Horst Schlämmer is back: Hape Kerkeling is filming in Neugraben!

Horst Schlämmer is back: Hape Kerkeling is filming in Neugraben!

Horst Schlämmer, Hape Kerkeling's cult figure, is back! After a 16-year break, the 60-year-old actor is back in front of the camera for his new film “Horst Schlämmer is looking for happiness”. How day24 reports, the filming is currently taking place in Hamburg, specifically in the Neugraben district.

What makes this film special? It tells the story of Horst Schlämmer, who leaves his hometown of Grevenbroich to seek great fortune in Germany. Production has already started in Grevenbroich, where there were road closures. The team, directed by Sven Unterwaldt, who is also known for the “7 Dwarves” films, has now moved on to Hamburg. Hape Kerkeling was recently spotted there in a former pub that has now been converted into a laundromat. The actor appeared in his signature look: gray mat, mustache and glasses, but without the iconic trench coat.

A preview of the premiere

The new film will premiere on March 26, 2026. The Film- und Medienstiftung NRW is supporting the project with 600,000 euros. In addition to Kerkeling, talented actresses such as Tahnee Schaffarczyk, Meltem Kaptan and Elena Uhlig are also in the cast, which further fuels the anticipation for the film. Loud harburg-current Kerkeling is occasionally spotted on set, where he likes to relax with a coffee.

Horst Schlämmer's return to Dresden, where he was spotted in the old town in mid-August, shows once again how deeply the figure is anchored in German-speaking countries. The mix of comedy and warmth makes Schlämmer an unmistakable character that many fans can finally see on the screen again.

When exactly he travels to which regions of Germany to look for happiness remains a secret for the time being. But one thing is certain: the fan base is increasingly looking forward to the return of their favorite and can hardly wait to see Horst Schlämmer in the cinema again.