A new German spy thriller is coming to Netflix next month, mixing high-stakes action with a troubled marriage. The limited series Unfamiliar will launch globally on Thursday, February 5, 2026. The show follows two former spies whose secret past crashes into their dangerous present.
Unfamiliar Release Date and Streaming Details
All six episodes of the limited series will be available at once. The show was originally expected to release in 2025 but was moved to the following year.
The Story of Unfamiliar: Spies, Secrets, and Marriage
The series was developed under the working title Bone Palace. It tells the story of ex-spouses Simon and Meret Schรคfer. They run a secret safe house called ‘The Nest’ in the middle of Berlin. This hidden spot is a refuge for people who need to disappear. Their quiet life ends when a threat they thought was gone comes back.
The official description says they find themselves hiding from assassins, foreign agents, and old enemies. They must do this while trying to keep their marriage from falling apart. The danger grows when their cover is blown. This puts their lives and the life of their daughter at serious risk.
The story revolves around a safe house concept with a domestic twist. It feels like a gritty, Berlin-based spin on the Mr. & Mrs. Smith trope, where espionage duties clash with marital struggles.
Meet the Cast of the New German Thriller
The series features a strong cast of German actors. Susanne Wolff plays Meret Schรคfer, the ex-spy and wife. She is known for films like Sisi & I. Felix Kramer plays her husband, Simon Schรคfer. He starred in the series Dogs of Berlin.
Other key cast members include:
- Andreas Pietschmann as Jonas Auken. Fans will recognize him from Netflix hits like Dark and 1899.
- Laurence Rupp as Ben. He played Arminius in the popular Netflix series Barbarians.
- Henry Hรผbchen as Gregor Klein.
- Samuel Finzi as Josef Koleev.
Behind the Scenes and Production Team
Unfamiliar is produced by the German branch of Gaumont. This is the same production company behind global Netflix successes like Lupin and Barbarians. The company also has a history with classic films like The Fifth Element.
The showrunner and lead writer is Paul Coates. The series is directed by Lennart Ruff and Philipp Leinemann. Filming began in Berlin in October 2024.
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German Thrillers Find Global Success on Netflix
Unfamiliar joins a growing list of German-language thrillers that have become popular with Netflix audiences worldwide. These shows and movies often blend local stories with universal themes of suspense.
The German film Exterritorial, released in 2025, became one of Netflix’s most popular movies globally. It stars Jeanne Goursaud as a mother searching for her missing son. Another German thriller, Brick, trapped residents inside an apartment building with mysterious black walls.
Other recent German Netflix projects include the erotic thriller Fall for Me and the crime series Land of Sin, which started streaming in January 2026.
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