19/02/26 – SOKO Donau is back! On March 10 at 8:15 p.m., the 20th season of the successful ORF/ZDF crime series premieres on ORF 1 with a double episode. Later in the anniversary season (from episode 11 onward), fan favorite Gregor Seberg returns to his unit as newly promoted “Colonel”. His predecessor, Colonel Henriette Wolf (Brigitte Kren), retires from the series after a well-deserved tenure. The new season episodes “Vergeltung” and “Alte Liebe” will be available to stream on ORF ON 24 hours in advance.
He’s back! Austria’s “favorite cop” Helmuth Nowak is promoted and returns to SOKO Donau as head of the special unit. His predecessor, Colonel Henriette Wolf (Brigitte Kren), leaves the set for civil service retirement—though not before solving one final, very personal case.
Returning to the team alongside Lilian Klebow, Maria Happel, Andreas Kiendl, Martin Gruber, and Max Fischnaller means a great deal to Gregor Seberg. “I could of course say it feels like coming home after a long pilgrimage without enlightenment. Or: the apple never falls far from the tree. Or: I’ve naturally changed as a person and find it exciting to bring some of that into the character of Nowak. Or, more accurately: it’s simply awesome to be back with the SOKO crew. And now I finally get to call the shots!” says Seberg.
“Gregor’s comeback is a real gift for us”
Since 2007, producer Heinrich Ambrosch of Vienna-based Satel Film has been responsible for the successful SOKO Donau concept. “Gregor Seberg’s comeback is a real gift for us. He is returning to an outstanding team and brings with him tremendous experience and precision. This unique blend of down-to-earth authenticity and charisma within the entire ensemble has defined SOKO Donau for many years. The fact that a crime series can captivate and inspire audiences for more than two decades is anything but a given—and is virtually unmatched even by international standards. We are proud that SOKO Donau has become an integral part of the German-speaking television landscape,” says Ambrosch.
What viewers can expect in the new season:
Season 20 is directed by Holger Barthel, Katharina Heigl, and Sophie Allet-Coche. In the very first episode, “Vergeltung” airing March 10 on ORF 1, the SOKO team is confronted with an apparent suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. However, suspicious details—such as the absence of a suicide note and incriminating traces at the scene—lead the investigators to DNA that has already been secured at other crime scenes.
It becomes personal for Klaus Lechner in episode two, “Alte Liebe”. He learns of the alleged accidental death of a former love in Graz. Unable to believe it was an accident, he begins pursuing other lines of investigation on site.
Meanwhile, the team gets involved in recruiting the next generation of criminal investigators, ventures into the diplomatic circles of the United Nations, and searches the area around Leibnitz for runaway teenagers who have gotten themselves into serious trouble. A lottery jackpot win at a tobacconist’s shop in a Vienna municipal housing complex unleashes a wave of criminal energy.
Viewers will also follow the investigators into the harrowing world of “cleaners”, witness a family nearly torn apart by the self-righteousness of their neighbors, and experience a fatal hostage situation carried out in the name of love.
Prominent guest stars will also be appearing once again, including Karl Fischer, Mariam Hage, Grischka Voss, Dominik Warta, Nina Fog, Daniel Langbein, Harald Windisch, Imre Lichtenberger, Julia Koch, Julian Loidl, Holger Schober, Bettina Mittendorfer, Laura Euler-Rolle, Selina Graf, Thomas Arnold, Angela Roy, Marlon Boess, Fabia Matuschek, Harry Lampl, Jutta Fastian, Maya Unger, Sabrina Reiter, Caroline Frank, Emilia Warenski, Martina Poel, Jakob Seeböck, Ines Honsel, Valentin Postlmayr and many more.
“SOKO Donau” available for streaming
The new episodes of Season 20 of SOKO Donau will be available to stream on ORF ON 24 hours prior to their TV broadcast and will remain accessible there afterwards.
Sustainably Produced
The series is produced in accordance with the strict guidelines of the Austrian Ecolabel for “Green Producing (UZ 76)”. Production facilities are powered by green electricity, diesel generators are not used, and public transportation is utilized whenever the corresponding train journey takes less than five hours. All areas—including building materials, set design and props, costumes and makeup, technical equipment, catering, and accommodation—are reviewed for sustainability.
About SOKO Donau
The investigators of “SOKO Donau” first set out on the hunt for murderers in 2005 and have since thrilled millions of viewers with their gripping cases. Filming takes place in Austrian backdrops, including Vienna, Lower Austria, and Styria.
Season 20 of “SOKO Donau” is produced by Satel Film in collaboration with ORF and ZDF, with support from FISAplus, Film in Austria (ABA), the Austrian Television Fund (Fernsehfonds Austria), the Cinestyria Film Commission and Fund, the Province of Lower Austria, and the Film Commission Graz.
Credit: Satel Film/ORF/Roman Zach-Kiesling
