Dive into adventure with 'Nautilus': Everyone's after Nemo - ZDFneo's Nautilus Rewrites Captain Nemo's Revenge in a Bold New Series
A bold new take on Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is coming to ZDFneo. The ten-part series, Nautilus, flips the focus to Captain Nemo's early days and his quest for revenge. It premieres with the first five episodes on Friday, April 3, at 8:15 PM, while full streaming begins earlier on Friday, March 27 via ZDF Mediathek.
Set in 1857, the story kicks off with a dramatic nighttime breakout from a British penal colony in India. Prisoners, forced to build the Nautilus submarine for the East India Mercantile Company, seize the vessel under Nemo's command. Played by Shazad Latif, Nemo is driven by vengeance after the murder of his wife and daughter. His crew includes architect Benoît (Thierry Frémont) and the sharp-witted Humility Lucas (Georgia Flood), a defiant Englishwoman who defies 1850s gender expectations.
Their escape triggers a relentless pursuit. Among the hunters are Crawley (Damien Garvey), Billy (Luke Arnold), and the cunning Lord Pitt (Jacob Collins-Levy). The chase unfolds as Nemo and his team explore hidden underwater realms, including the mythical Atlantis. This British-Australian production, developed by showrunner James Dormer and directed by Michael Matthews, blends action, suspense, and humour. Unlike Verne's original, where Professor Aronnax and Ned Land take centre stage, this series dives into Nemo's backstory. Over time, his hardened exterior gives way to moments of vulnerability, adding depth to the adventure.
The first five episodes of Nautilus air on April 3, with all ten available to stream from March 27. The series reimagines a classic tale, offering fresh twists on revenge, rebellion, and underwater discovery. Viewers can expect a mix of high-stakes chases and unexpected humour in this modern retelling.
