Netflix debuts ‘Heweliusz’ on Poland launch anniversary

Netflix ↘ 2.86% premiered its most expensive Polish production to date, "Heweliusz," today on its streaming platform, marking exactly ten years since the company launched in Poland. The five-episode limited series dramatizes the 1993 MS Jan Heweliusz ferry disaster that killed 55 people in the Baltic Sea, representing Netflix's boldest investment in Central Eastern European content.deadline+1

The series launched globally on November 5, 2025, featuring prominent Polish actors Magdalena Różczka and Michał Żurawski in lead roles. Director Jan Holoubek and writer Kacper Bajon, the creative team behind Netflix's previous Polish hit "High Water," helmed the production.reelgood+2

Netflix's Biggest Polish Gamble

"Heweliusz" required a massive production scale, filmed over nine months across 70 locations in Poland and Brussels. The series employed 120 actors, 3,000 extras, and a crew of approximately 140 people. Łukasz Kłuskiewicz, Netflix's Chief of Central and Eastern Europe, described it as "one of the most ambitious projects in Europe and possibly the largest Polish production since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989".deadline+2

The production used 700 tons of water to recreate the catastrophic storm sequences, with filming locations spanning from the Baltic Sea region to Warsaw and specialized water facilities in Brussels. While Netflix hasn't disclosed the budget, the company positioned the series as its most significant Polish commission to date.whats-on-netflix+4

Tragedy and Truth

The series draws from the January 13, 1993 disaster when the MS Jan Heweliusz capsized in a violent Baltic Sea storm near Germany's Rügen island, killing 55 of the 64 people aboard. The ferry, nicknamed "the floating coffin" due to its history of malfunctions, had undergone questionable repairs that affected its stability.whats-on-netflix+1

Beyond the disaster itself, "Heweliusz" explores the legal aftermath as victims' families fought against systemic negligence and attempts to blame the deceased captain. The series incorporates court documents, witness testimonies, and extensive research while using largely fictional characters to tell the story.soapcentral+3

According to Kłuskiewicz, the primary goal remains serving Polish audiences first, with potential global reach as a secondary benefit. "Connecting local viewers with local stories is our main goal," he stated, noting that quality storytelling can resonate beyond regional borders, similar to hits like "Squid Game".deadline