Filming is currently underway until September 28, 2026, for “Zeit der Wunder” (working title), a new TV movie for ZDF directed by Andreas Kleinert. Max Riemelt takes on one of the leading roles as botanist Hannes Knapp, starring alongside Jörg Schüttauf and Godehard Giese.

Based on true events and written by Silke Zertz, the film takes place during the pivotal period between the fall of the Berlin Wall and German Reunification. It tells the remarkable story of a group of visionary East German conservationists, led by moor researcher Michael Succow (Jörg Schüttauf) and botanist Hannes Knapp (Max Riemelt), who seize a historic window of opportunity to protect iconic landscapes—such as the Rügen chalk cliffs, the Harz, and Saxon Switzerland—from commercial exploitation by establishing them as national parks. Joined by Bonn civil servant Arnulf Müller-Helmbrecht (Godehard Giese), the team faces a high-stakes race against time as Reunification approaches faster than expected.

Filming is taking place on location in Gera, Magdeburg, Berlin, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The ensemble cast also includes Benjamin Kramme, Hannes Wegener, Matthias Weidenhöfer, Katrin Wichmann, Raiko Küster, Till Wonka, Thomas Dehler, Anna Grisebach, Stephanie Petrowitz, and Arndt Schwering-Sohnrey. „Zeit der Wunder“ is produced by Constantin Film Produktion GmbH and MOOVIE GmbH (producer: Kathrin Bullemer) on behalf of ZDF (editor: Matthias Pfeifer), with support from Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung, and MV Filmförderung.

Photo credit: „Zeit der Wunder“ (WT) – Start of filming: (l.t.r.) Arnulf Müller-Helmbrecht (Godehard Giese), Corinna Liebmann (Katrin Wichmann), Matthias Freude (Benjamin Kramme), Hannes Knapp (Max Riemelt). © ZDF / Martin Jehnichen