‘City of Blood’ Release Date, Cast, Trailer and What to Know About the Series

Disney+ and Hulu are set to transport viewers to a blood-soaked, dystopian Berlin this week, with a premise that promises to captivate audiences. ‘City of Blood’ draws inspiration from the graphic novel ‘Berlinoir,’ depicting a world where vampires dominate organized crime and are scheming to gain political power, with blood emerging as the city’s new currency. The series is slated to premiere on September 16, 2026, and is already creating excitement for its unique blend of horror and unsettling political themes.

This eight-episode drama features a talented cast including Lea Drinda, Soma Pysall, and Franz Hartwig, directed by Philipp Kadelbach. With a compelling concept, it aims to attract fans of both horror and high-quality drama.

‘City of Blood’ will be available on Hulu in the United States and on Disney+ internationally starting September 16, 2026. All episodes will drop simultaneously, eliminating the need for a weekly wait.

The season consists of eight episodes, each approximately 45 minutes long, maintaining a brisk pace that aligns with the thriller elements highlighted in the marketing.

The official trailer for ‘City of Blood’ was released by Disney+ in late August, offering viewers a glimpse into the dark, dystopian universe the show is set to explore. Since then, additional cast information and behind-the-scenes content have been gradually revealed leading up to the premiere.

Rated TV-MA, ‘City of Blood’ falls within the Drama, Fantasy, and Horror genres. This rating suggests that the series will not shy away from intense themes, appealing to long-time horror enthusiasts.

The series is based on ‘Berlinoir,’ a graphic novel by Reinhard Kleist and Tobias O. Meißner, which presents an alternate Berlin dominated by a powerful vampire society. The comic has garnered a dedicated following, making its adaptation a strategic move for Disney+ to attract an existing fanbase.

Originally published in three volumes, the comic concluded in 2008 and was later reissued as a collected edition, earning its place as a standout among German comics of its time. This enduring appeal is precisely why studios often revisit such source material.

Author Tobias Meißner has noted that in the original comic, vampires had drained the river Spree and deforested the area due to their vulnerability to running water and wooden stakes. The series retains the desolate landscape but attributes it to climate change, reframing the narrative around environmental collapse rather than supernatural horror, which significantly alters the story’s tone.

Fans of ‘Berlinoir’ may notice various changes once the entire season is available for streaming, and such comparisons are common with adaptations closely tied to their source material.

The plot centers on sisters Bea and Phoebe, who were separated in childhood by fate. Bea was raised in a sheltered environment due to chronic illness, while Phoebe struggled for survival on the streets of Berlin. Their paths cross again just before a crucial election, leading to a rapid unraveling of events.

Upon reuniting, the sisters uncover a chilling reality: vampires control organized crime in the city and are intent on seizing political power. This storyline merges street-level crime drama with a deeper supernatural undercurrent.

The supporting cast includes notable names like Jördis Triebel, David Schütter, Mouataz Alshaltouh, Jenny Schily, Dagmar Manzel, Melika Foroutan, Jan Georg Schütte, and Lars Eidinger. This impressive lineup of German talent indicates the significant investment Disney+ is making in this production.

The combination of family drama and political intrigue adds emotional depth to ‘City of Blood,’ elevating it beyond a typical monster series, which appears to be the creative team’s intention.

Early reviews have been mixed as episodes begin to air. One review pointed out that the political tension the show aims to convey doesn’t quite resonate, with the blend of climate dystopia and vampire thriller struggling to achieve cohesion, and some ideas feeling stretched thin before the season concludes.

However, the same review commended the physical performances of leads Lea Drinda and Soma Pysall, describing their portrayals as intense and committed throughout the action-packed episodes. Even when the writing falters, the cast seems to deliver strong performances.

Other outlets have likened the series to a different kind of German prestige drama. One source characterized the series as a continuation of the decline narrative associated with the Weimar Republic, suggesting it picks up themes from ‘Babylon Berlin’ but through a near-future lens rather than a historical perspective.

Another critic expressed a desire for the series to retain the ‘Berlinoir’ title, arguing that it encapsulated something ‘City of Blood’ does not. Such critiques indicate that the marketing and branding decisions are already prompting discussions among fans familiar with the source material.

With its ambitious premise, impressive cast, and divided critical reception, ‘City of Blood’ is poised to spark conversations among viewers as soon as the credits roll on the first episode. Once you’ve streamed it on Disney+ or Hulu, will you align with the vampires ruling Berlin or the sisters striving to bring them down?