Beta Film Begins Distribution of Crime Series About King Ludwig II's Death

German film producer and distributor Beta Film announced it will handle the international distribution of the high-budget crime series 'Ludwig' (Working Title). The series will focus on the mysterious death of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, a ruler known for his eccentric character, visionary castles, and nicknames 'Fairytale King' and 'Mad King'. His Neuschwanstein Castle served as the inspiration for the iconic Disney castle logo. King Ludwig II of the House of Wittelsbach reigned over the Kingdom of Bavaria from 1864 to 1886. He was famous as a patron of the arts, particularly the music of Richard Wagner, and as a builder of extravagant, neo-romantic castles such as Neuschwanstein, Herrenchiemsee, and Linderhof. His reign ended with his deposition due to alleged insanity, followed by his mysterious death in Lake Starnberg, a subject of historical controversy for over a century. Production of the series will be handled by the German production company W&B Television, whose portfolio includes globally acclaimed productions like 'Pagan Peak', 'Dark', and '4 Blocks'. According to industry reports, 'Ludwig' is set to be one of the largest and most expensive German drama productions in recent years. The project was presented to international buyers during the London TV Screenings, a key television industry distribution event held in February in London. „It's reckoned to be one of the biggest dramas in production in Germany of late.” — Beta Film At the same time, Beta Film also confirmed that a new season of the Dutch series 'Máxima', for which it is the distributor, is in development. This series tells the story of Queen Máxima Zorreguieta of the Netherlands. The announcement of both royal projects – the Bavarian and the Dutch – during the same event was described by the media as the company's 'royal moment'. The London event primarily serves to present finished or advanced-stage series to international streaming platforms and television stations.[{"dataISO": "2026-02-24", "data": "24 lutego 2026", "tytul": "Market Launch", "opis": "Beta Film officially announces at the London TV Screenings that it will handle the international distribution of the series 'Ludwig'."}, {"dataISO": "2026-02-24", "data": "24 lutego 2026", "tytul": "Production Underway", "opis": "The series is currently in production by W&B Television."}, {"dataISO": "2026-02-24", "data": "24 lutego 2026", "tytul": "'Máxima' Announcement", "opis": "The company simultaneously announces work on a new season of the Dutch series 'Máxima'."}] This information indicates a growing market interest in content about European aristocracy and history, transformed into modern, serialized genre formats. Following the success of productions like 'The Crown' (Netflix) or 'Vikings' (History Channel), 'Ludwig' fits into the trend of combining historical true crime with a biographical thread. The focus on the ruler's mysterious death, the circumstances of which remain unexplained to this day, provides a strong hook for the audience. As the distributor, Beta Film will be responsible for selling the broadcast rights to the series outside Germany, which is crucial for recouping the investment in such a large-scale production.