ZDF launches surrealist‑art crime series “This Is Not a Murder Mystery”
The six‑part Belgian‑German series “This Is Not a Murder Mystery” premiered on ZDF’s streaming portal on 31 July and will air in weekly double episodes on ZDFneo from 5 August. Written by Christophe Dirickx and Paul Baeten Gronda and directed by Hans Herbots, the drama follows a young René Magritte (played by Pierre Gervais) who is accused of the murder of model Sheila Legge. The plot intertwines the world of 1930s surrealist painters – including Magritte, Salvador Dalí, Max Ernst, Man Ray and war photographer Lee Miller – with a classic whodunit structure. Magritte, convinced of his innocence, must clear his name while the series mixes genuine historical references with fictional intrigue, presenting each episode as a stylised artwork in its own right.
Entities: Felix Herzogenrath · Grit Hartmann · Hannah Wagner · Nord bei Nordwest · Per Adler · Pierre Gervais · René Magritte · Salvador Dalí · Sheila Legge · ZDF
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The episode was directed by Felix Herzogenrath. (All three articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The series 'Nord bei Nordwest' aired episode 'Haare? Hartmann' on 28 July 2026. (All three articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Per Adler wanted a rare Indian stamp owned by Jon Merseburg. (All three articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The episode is the 26th film in the series. (All three articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Detective Hannah Wagner visits hairdresser Grit Hartmann in the episode. (All three articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The murder was commissioned by antique dealer Per Adler. (All three articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Grit Hartmann is a former killer. (All three articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Former postman Jon Merseburg is murdered by hitman Edgar Grams. (All three articles)