Constantin Film has halted preparations for its planned television series, “Die Päpstin.” The Munich-based company confirmed the news to the “Welt.” Katja Wirz, a spokesperson for Constantin, stated that the cancellation was caused by the short-notice withdrawal of a foreign financing partner.
According to the company, filming was scheduled to begin in October. The production team had already been established in the Franconian Hohensollern Fortress in Würzburg, meaning that the constructed sets and production infrastructure must now be dismantled and stored. Wirz added, “We hope that it can still be used at a later date.”
The series was intended to be based on the successful story “Die Päpstin.” The novel had sold millions of copies, and its previous film adaptation reached approximately two and a half million viewers in Germany. Jella Haase was scheduled to play the main role in the series version. Prior to the halt, Constantin CEO Oliver Berben announced the project as a modern and provocative retelling of the legend.
Industry sources indicated that the production was one of the largest German film and television projects of the year, with an estimated budget of around 20 million euros. Public funding was already secured; the Film-Television Fund of Bavaria committed one million euros, and the Media Board Berlin-Brandenburg pledged 300,000 euros.
Constantin Film is recognized as one of Germany’s most significant film producers and exhibitors. Among the successful productions by the company are “Der Untergang,” “Der Baader-Meinhof-Komplex,” “Fack ju Göhte,” “Das perfekte Geheimnis,” and the “Eberhofer” series. The Constantin Film AG is part of the Swiss company Highlight Communications AG.
