Boon

The series is based on true events involving the rivalry between two real West German intelligence services in 1950s Bonn: the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution led by Otto John and the Gehlen Organization led by Reinhard Gehlen.

The plot reflects historical claims that Chancellor Konrad Adenauer knew about the Gehlen Organization's efforts to mobilize a secret army against Russia using former Nazis, yet helped keep it secret to allow their integration into post-war Germany.

The show was developed from an original idea by Gerrit Hermans, with the screenplay written by director Claudia Garde together with Martin Rehbock and Peter Furrer.

Filming took place on location in the Czech Republic and North Rhine-Westphalia, and production wrapped in July 2021.

Alongside the drama, ARD produced a companion documentary titled 'Alte Freunde, neue Feinde – Die Doku' plus two additional documentary shorts exploring the real historical period depicted in the series.

The series premiered in Germany on Das Erste in January 2023, airing as double episodes on 17, 18, and 24 January, with all episodes also released early via the ARD Mediathek from 11 January.

After its German premiere, the series expanded internationally, becoming available on Netflix on 25 July 2023 and later streaming on SBS On Demand in Australia from 20 September 2023.