Netflix‘s Dark is one of the most mystifying and thrilling sci-fi German shows of all time. It fused mystery and the supernatural brilliantly, but the makers aren’t done yet. They recently announced a new show with Lisa Vicari.
‘Dark’ creators and Lisa Vicari collab for HBO Max show
As Variety reported, Dark creators will collaborate with Lisa Vicari on a new HBO Max show. The series will be based on Heinrich Hoffmann’s 1845 children’s novel Der Struwwelpeter. The illustrated book has 10 stories meant to teach young children lifelong lessons about manners.
The 19th-century book is anything but romantic; it is a book of horrors, and there’s an interesting reason behind it. The main character, Struwwelpeter’s design in particular, inspired Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands. While the book features children, the show reimagines the 10 tales as modern-day ritual murders involving adult characters. Struwwelpeter’s story in particular is a lesson on cleanliness, grooming, and social boycott.
Not only that, but the lesson and moral of the stories are something one would not expect in a children’s book. That is to say that it is gory, gnarly, and horrific, if one were to put it simply. It makes for a great plot, and it also makes sense for Vicari to be in this project. She plays the role of Martha Nielsen in Dark, who grapples with her brother Mikkel’s disappearance.
Dark unshrouds the mystery by building anticipation. Think of Stranger Things, but with themes that are more grave and complex. There’s a constant tug of war between the past and present. The villain here isn’t a towering supernatural force but time itself, which plagues the characters.
It destabilizes the characters’ lives, as reflected in their relationships. Dark is a morally complex show, but Vicari’s acting did absolute justice to the show. She invoked empathy in readers through her expressions and dialogue delivery.
With Der Struwwelpeter’s adaptation, the Dark Creators might just outdo their previous works. It would be interesting to see the cautionary tales adapted into a cinematic masterpiece. The entire cast has not been finalized yet, though it is confirmed that Lisa Vicari will feature in this passion project from HBO Max, as filming officially began in Germany this week (early March 2026).