TORONTO – A ship on the high seas that has been missing for four months and now haunts the sea without passengers: the first two episodes of the series “1899”, Jantje Fresse (screenplay) and the new project of Barn Bo Oder (director) , promises mystical events, mystical characters and ominous symbolism.

It is this mix with which the two have already achieved worldwide success with the series “Dark”. And also at the world premiere of “1899” At the 47th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) The filmmakers were celebrated by the audience on Tuesday evening (local time). “After three seasons of Darkness we’re honestly so nervous. It feels so refreshing to us. It’s our baby,” Oder said in Toronto.

The eight-part series featured the first two episodes, which developed a strong vibe after just a few minutes. An inspiring group of travelers with diverse nationalities, personal histories and troubled pasts board an expatriate ship bound for New York from Europe in the late 19th century. All hopes, for their own reasons, move towards freedom.

But when the crew discovers the Prometheus, a ship missing for four months at sea, the voyage takes an unexpected, dark turn – and everything makes the ship a nightmare mystery. Where has Prometheus gone? Where are all the passengers of the ship? And what’s with symbols like pyramids?

haunted by a painful past

With their mix of oppressive, shadowy imagery and mysterious allusions, Fries and Oder tread familiar waters. “We always try to tell a story on multiple levels and create lots of objects and symbols that connect with the characters,” Fresse said. The main character on board the new game from Mystery Duo is Andreas Pitschmann as the ship’s captain, whose own dark secrets are revealed in a realistic nightmare. “I was dancing inside when the call came that we were working together again,” said Pittsman, who previously starred in “Dark.”

Accompanied by traveler Maura Franklin (Emily Beacham), haunted by her own traumatic past, he tries to get to the bottom of the mystery of Prometheus. “Maura is layered and has a lot of contrasts, which is what makes her so compelling,” Beacham said.

The international cast includes actors from Spain, Portugal, Denmark and Hong Kong. Artists speak in their native language. “We feel like global citizens and we want to bring back that spirit and work with people around the world,” Fries said. In real life, this message is as important for both of them as the tangled things on the screen.

The mystery thriller series “1899” is set to be available on Netflix in late 2022.