Emil und die Detektive film adaptation set for September release

A new film adaptation of the classic children's book ‘Emil und die Detektive’ by Erich Kästner is set to be released in cinemas on September 24. The production, which recently held its world premiere at the CineStar cinema in Berlin, updates the setting to contemporary Berlin, incorporating modern elements such as smartphones, AirPods, and e-scooters.

Directed by David Dietl and produced by Warner Bros. Film Productions Germany and UFA, the story follows Emil as he travels to Berlin to visit his grandmother, only to be robbed of his money by the fraudster Max Grundeis. The film features a new cast, including Nicholas Jonah Peter and Lara Toni Lüdders, and has already been recognized as the best children's film at the 2026 Filmkunstmesse, receiving the Gilde-Filmpreis.