German television landscape: ZDF crime series developments

Several long-running German crime series on ZDF are seeing shifts in cast and production details. In the mystery series “Die Düsteren,” actor Max Riemelt discusses his dual role as Ben Sandmann, a character facing an alternative version of himself, ahead of the show's premiere on ZDFneo in October 2026.

The procedural “SOKO Wismar,” which has produced over 500 episodes since 2004, has seen significant cast changes over two decades. While Jan-Hinrich Reuter has remained a constant, many actors, such as Martin Brambach, have departed the series to pursue other prominent roles.

Additionally, the popular “Nord Nord Mord” series, set on the island of Sylt, utilizes various filming locations. While many scenes feature authentic Sylt landmarks like Kampen and the Lister Ellenbogen, a significant portion of the production is actually filmed in and around Hamburg.