OneGate Media adds "German Crime Story: Deadlock" to its true crime portfolio

OneGate Media has secured world distribution rights for "German Crime Story: Deadlock", Neue Bioskop Television’s new true-crime series for Prime Video. The 6x45’ fictional series is inspired by the notorious Acid Barrel murders in Germany in the 1990s and will be streamed on the platform on January 2023.

Based on a true story, the series follows the investigation of an unusual kidnapping in Hamburg 1992, where the main suspect, a furrier called Raik Doormann claims to have been in collusion with the kidnap victim. Yet after questioning by the police inspector Nela Langenbeck, contradictions from the witness statements and hidden messages from missing women begin to emerge. Despite considerable resistance from her male colleagues, inspector Langenbeck begins to investigate on her own and is drawn deeper and deeper into the case.

Tania Reichert-Facilides, Managing Director of OneGate Media GmbH, comments: "The 'Acid Barrel Murders' in Hamburg are one of the most harrowing and spectacular crimes in Germany's criminal history. Captivatingly told, with strong characters that take you back to the 80s, 'German Crime Story: Deadlock' is a commentary on social justice and truth seeking that is gripping throughout. This high-quality series produced by Neue Bioskop will also fascinate viewers internationally and is the perfect addition to our extensive crime and true crime portfolio.”

Oliver Masucci ("Fantastic Beasts: Dumbledore’s Secrets") stars as serial killer Raik Doormann. The scriptwriting was led by head writer duo Michael Proehl and Dirk Morgenstern ("Kahlschlag"), as well as Max Eipp, Dinah Marte Golch and Mark Monheim. Florian Schwarz ("Tatort: Im Schmerz geboren") directs, and the series is produced by Dietmar Güntsche ("The Operative").
The true-crime series was created in cooperation with Prime Video and Weltkino Filmverleih with funding from MOIN Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, FilmFernsehFonds Bayern, Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung, nordmedia and the German Motion Picture Fund.

Producer Dietmar Güntsche, Neue Bioskop Television GmbH, says: "The plot of 'German Crime Story: Deadlock' is not only almost unbearable with suspense, the series gives insight into the time of the fading 80s in Germany and creates a multi-faceted moral image of this era. I am very grateful to our team around Florian Schwarz as well as the great ensemble for the incredible passion that went into this project. We are very much looking forward to bringing the series to the world together with OneGate Media.”