"War of the Kingdoms" series aims to recover lost revenue

War of the Kingdoms is a new fantasy series that hopes to succeed on streaming after struggling at the box office. The production, which cost over $50 million, is one of Europe’s largest projects. The series is adapted from a 1986 novel and is a retelling of the German Nibelung saga. It features elements of dragons, dwarves, and magic, and is said to have inspired famous works like The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones. The creators shot both a feature film and a six-part TV series at the same time. The film, called Hagen, was released in German theaters last year but did not perform well, earning about $2 million. The series is set to premiere on the German streaming service RTL+ later in 2025. Unlike previous adaptations, War of the Kingdoms changes the story's traditional roles. Here, Hagen, usually seen as the villain, becomes the main character, while Siegfried is portrayed as a charming but dangerous hero. The cast includes Dutch actor Gijs Naber as Hagen and Jannis Niewöhner as Siegfried. As streaming platforms are becoming more selective, the team behind War of the Kingdoms faces a challenge. Fremantle, the company marketing the series, has not yet secured distribution deals. This series may determine the future of premium fantasy content from Europe.