Netflix to produce first own German series

Video streaming giant Netflix said Wednesday it is making its first original German series, to debut in 2017.

Production of "Dark", comprising 10 hour-long episodes, "is expected to start in 2016 with the series debut worldwide on Netflix in 2017," the company said in a statement.

It described the series as "a family saga with a supernatural twist", set in a German town in the present where the disappearance of two young children exposes the double lives and fractured relationships among four families.

"Dark" is to be written by Jantje Friese and directed by Baran bo Odar, whose critically-acclaimed film, "Who am I -- No System is safe" starring Tom Schilling and Elyas M'Barek, was a German box office sensation, Netflix said.

"Dark is an incredible German story that will appeal to a global audience," said Erik Barmack of Netflix.

"Bo and Jantje are creative talents that have developed great projects in both Berlin and Hollywood, and we are thrilled to be working with them on our first original series entirely authored, shot and produced in Germany."

A few weeks ago, Netflix rival Amazon announced it was hiring German actor and director Matthias Schweighoefer for its own first original German series, called "Wanted" and initially comprising six hour-long episodes.