Berlin (Spanish TV series)

Berlin
SpanishLa casa de papel: Berlín
Created byÁlex Pina
Esther Martínez Lobato
Starring
Opening theme"Bullets and Flowers"[1] by Francis White (ft. Nikki Garcia)
Country of originSpain
Original languagesSpanish and French
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes8[1]
Production
Executive producersÁlex Pina
Esther Martínez Lobato
Albert Pintó
Cristina López Ferraz
Production locations
Spain[1]
France[1]
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time58-61 minutes
Production companyVancouver Media[1]
Original release
NetworkNetflix
Release29 December 2023 (2023-12-29) –
present (present)
Related
Money Heist

Berlin (also known as Money Heist: Berlin, in Spanish La casa de papel: Berlín) is a Spanish television series created by Álex Pina and Esther Martínez Lobato for Netflix.[1] The series serves as a prequel to Money Heist, focusing on the life of Andrés de Fonollosa, aka "Berlin", before the events of seasons 1 and 2 of the original series. It stars Pedro Alonso, Michelle Jenner, Tristán Ulloa, Begoña Vargas, and Julio Peña Fernández.[2] The series premiered on Netflix on 29 December 2023 and consists of eight episodes.[1] Money Heist: Berlin received mixed reviews with many critics feeling that it did not live up to the standard of the original Money Heist.

On 19 February 2024, the show was renewed for a second season.[3]

Premise

Many years before the events of Money Heist, Berlin made another heist, stealing €44 million in jewels and framing the one who provided the security for it. He was the leader of a criminal gang by then, Keila (Michelle Jenner), Damián (Tristán Ulloa), Cameron (Begoña Vargas), Bruce (Joel Sánchez) and Roi (Julio Peña Fernández).[4] The series is primarily set in Paris.[1] Things get complicated when, while spying on the victim to be framed, he falls in love with the victim's wife.

Cast

Main

Secondary

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"The Energy of Love"
(La energía del amor)
Albert Pintó
David Barrocal
Geoffrey Cowper
Álex Pina
Esther Martínez Lobato
David Barrocal
David Oliva
29 December 2023 (2023-12-29)
2"Anchor and Lobo"
(El ancla y el lobo)
Albert Pintó
David Barrocal
Geoffrey Cowper
Álex Pina
Esther Martínez Lobato
David Barrocal
David Oliva
29 December 2023 (2023-12-29)
3"Full House of Embryos"
(Póker de embriones)
David Barrocal
Albert Pintó
Geoffrey Cowper
Álex Pina
Esther Martínez Lobato
David Barrocal
David Oliva
29 December 2023 (2023-12-29)
4"An Aquarium on Your Back"
(Un aquarium en la espalda)
Geoffrey Cowper
Albert Pintó
David Barrocal
Álex Pina
Esther Martínez Lobato
David Barrocal
David Oliva
29 December 2023 (2023-12-29)
5"After Love"
(After Love)
Albert Pintó
David Barrocal
Geoffrey Cowper
Álex Pina
Esther Martínez Lobato
David Barrocal
David Oliva
Lorena G. Maldonado
29 December 2023 (2023-12-29)
6"Night of the Lemons"
(La noche de los limones)
David Barrocal
Albert Pintó
Geoffrey Cowper
Álex Pina
Esther Martínez Lobato
David Oliva
Lorena G. Maldonado
Luis Garrido
29 December 2023 (2023-12-29)
7"The Last Virgin in the Western World"
(La útlima virgen de Occidente)
David Barrocal
Albert Pintó
Geoffrey Cowper
Álex Pina
Esther Martínez Lobato
David Oliva
Lorena G. Maldonado
Luis Garrido
29 December 2023 (2023-12-29)
8"An Endangered Elephant"
(Un elefante en peligro de extinción)
Albert Pintó
David Barrocal
Geoffrey Cowper
Álex Pina
Esther Martínez Lobato
David Oliva
Lorena G. Maldonado
Luis Garrido
29 December 2023 (2023-12-29)

Production

In late November 2021, just days before the release of the second volume of the fifth part of Money Heist, Netflix announced that it was developing a spin-off series, Berlin, for a tentative 2023 release, with Pedro Alonso expected to reprise his eponymous role from the original series.[6][7] On September 28, 2022, Michelle Jenner, Begoña Vargas, Tristán Ulloa, Julio Peña Fernández and Joel Sánchez were cast to co-star alongside Alonso.[2] In March 2023, it was announced that Itziar Ituño and Najwa Nimri would also be reprising their roles as Raquel Murillo and Alicia Sierra from Money Heist.[5] Filming began in October 2022 in Paris, France, and continued in Madrid, Spain.[2][5]

Creators Alex Pina and Esther Martínez Lobato wanted to do something "lighter" after their previous recent projects.[1] In comparison to its parent show Money Heist, Berlin has more comedic tones and employed more actors and locations.[1] The series was shot in a wider screen 2:1 ratio to give the characters "more of a scenic experience of their surroundings".[1]

The show was renewed for a second season on 19 February 2024. Filming will begin in 2025.

Critical reception

The Daily Beast's Noel Murray felt the plot and new characters did not hold up to the original Money Heist.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "How 'Money Heist' Spinoff 'Berlin' Points Up Netflix Evolution in Spain, as It Drops First-Look Image (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. 18 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Pérez, Laura (28 September 2022). "Netflix presenta 'Berlín', el spin off de 'La casa de papel' que ficha a Michelle Jenner y se pone romántico". Vertele (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  3. ^ "'Berlin' Renewed for Season 2 at Netflix". TheWrap. 19 February 2024.
  4. ^ "Netflix desvela quién es quién en 'Berlín', el spin-off de 'La casa de papel'". Vertele (in Spanish). 7 February 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d "'Berlín' ficha a Najwa Nimri e Itziar Ituño para recuperar sus personajes de 'La casa de papel'". Vertele (in Spanish). 22 March 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  6. ^ Lang, Jamie (30 November 2021). "Bella Ciao! 'Money Heist' Fan Favorite 'Berlin' Is Getting His Own Spinoff Series at Netflix". Variety. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  7. ^ Owens, Kelvin (1 December 2021). "'Money Heist' Spinoff Series 'Berlin' Coming to Netflix in 2023". Collider. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  8. ^ Murray, Noel (28 December 2023). "Netflix's 'Money Heist' Prequel Needs More Heists, Less Romance". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 28 December 2023.