Netflix is gearing up for another historical epic with a proven creative team.
Over the years, Netflix has backed several notable historical dramas, from the award-winning saga The Crown to the newer addition House of Guinness. The streaming platform also offers selections from other producers, such as Black Sails and Outlander. However, Netflix will again be producing its own original historical epic with the team that created The Empress.
Per Deadline, Robert and Katharina Eyssen, the creators and showrunners of Netflix’s royal drama, are now back on board with Netflix and producer Sommerhaus to helm Witches, a dark historical epic series chronicling the European witch hunts in the 17th century, specifically in Germany. Witches is presently in development, and Deadline hears that it will be a “major,” long-running series.
Per Witches’ logline, it will focus on three sisters, “[revolving] around a family torn apart by suspicion, accusation and betrayal, and tell a story of protecting loved ones in the grip of fear and fanaticism — and of unyielding resistance in the shadow of one of Europe’s darkest chapters.” While there is no word yet on Witches’ cast or release date, Netflix recently confirmed that The Empress’ final season will release in late 2026.
Robert and Katharina Eyssen said in a statement to Deadline about their new historical TV show: “As with The Empress, we are creating a family story centered on strong, complex, and defiant female characters. It is a radically emotional story that explores marginalization and persecution — a series that provokes thought, sweeps you along, and gets under your skin.“
The German drama series The Empress depicts the lives of Empress Elisabeth and her husband, Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria, in the 19th century; it premiered in 2022 and won the award for Drama Series at the International Emmy Awards in 2023. The Eyssens also previously worked with Netflix and Sommerhaus on the 2019 miniseries Holiday Secrets.
An interest in dark historical series is still very much alive, and Witches seemingly aims to unearth this period in more detail than ever before. With these acclaimed and talented showrunners working on it, Witches could become one of the best Netflix originals and one of the platform’s best historical dramas in the next few years. In the meantime, those anticipating it can check out The Empress on Netflix.
- founded
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January 16, 2007
- founders
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Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph