Netflix releases six-episode adaptation of Boleslaw Prus novel Lalka

A contemporary reimagining of nineteenth-century Warsaw

Netflix premiered its six-episode miniseries adaptation of Bolesław Prus's classic novel Lalka on 16 September 2026. Directed by Paweł Maślona, who previously directed Kos, the series was written by Maślona alongside Paweł Demirski and Jagoda Dutkiewicz, with production handled by Akson Studio. Set in Russian-partitioned Warsaw, the narrative follows merchant Stanisław Wokulski returning from war with 300,000 roubles to pursue the impoverished aristocrat Izabela Łęcka. The production keeps imperial Russian officials outside the frame, focusing instead on social hierarchy and emerging capitalism across Krakowskie Przedmieście. Screenwriters expanded the original plot by adding an investigation storyline, hidden family secrets, and commercial conflicts.

Character shifts and feminist themes

The adaptation introduces significant departures from the 1890 text, giving Izabela Łęcka agency as she seeks to write for the women's publication Bluszcz. Agnieszka Grochowska portrays nineteenth-century author Eliza Orzeszkowa as the magazine's sharp editor, while Sandra Drzymalska plays Łęcka and Tomasz Schuchardt portrays Wokulski. The ensemble also includes Jacek Braciak as Tomasz Łęcki, Magdalena Cielecka as Kazimiera Wąsowska, Piotr Pacek as Kazimierz Starski, and Dariusz Chojnacki as a foul-mouthed Ignacy Rzecki. Schuchardt explained his approach to balancing the character between traditional school interpretations and modern critiques.

“I wanted to escape two extremes: on the one hand, from the romantic interpretation that I remember from my school years, and on the other, from the contemporary view of the younger generation seeing him as a stalker, a man who cannot stand objection, who has sick ideas about love and about Izabela herself.”

Promotional backlash and academic reception

Ahead of the premiere, Netflix engaged London agency Art Machine London for a mid-August marketing campaign featuring contemporary slogans such as "toy boy" and "daddy issues" in gold typography. Online commentators criticized the campaign for forcing modern terminology onto nineteenth-century literature. The platform assigned the miniseries a 16+ viewer rating due to scenes showing violence, vulgarity, drug use, and sexual content. Dr. Alicja Urbanik-Kopeć of the Polish Academy of Sciences assessed the visual treatment of the social elite.

“The aristocracy in the Netflix series is the most grotesque reanimated corpse the world has seen. Prus would feel satisfied with how it is shown.”

Industry rivalry and competing productions

The Netflix release arrives two weeks before a separate feature film adaptation of Lalka directed by Maciej Kawalski and co-written with Łukasz Światowiec. The dual development caused friction within the Polish film industry after producer Radosław Drabik pitched a competing project to Telewizja Polska despite earlier plans initiated by Netflix producer Jan Kwieciński. Telewizja Polska initially agreed to co-finance Drabik's film, but later withdrew, citing both its ongoing corporate liquidation and the inefficiency of duplicating costly adaptations. Cultural commentator Katarzyna Czajka-Kominiarczuk noted the lasting appeal of Prus's story for filmmakers exploring economic themes.

“Literary adaptations still resonate with us, and decades have passed since the previous adaptations of Lalka. Secondly, Lalka is exceptionally rewarding because capitalism is one of its central themes.”