The oil boom in the Lüneburg Heath around 1900 is a unique chapter in the history of northern Germany - and the focus of the new series "Black Gold" (working title). The star cast of the six-part series produced by Kinescope Film for NDR and ARD Mediathek includes Harriet Herbig-Matten, Aaron Hilmer, Tom Wlaschiha, Lena Urzendowsky, Henny Reents, Jessica Schwarz and Slavko Popadic. Tim Trachte and Nina Wolfrum are shooting most of the scenes in the Lüneburg Heath, in the museum village of Hösseringen and at Camp Reinsehlen near Schneverdingen until 18 June. Some scenes will be shot in Budapest, Hungary. The books are written by Justin Koch (head writer), Pamela Katz and Florian Vey. The historical series is expected to be available in the ARD Mediathek at the end of 2025.
"Black Gold" (AT) takes viewers to a fictional village around 1900 and focuses on farmer's daughter Johanna Lambert (Harriet Herbig-Matten): Her small farming family is cheated by the rich landowner Wilhelm Pape (Tom Wlaschiha) over the oil discovered under their fields. When the oil rush hits the village and threatens to destroy the farming community forever, the Lamberts fight for justice and their independence. "Black Gold" (AT) shows the destructive power of boundless greed and the courage to rebel against injustice - and is therefore highly topical.
Historical background: One of the world's first oil wells was drilled in 1858 at Wietze (Celle district) in Lower Saxony. Wietze was Germany's most productive oil field until 1920. The town is also home to the German Petroleum Museum.
The cast includes Julius Nitschkoff, Daniil Kremkin, Peter Schneider, Liliom Lewald and Stephan Kampwirth.
Producers are Matthias Greving and Kirsten Lukaczik (Kinescope Film), Executive Producer is Dennis Becker and Line Producer is Gregori Winkowski. Cinematographers are Jörg Widmer and Andreas Köhler. The editors are Donald Kraemer and Diana Schulte-Kellinghaus, both NDR.
"Schwarzes Gold" (AT) is a production of Kinescope Film in co-production with Filmnation, Hero Squared (Hungary) and 4Film in world distribution by The Fifth Season on behalf of NDR for the ARD Mediathek. The production is supported by nordmedia - Film- und Mediengesellschaft Niedersachsen/Bremen, FilmFernsehFonds Bayern and MOIN Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein.
Separate invitations will be sent out for shooting dates.
A photo of the start of shooting can be found at ARD-Foto.de.
Press contact:
Iris Bents, NDR Press and Public Relations
Phone: 040/4156-2304
E-mail: i.bents@ndr.de
Mirja Bauer, ARD Programme Directorate/Press and Information
Phone: 089/558944-865
E-MAIL: E-Mail:Mirja.Bauer@ard.de