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Classic film 'Das Boot' to be continued as TV series

June 23, 2016

Considered one of the best films of all time, it's been 35 years since the submarine classic "Das Boot" hit cinemas. Now the World War II film is to be followed up on with eight hour-long sequels.

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Juergen Prochnow in "Das Boot," Copyright: picture-alliance/KPA
Image: picture-alliance/KPA

It was a moving drama that conveyed the claustrophobia - and sheer danger - of life on a submarine and the tragedy of war. "Das Boot," or "The Boat" also boosted the careers of director Wolfgang Petersen and lead actor Juergen Prochnow. It also starred Herbert Groenemeyer, who would go on to become one of Germany's most successful musicians.

Now, pay-TV channel Sky and Bavaria Film have announced they will produce a German-language series of eight one-hour episodes that will pick up where the tragic ending to the movie left off, Germany news agency dpa reported Thursday (23.06.2016).

While the new series has a budget of 25 million euros ($28 million) and is slated for released in 2018, details concerning the director and cast have not yet been revealed. Filming is to take place in the Bavaria Studio near Munich.

Like the original 1981 "Das Boot," the series will also be based on the 1973 novel by Lothar-Günther Buchheim, which tells the story of the fictional submarine U-96 and its crew as they endure the trial of battle and the tediousness of the hunt. The original "Das Boot" was nominated for six Oscars.

kbm/ct (AP, dpa)