The Money Heist Berlin cast has been revealed. At a press conference in Madrid on Wednesday, Netflix confirmed that the spin-off prequel has begun production, along with its ensemble lineup. Pedro Alonso reprises his role as legendary jewel thief Andres de Fonolosa, aka Berlin, as he plots a series of heists before the mainline show. The eight-episode series is being directed by Albert Pinto (Sky Rojo), Geoffrey Cowper (Day Release) and David Baruchal – who wrote some of the latter’s Money Heist episodes.
The Money Heist spin-off Netflix series will create a new gang around Berlin, long before he joins a masked heist group. In the words of its creators Esther Martínez Lobato and Lex Pina: “Berlin has the brightest personality to place the character in another universe. We liked the idea of presenting a new gang around Berlin in a completely different emotional state.
As for his gang in the Money Heist spin-off, we have several new faces, starting with Michelle Jenner, an electronics expert; Tristan Ulloa as Damian, a benevolent professor and confidant of Berlin; Begona vargas irregular as Cameroon; Julio Pena Fernandez as the devoted Roi; and Joel Sanchez as Bruce, a relentless man of action.
Money Heist Berlin begins principal photography in Paris on October 3, with production expanding to Madrid in a few weeks. Lobato and Pina co-wrote eight episodes with David Oliva and the aforementioned Barocal. At the press conference, lead Alonso revealed how the script for the series begins:
There are just ten things that can turn a terrible day into an amazing day. The first is love. And the truth, it wasn’t. My third wife had just left me… the second is more than a million Euros loot. But it was not like that. We were going to steal a link to a very big heist, today was easy. But if you’re having a bad day, you can bring a miserable person to his knees and aim for his head.
It will be interesting to see how Netflix builds Berlin’s character through the prequels, seeing as he sacrifices himself in Season 2. Not to mention, the hedonistic thief suffered from Helmer’s myopathy, a muscle-weakening disease that shortened his life. Hopefully, we’ll get to see his struggle with the syndrome and how his personality develops over time. That said, remember that he was a racist, bigoted, and deplorable character — as both Alonso and Pina attest in the Netflix documentary Money Heist: The Phenomenon.
The Money Heist spin-off Berlin is currently in early production and is targeting a 2023 release, according to initial announcements. In June, Netflix released a Korean version of the series, subtitled “Joint Economic Area,” to mixed reviews. Six more episodes scheduled
