German television networks announce cast changes and tributes

German television networks are announcing significant cast changes and posthumous tributes. ZDF will honor the late actress Luna Jordan, who passed away unexpectedly at age 25 in May 2026. She will appear for the last time in the crime series ‘Jenseits der Spree’ starting October 16, 2026, with a dedicated memorial plaque at the beginning of the episode. Additionally, her role in the science-fiction series ‘Wake Up’ will be released on the ZDF Mediathek starting October 23, 2026.

In a separate development, the ARD crime series ‘WaPo Elbe’ is undergoing a leadership change. Carina Wiese, who has played lead investigator Maike Junghans since the series began in 2023, will depart the show. Her character will step down from her position at the end of the current season. Friederike Linke has been cast as the successor, playing Chief Inspector Elena Sturm, in the fourth season. Filming for the new episodes has already commenced, with a planned broadcast for 2028.