Back to All NewsTHE EMPRESS | Production of season 3 of the globally successful series
Entertainment
14 October 2025
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Start of Production for the third and final season The Empress
Showrunner: Katharina Eyssen
Executive Producers: Jochen Laube, Fabian Maubach, Robert Eyssen,
Katharina Eyssen und Scarlett Lacey
Co-Executive Producer: Lars Gmehling
Writers: Katharina Eyssen (Head-Autorin), Elena von Saucken
Directors: Florian Cossen, Julia Langhof
DoP: Katharina B hler, Rik Zang
Costume: Gabriela Reumer
Hair & MakeUp: Jens Bartram
Production Designer: Theresia Anna Ficus
Associate Producer: Michal Pokorny
Production Company: Sommerhaus Serien GmbH
Service Production: MIA Film
Cast: Devrim Lingnau, Philip Froissant, Melika Foroutan, Johannes Nussbaum, Josephine Thiesen, Runa Greiner, Dejan Bu in, Marlene Burow, Christophe Favre, Alexander Finkenwirth, u.a.
Berlin, October 15, 2025 - The cameras are rolling once more in Bavaria, as the creative team behind the globally successful series The Empress has been back at work since September. The third season of the International Emmy Award-winning series is being filmed not only at familiar locations in the Czech Republic and Bavaria, but also in surprising, exotic parts of Spain. Empress Elisabeths life was full of unexpected turns, deeply moving and touching, much like this third and final season.
Following the devastating Sardinian War, Emperor Franz returns a traumatized man, burdened by the guilt of losing thousands of young men on the battlefield. Elisabeth strives to help him, fighting passionately for her marriage while also championing what she believes is right for the empire-but to no avail. Resistance at court and her own declining health compel her to leave Vienna and embark on an unexpected adventure. In the six-part finale of this thrilling series, Elisabeth will make a fateful acquaintance that will forever alter her life and the future of Europe.
In addition to the popular leading actors Devrim Lingnau and Philip Froissant, Melika Foroutan, Johannes Nussbaum, Josephine Thiesen, and Runa Greiner will also be returning to their roles. There are also some exciting new additions to the cast, including Dejan Bu in as Count Andr ssy, Merlin Sandmeyer as Konstantin von Hohenlohe, Marlene Burow as Terese, Nico Holonics as Otto von Bismarck, and Sebastian Blomberg as Emperor Wilhelm I. Katharina Eyssen is acting again as showrunner for the third season of the moving historical drama, with creative support from executive producer Robert Eyssen. Sommerhaus Serien GmbH, led by executive producers Jochen Laube and Fabian Maubach, as well as executive producer Scarlett Lacey, is once again responsible for production.
Synopsis The Empress - Season 1
When rebellious Elisabeth ( Sisi ) meets Franz, the young Emperor of Austria, it's love at first sight. But their ecstatic and impetuous relationship causes chaos in the dynasty and upsets the balance of power. After the wedding, the young Empress has to find her place in a totally foreign world while standing her ground against her overbearing mother-in-law Sophie who, until now, had always been the most powerful woman in the Viennese Court. Meanwhile, Elisabeth's feelings are put to the test by Maximilian, the second-in-line who lives perpetually in his brother's shadow. Hostile troops gather at the borders of the Habsburg Empire and revolution is in the air in Vienna. Elisabeth needs to learn who she can trust and the price she must pay for being the Empress and a symbol of hope for an entire nation.
Click HERE for the official trailer for season 1.
Synopsis The Empress - Season 2
The first crisis is barely over and the young couple wants to enjoy their fresh marital bliss when dark clouds gather over Sch nbrunn Palace: Franz (Philip Froissant) unexpectedly faces a powerful adversary in Europe. And Elisabeth (Devrim Lingnau) comes under great pressure, because an heir to the throne is to secure the future of the empire as quickly as possible.
When fate strikes with all its power, the couples love threatens to finally break apart. And Elisabeth must fight not only for her family, but also for the integrity of her soul...
Click HERE for the official trailer for season 2.
About Sommerhaus Filmproduktion
Jochen Laube and Fabian Maubach have been running Sommerhaus Filmproduktion together since 2015. Sommerhaus Serien GmbH followed in 2020.
In addition to the feature films In The Aisles by Thomas Stuber (Berlinale Competition 2018) and Was uns nicht umbringt by Sandra Nettelbeck (premiere in Locarno 2018), the projects realized so far include television productions such as Tatort: Der Rote Schatten by Dominik Graf and Katie Eyssens Netflix series Holiday Secrets. The novel adaptation When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Caroline Link won the Bavarian Film Award and the German Film Award. Burhan Qurbanis novel adaptation Berlin Alexanderplatz (Berlinale Competition 2020) received 5 Lolas at the German Film Awards. With Ich bin Sophie Scholl by Tom Lass, the first Instagram format of Sommerhaus Serien GmbH appeared in 2021. In 2022, in addition to the first season Die Kaiserin, two Barcelona Krimis by Carolina Hellsg rd and The Net - Spiel am Abgrund by Rick Ostermann were shown on ARD. Most recently, Die stillen Trabanten by Thomas Stuber was released in December 2022.
Sommerhaus Filmproduktion has offices in Berlin, Ludwigsburg and Munich.
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