| Num Seasons: | 2 |
| Num Episodes: | 14 |
| Runtime: | 48–60 minutes |
| Network: | Netflix |
Kleo is a German action-thriller comedy television series co-created by Hanno Hackfort, Richard Kropf, and Bob Konrad for Netflix, premiering in 2022. It follows the revenge journey of a former East German Stasi assassin, Kleo Straub (Jella Haase), after her arrest and subsequent imprisonment until the fall of the Berlin Wall.
It premiered on Netflix on 19 August 2022, with the second season released on 25 July 2024.
In 1987, after successfully assassinating a double agent in a West Berlin club, East German Stasi assassin Kleo Straub is falsely imprisoned by her agency. When she is released after the Berlin Wall is taken down in 1989, she plans her revenge on the conspirators who framed her. Meanwhile, Sven Petzold, an underappreciated fraud policeman who witnessed the 1987 murder, finds connections between it and Straub, leading him to impede her vengeance quest.
Show creators Richard Kropf and Hanno Hackfort also have cameo roles.
The English version was produced by Liquid Violet in London. Ed Hughes was responsible for adapting the script and directing the dub.
| Role | Actor | Voice actor[1] | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kleo Straub | Jella Haase Rosa Wirtz (young) | Anna Rust Julieta Lyons (young) | |
| Sven Petzold | Dimitrij Schaad | Stephen Campbell Moore | |
| Thilo | Julius Feldmeier | Alexander Arnold | |
| Uwe Mittig | Vincent Redetzki | Rory Alexander | |
| Andi Wolf | Vladimir Burlakov | Jeremy Neumark Jones | |
| Anja | Marta Sroka | Charlotte Gray | |
| Otto Straub | Jürgen Heinrich | Rupert Vansittart | |
| Walter Blum | Bruno F. Apitz | ||
| Anne Geike | Alessija Lause | Julia Brahms | |
| Nikolai Zhukov | Andrej Kaminsky | Branko Tomovic | |
| Margot Honecker | Steffi Kühnert | Clare Corbett | |
| Jenny Schneider | Thandi Sebe | Natasha Gordon | |
| Frederick "Freddy" Lembach | Taner Sahintürk | Mathew McQuinn | |
| Min Sun | Yun Huang | Molly Harris | |
| Mark Petzold | Zethphan Smith-Gneist | Matthew Jacobs Morgan | |
| Ludger Wieczorek | Alexander Hörbe | William Gaminara | |
| Jorge Gonzalez | Rodrigo Rojo | Alvaro Flores | |
| Erich Mielke | Gunnar Helm | David Holt | |
| Brigitte Straub | Anna Stieblich | Kara Tointon Margaret Ashley | |
| Rose Carmichael | Robin Gooch | ||
| Ciana | Alli Neumann | Kristin Atherton | |
| Alexander Belov | Harry Schäfer | Ed Hughes | |
| Holger | Anselm Bresgott Jakob Albert (young) | Mathew McQuinn Tom Moloney (young) | |
On 8 February 2022, Netflix ordered Kleo as a part of 19 German-language productions worth US$571 million. Hanno Hackfort, Richard Kropf and Bob Konrad, co-creators of 4 Blocks, were revealed as series creators, writers and executive producers, with Elena Senft set to co-write. Michael Souvigner and Till Derenbach of Zeitsprung Pictures were also announced as co-producers, while Viviane Andereggen and Jano Ben Chaabane were signed as directors.[2] The series was renewed on 29 September 2022. Series two was released on Netflix on 25 July 2024.
Upon the series announcement on 8 February 2022, Jella Haase was announced as the titular lead of the series.
Principal photography for the series reportedly began in June 2021, with Berlin, Eisenhüttenstadt, and Mallorca revealed as filming locations.[3] [4] In the second series Berlin and Belgrade were used as filming locations.
The series' first official trailer was launched on YouTube on 14 July 2022.[5] Kleo premiered worldwide on 19 August 2022, [6] [7] and was renewed for a second season on 29 September 2022.[8] [9]
The second season was released on 25 July 2024.[10]
The first season of Kleo received positive reviews from critics. [11] Rebecca Nicholson of The Guardian rated the series 3/5 stars, criticizing its similarity with Killing Eve, but praised its casting, characterization, screenplay and pacing, calling it "nevertheless an entertaining, highly stylized and cinematic adventure".[12] Maria Hunstig of Vogue Germany praised the casting, screenplay and pacing, calling it "fast, hard, and incredibly entertaining".[13] Joel Keller of Decider similarly praised its pacing and acting, particularly lauding Haase's performance.[14] Stephen King also praised the series, calling it "a breath of fresh air—suspenseful and also very funny".[15] Historian Katja Hoyer said that Kleo evoked a new curiosity in East Germany through Ostalgie motives.[16]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Results | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Romy | Most Popular Actress Series | Jella Haase | [17] | |
| Best Screenplay | Elena Senft, Hanno Hackfort, Richard Kropf and Bob Konrad | ||||
| Grimme-Preis | Best book fiction | Elena Senft, Hanno Hackfort, Richard Kropf and Bob Konrad | [18] | ||
| Best Director's Fiction | Viviane Andereggen and Jano Ben Chabaane | ||||
| Best Actress | Jella Haase | ||||
| Jupiter Award | Best Actress | Jella Haase | [19] | ||
| Best Supporting Role | Vincent Redetzki | [20] [21] | |||
| Best Comedic Role | Julius Feldmeier | ||||
| Best Duo | Jella Haase and Dimitrij Schaad | ||||
| Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Foreign Language Series | Kleo season 1 | [22] | ||
| Bavarian TV Awards | Audience Award: Best Series | Kleo season 1 | [23] | ||
| Best Actress | Jella Haase | ||||
| Best Actor | Dimitrij Schaad | ||||
| Deutscher Fernsehpreis | Best Drama Series | Kleo season 1 | [24] [25] | ||
| Best Actress | Jella Haase | ||||
| Best book fiction | Elena Senft, Hanno Hackfort, Richard Kropf and Bob Konrad | ||||
| Best Director's Fiction | Viviane Andereggen and Jano Ben Chabaane |