Berlin (also known as Money Heist: Berlin, in Spanish La casa de papel: Berlín) is a Spanish television series created by Álex Pina and Esther Martínez Lobato for Netflix. A prequel to Money Heist, it focuses on the life of Andrés de Fonollosa, aka "Berlin", before the events of the first two seasons of the original series. It stars Pedro Alonso, Michelle Jenner, Tristán Ulloa, Begoña Vargas, and Julio Peña Fernández. The series premiered on 29 December 2023 and consists of eight episodes. The seasons are released as separate miniseries, with the first titled Berlin and the Jewels of Paris.
On 19 February 2024, the show was renewed for a second season, Berlin and the Lady with an Ermine, which was released on 15 May 2026.
Contents
Premise
Many years before the events of Money Heist, Berlin made another heist, stealing €44 million in jewels and framing the one who provided the security for it. He was the leader of a criminal gang by then, Keila, Damián, Cameron, Bruce, and Roi. The series is primarily set in Paris. Things get complicated when, while spying on the victim to be framed, he falls in love with the victim's wife.
Cast
Main
Pedro Alonso as Andrés de Fonollosa or "Berlin"
Samantha Siqueiros as Camille
Tristán Ulloa as Damián
Michelle Jenner as Keila
Begoña Vargas as Cameron
Julio Peña Fernández as Roi
Joel Sánchez as Bruce
Maria Isabel "Masi" Rodríguez as Susi
Supporting
Itziar Ituño as Raquel Murillo
Najwa Nimri as Alicia Sierra
Miko Jarry as Olivier
Martín Aslan as Alain
Belén López as Eris (Limoncello Lady)
Álvaro Morte as The Professor (guest, season 2)
Episodes
Production
In late November 2021, days before the release of the second volume of the fifth part of Money Heist, Netflix announced that it was developing a spin-off series, Berlin, for a tentative 2023 release, with Pedro Alonso expected to reprise his character Berlin from the original series, and Money Heist creator and executive producers Álex Pina and Esther Martínez Lobato at the helm. On 28 September 2022, Michelle Jenner, Begoña Vargas, Tristán Ulloa, Julio Peña Fernández and Joel Sánchez were cast to co-star alongside Alonso. In March 2023, it was announced that Itziar Ituño and Najwa Nimri would also be reprising their roles as Raquel Murillo and Alicia Sierra from Money Heist. Filming began in October 2022 in Paris, France, and continued in Madrid, Spain.
Creators Alex Pina and Esther Martínez Lobato wanted to do something "lighter" after their previous recent projects. In comparison to its parent show Money Heist, Berlin has more comedic tones and employed more actors and locations. The series was shot in a wider screen 2:1 ratio to give the characters "more of a scenic experience of their surroundings".
The second season had begun filming by 23 January 2025. The season sees the return of the Professor (Álvaro Morte) from Money Heist, who is Berlin's brother.
Release
The series premiered on Netflix on 29 December 2023 and consists of eight episodes. In the first week of its premiere, it became the most-watched series worldwide and reached the Top 10 list in 91 countries. By February 2024, it was the ninth most-watched non-English show in Netflix history, with 53.1 million views, and had remained on the Top 10 non-English TV list for seven consecutive weeks.
On 19 February 2024, the show was renewed for a second season, which was released on 15 May 2026.
Netflix separated Berlin's seasons into distinct miniseries, with season 1 titled Berlin and the Jewels of Paris and season 2 titled Berlin and the Lady with an Ermine.
Critical reception
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Berlin and the Jewels of Paris has an approval rating of 70% based on 10 reviews.
The Daily Beast's Noel Murray felt the plot and new characters did not hold up to the original Money Heist.