Maxton Hall - The world between us

A success story made by FABW alumni

Directors Martin Schreier and Tarek Roehlinger, both graduates of the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg (FABW), are the creative minds behind the series ‘Maxton Hall - The World Between Us’ on Prime Video. With their work, they have shown how FABW alumni can make significant contributions to the international television landscape.
Martin Schreier and Tarek Roehlinger are known for their ability to harmonise narrative depth and visual design. Their participation in this series underlines the role of the FABW as a training centre for filmmakers who hold their own in both the German and international context.

About the series

In June 2023, the series adaptation of Mona Kasten's bestseller ‘Save Me’ was announced, which is being produced by Prime Video and UFA Fiction under the title ‘Maxton Hall - The World Between Us’ . The first season, which comprises six episodes, started on Prime Video on 9 May 2024 and is based on the first book in Mona Kasten's novel series.

‘Maxton Hall - The World Between Us’ tells the story of Ruby Bell, played by Harriet Herbig-Matten, a young woman from a humble background who receives a scholarship to the prestigious Maxton Hall College. There she meets James Beaufort (played by Damian Hardung), a fellow student whose life is characterised by family secrets. The series follows Ruby's endeavours to navigate the privileged environment of Maxton Hall and pursue her academic goals, while confronting the challenges of her relationship with James.
In addition to leads Harriet Herbig-Matten and Damian Hardung , the cast includes Sonja Weißer as Lydia, Ben Felipe as Cyril, Fedja van Huêt as Mortimer and Runa Greiner as Ember.

Since its launch, ‘Maxton Hall - The World Between Us’ has achieved high viewer numbers on Prime Video. The series has been shown in over 120 countries and has received particularly positive ratings in the Prime Video charts since its launch.
The series not only aroused the interest of viewers, but also increased public interest in the filming locations. For example, the city of Hanover, an important location for the series, has seen an increase in interest in travelling. The main actors Damian Hardung and Harriet Herbig-Matten also experienced an increase in social media attention.

Sequel: The second season

Another team for season 2: (from left to right) Julia Nisslein, Damian Hardung, Harriet Herbig-Matten, Ceylan Yildirim, Martin Schreier, Valentin Debler
Photo: Prime Video / Stephan Rabold

The second season is based on ‘Save You’, the second book in Mona Kasten's trilogy, and continues the story of Ruby and James. Filming for the new season began in June 2024, with Martin Schreier returning as director and Ceylan Yildirim taking on the role of showrunner. Markus Brunnemann is producer and Valentin Debler is back as producer.

Synopsis:
After Ruby and James spend a night together in Oxford, Ruby's life seems to be on track. But a sudden stroke of fate in James' family forces Ruby to face new challenges and rethink her relationship.

The world premiere of the series took place on 22 April 2024 at the Zoo Palast in Berlin. The event attracted many guests, including industry insiders and interested parties from the film world, who attended the launch of the series.

Availability and outlook

All six episodes of the first season have been available exclusively on Prime Video since 9 May 2024 . The series is aimed at a broad audience and combines various genre elements that emphasise both suspense and character development.

Filming for the second season is well underway and the series is expected to deepen its storylines to continue to appeal to audiences. This instalment will be directed by FABW alumni Martin Schreier and Tarek Roehlinger, who will continue to guide the creative direction of the series.

Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg's involvement in the production demonstrates how FABW graduates can utilise their skills in international projects and establish themselves in the global entertainment industry. Further updates on the series and FABW alumni projects are expected in the future.