar. McCahill opined, "Its briny pulp – dredged from Frank Schätzing’s 2004 novel, preys heavily on viewer fears of ecological collapse, and what might be lurking for us all beneath the planet’s watery depths".[12]

The series featured in the list of six international dramas to watch in 2023, published by Deadline Hollywood.[14] Oliver Armknecht reviewing for film-rezensionen.de graded the series 5 out of 10, criticised the visuals and opined that there was not much to do for the ensemble. In conclusion Armknecht wrote, "The global threat can only be felt in a few places. If you don't know the story, you may be surprised at the strange occurrences, at least at first – especially since some maritime attacks are really perfidious."[15]

References

  1. ^ "木村拓哉、初海外ドラマ『THE SWARM』メインビジュアル解禁 世界各国の俳優陣が勢ぞろい" [Takuya Kimura's first overseas drama "THE SWARM" main visual unveiled Actors from all over the world gather]. Oricon (in Japanese). 20 September 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  2. ^ "The Swarm (2023)". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  3. ^ White, Peter (26 February 2020). "Scandinavian SVOD Viaplay Boards 'The Swarm' From 'Game of Thrones' Exec Producer Frank Doelger". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  4. ^ a b Vena, Teresa (21 June 2021). "Shooting for the thriller series The Swarm by showrunner Frank Doelger starts in Italy". Cineuropa. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Frank Schätzing rechnet mit »Der Schwarm«-Verfilmung ab" [Frank Schätzing settles accounts with »The Swarm« film adaptation]. Spiegel (in German). 15 February 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  6. ^ /Julia Staskowiak (17 March 2023). ""Der Schwarm" Staffel 2: Wie steht es um eine Fortsetzung der ZDF-Thriller-Serie – Ende erklärt" ["The Swarm" Season 2: What about a continuation of the ZDF thriller series – the end explained]. kino.de (in German). Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  7. ^ Roxborough, Scott (16 January 2021). "Diverse International Cast for Big-Budget Euro Series 'The Swarm' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  8. ^ "The Swarm". Crew United. 5 February 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  9. ^ Boffey, Daniel (8 October 2021). "Broadcaster ZDF targets international sales and will dub eight-part series for domestic audience". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  10. ^ Whittock, Jesse (16 January 2023). "Berlinale Series Unveils Eight World Premieres & TV Jury". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  11. ^ Julia Staskowiak (1 March 2023). "Schon vor TV-Ausstrahlung: So seht ihr die Serienadaption eines maritimen Sci-Fi-Epos vor allen anderen" ["The Swarm" is now streaming – even before the TV premiere: broadcast dates, plot and cast at a glance]. Kino.de (in German). Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  12. ^ a b McCahill, Mike (20 February 2023). "'The Swarm' Converts Ecological Collapse into Pacy, Briny Pulp: Berlinale TV Review". Variety. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  13. ^ Vlessing, Etan (18 May 2023). "The CW Nabs Big-Budget Euro Series 'The Swarm' for U.S." The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 18 May 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  14. ^ Goldbart, Max (24 December 2022). "Six International Dramas To Watch In 2023: Dystopian Thrillers, Scandi Adaptations & Cult Indie Remakes". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  15. ^ Oliver Armknecht (23 February 2023). "Der Schwarm" [The Swarm]. film-rezensionen.de (in German). Retrieved 6 March 2023.
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