We’ve got a new original limited series coming to Netflix soon. Full of talented French, German, and British actors and actresses,Transatlanticis a new period drama series created by Anna Winger and Daniel Hendler. Winger is an American writer, producer, screenwriter, and photographer. She created other television shows, such as the threeDeutschlanddrama series andUnorthodox. Hendler is an Uruguayan film, television, and theater actor. He has directed a variety of movies, from Norberto’s Deadline (2010) to El candidato (2016), and is well known for his acting inPhase 7and100 Days to Fall in Love.
To expand its international content, Netflix signed a multi-year creative partnership with Anna Winger.Transatlanticwill be Winger’s first major project within her production company Airlift Productions. The series began filming back in March 2022, with Netflix announcing its production on Mar. 14. Filming for the series lasted for a few months and officially ended back in November 2022. So without further ado, here is everything we know about Netflix’s original seriesTransatlantic.
Transatlantic: The Plot
The plot for this series is based on Julie Orringer’s novelThe Flight Portfolio,about the true story of the Emergency Rescue Committee. This occurs during World War 2 in 1940 whenVarian Frytravels to Marseille with about three thousand dollars and a list of artists and writers he wants to help escape. What was supposed to be a few-week mission turned into him staying there for over a year. He has forged documents, collected emergency funds, and arranged refugee journeys to safer ports across Spain and Portugal. Of the people he saved, some famous writers include Hannah Arendt, Max Ernst, Marcel Duchamp, and Marc Chagall.
While the biggest inspiration for this series derives from Orringer’s novel, Varian Fry was indeed a real person. The Emergency Rescue Committee was a real private American Relief Organization back during the Holocaust. Fry was an American journalist willing to use legal and illegal methods to help about 2,000 refugees leave France and immigrate to the United States. He was only supposed to rescue 200 selected writers and artists for their intellectual prowess. However, not only did he complete his mission by helping writers and artists leave the country, but he saved many others.
We might see the events based onThe Flight Portfolioand adaptations of real past events. Having a period dramabased on true historynot only adds to the international content library but brushes us up on certain historical events that we may not have known before. We will see Fry’s courage and his sacrifices to help those in need. Some light will be shed during a very dark period of our history.
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Transatlantic: The Cast
This show will feature an international cast. Cory Michael Smith, best known for his roles as Edward Nygma/Riddler inGothamand Adrian Lester in1985, is the main protagonist Varian Fry. Next, we have Gillian Jacobs, who played Mickey Dobbs in Netflix’sLove, and Lacey Fitzgerald/Sadie Hill in the 2014 filmThe Lookalike, who will play the role of Mary Jayne Gold. Finally, Corey Stoll, well known for his roles in Netflix’sHouse of CardsandBillions, will star as Graham Patterson. Patterson is the American Consul in Marseille who “sees the refugees as an existential threat to American values.”
Lucas Englander (Appearances,Parlement) is Albert Hirschmann. Amit Rahav (Unorthodox,The Damned) plays the role of Thomas Lovegrove. Ralph Amoussou (Marianne,Missions) will play Paul Diallo. Deleila Piasko (A Stasi Comedy,Boys Are Us) will be Lisa Fittko. Other actors in the cast such as Gregory Montel (Call My Agent!,Thirst For Love), Mortiz Bleibtreu (Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door,Blackout), Alexander Fehling (Inglorious Basterds,Homeland), Jonas Nay (4 Against Z,Deutschland 83), Lolita Chammah (At Eternity’s Gate,Anton Chekhov 1890), Luke Thompson(Dunkirk,Bridgerton), Jodhi May (The Last of the Mohicans,The Warrior Queen of Jhansi), Rafaela Nicolay (FBI: International), and Henriette Confurius (Beloved Sisters,Tannbach) all have roles that are yet to be announced to the public.
Related:Why Historical Inaccuracies in Period Pieces Can Be a Good Thing
Transatlantic: The Release Date
Transatlanticwill be released internationally later this year on Netflix on Jun 21, 2025.
Transatlantic: Everything Else We Know
This Netflix limited series will consist of seven episodes. The filming took place in Marseille, France. The series can be watched in either English, French, or German languages. Each episode will premiere on Fridays.
Book-to-film or tv show adaptations are not new, but it will be refreshing to have a new series that is also based on true events. We all know that theHolocaustwas a terrible part ofworld history, with so many stories left untold. WithTransatlantic, we will see more of the good people that wanted to help those who need it most. Are you ready for this period drama series?
