With the ruthless criticism of the series adaptation of his bestseller “The Swarm”, which Frank Schätzing (65) expressed in the weekly newspaper “Die Zeit”, the author caused a stir. The eight-part TV implementation was “fundamentally wrong”, “cobbled together nonsense” and “of no current relevance”, according to Schätzing. The news agency spot on news asked the producing broadcaster ZDF about these harsh words – the answer was diplomatic.
In this way, “the audience […] can get an impression of the quality of the international high-end production for themselves in a few days”. From March 6, “Der Schwarm” will be broadcast in prime time on ZDF. The fact that the series deviates from its original in certain points is a normal process, it continues: “In our view, ‘The Swarm’ is a very successful and contemporary adaptation of the novel from 2004. Film adaptations of literary material differ in narrative form and dramaturgy always and to a large extent from the original medium of the book.”
In his assessment of the series adaptation, Schätzing also found positive aspects, but displeasure prevailed: “Some things are ready for the cinema, other emotional and talkative relationship box TV. It pilches more than it raves. Good cast, but underchallenged.” In addition, the “global dimension of the threat is not noticeable, not to mention the topicality or an intelligent alien strategy”. His conclusion in “Die Zeit” was therefore: “One should have trusted the narrative of the novel more, the maximum escalation of the thriller.”
Producer and showrunner Frank Doelger spelled out his intentions for the series before the Schätzing interview was released: “I also realized how difficult it would be to condense the 900-page exploration of the natural phenomena that drive the story into a compelling, character-centric series.” What was decisive for him was “that I imagined the series as a ‘monster film’ in which the protagonists are aware that something is lurking out there, but don’t know exactly what”.
In various regions of the world, the sea suddenly seems to pose an indefinite danger. A handful of international scientists see a larger connection between the events and put forward a thesis that shakes the very foundations of human civilization: Out there, at great depths, there is intelligent life older and more powerful than humanity, and that is now migrating begins to fight back.
The international cast includes Leonie Benesch (31), Barbara Sukowa (73), Oliver Masucci (54), Klaas Heufer-Umlauf (39) and Franziska Weisz (42).
