When Money Heist released its first season in 2017, it became a global sensation with praise from both critics and audiences. Unless you were living under a rock, you heard about it – and even if you didn’t watch it, you certainly heard its catchy theme song “Bella Ciao”.
Money Heist’s final season aired in 2021, but such was the show’s success that it’s found a way to live on. Sometime last year, Netflix announced it was working on a prequel mini-series for the crime television show. The new show is titled Berlin and will tell the story of the character of the same name.
Berlin is slated for release this December and Netflix has given us a glimpse of the highly anticipated show. In the trailer, we see a young Berlin going about his criminal ways in Paris before ever knowing he is terminally ill. At some point, the complex but beloved character conceives of an idea to rob a top auction house of jewels worth up to €44 million.
To do this, he enlists the help of five clever criminals: Damian, an academic and Berlin’s close friend; Roi, a locksmith and loyal aide; Cameron, a reckless and adrenaline-driven maniac; Keila, a cybersecurity expert; and Bruce, a gadgets and weapons master.
Netflix released a synopsis of the show alongside the trailer and it provides more context. It reads, “There are only two things that are sure to turn a bad day into a great one: love, and a payday worth millions. They’re what keep Berlin going through his golden years, a time when he still has no inkling of his illness and hasn’t gotten trapped like a rat in the Spanish Mint.”
It continues, “This is where he starts preparing one of his most extraordinary heists: making jewels worth 44 million disappear like some sort of magic trick. To do it, he’ll enlist the help of one of the three gangs he’s ever stolen with.”
In the trailer, we see a different Berlin than the one we know from Money Heist. Unlike the older Berlin who is grim and cruel in a sadistic sort of way, this Berlin is carefree and reckless. He is so reckless that he has an affair with his target’s wife – an act that could jeopardize the entire mission.
Berlin sees Pedro Alonso reprise his role as the titular character aka Andrés de Fonollosa. He is joined by Michelle Jenner, Tristán Ulloa, Begoña Vargas, Julio Peña Fernandez, and Joel Sanchez, among others.
Where Money Heist had a serious tone, Berlin will make people laugh. At least, that’s what Pina promised during Netflix’s TUDUM in June. He said, “It’s a trip through the golden age of the character when he robbed around Europe crazy in love. That’s the most surprising, the comedy. You’re going to make people laugh a lot.”
Berlin was one of Money Heist’s most loved figures, which is why we think it fitting he is first in line for a prequel spinoff. That said, if the IP retains its on-going popularity and success, we might end up seeing additional backstory spin-offs for other character.
Given Money Heist’s success, there will be huge expectations of Berlin from the jump. Nevertheless, we think it is the best equipped to replicate the success of the five-part original series. The character was one of Money Heist’s most loved figures and if the goodwill he enjoyed from fans isn’t enough to attract viewers, then we doubt any other spinoff from the show would do much.
Berlin will arrive on Netflix on December 29, 2023. If you have a hard time waiting and want to refresh your memory about the quirks of this character and the events of the original show, you can stream Money Heist on Netflix.
