Netflix has revealed the full cast for its new romantic comedy set at Oktoberfest, a project under the working title Oktoberfest that is being directed by Simon Verhoeven in his debut with the platform. The cast is led by two of the most recognized German stars in the Netflix catalog: Jeanne Goursaud and Jannis Niewöhner.
The announcement comes six weeks after Netflix Germany confirmed that Verhoeven would shoot this film during the actual Oktoberfest, and it is accompanied by the first image from the set. Until now, the platform had kept the names of the cast a secret.
The production is handled by Wiedemann & Berg Film, the company responsible for Dark, the first German Netflix Original, as well as titles such as Fall for Me and The Grimm Reality. Kirstin Winkler also serves as a producer on the project.
What is Netflix’s Oktoberfest romantic comedy about?
The Netflix premise poses a simple question: can you really fall in love between beer and pretzels? Jeanne Goursaud plays Miri, a quick-witted waitress and single mother whose life is already complicated enough before she crosses paths with Tom, played by Jannis Niewöhner.
Tom is a stressed-out businessman who arrives in Munich from New York with a specific mission, but ends up stranded in the middle of the festival with all his plans derailed. Both characters come from completely different worlds and, as often happens in these types of stories, they discover they have more in common than they would like to admit as the chaos of Oktoberfest grows around them.
The official Netflix synopsis describes the film as a tribute to the magic and madness of the festival: a world of euphoria and romance where people collide who, under normal circumstances, probably would never have met.
Simon Verhoeven has explained his personal vision regarding the chosen setting, noting that Oktoberfest is a wonderful and chaotic place where you can experience the most romantic kiss of your life while someone is vomiting a few meters away. According to the director, people let their guard down quickly in that environment, which leads to surprising, honest, and deeply human encounters.
Who is in the cast of Oktoberfest?
Netflix describes the cast as a stellar ensemble, and the list of confirmed names supports that definition.
- Jeanne Goursaud as Miri. Goursaud is arguably the biggest German star on Netflix right now. She starred in Barbarians for two seasons, appeared in Dear Child, plays Alice Vidal in the French crime series Blood Coast, and headlined Exterritorial, which became one of the most-watched non-English language films in Netflix history, a position it still holds in fourth place.
- Jannis Niewöhner as Tom. Netflix subscribers remember him for his role as Paul von Hartmann in Munich: The Edge of War. More recently, he appeared in the German drama 22 Bahnen.
- Senta Berger, Michaela May, Eisi Gulp, and Marlene Morreis, all veteran actors with ties to Munich.
- Bosse Hopperdietz, a new face on the project.
- Peter Gallagher, known to Netflix viewers for his role as Nick in Grace and Frankie, and to the general public as Sandy Cohen in The O.C.
- Fisher Stevens, recognizable for his participation in Succession.
- Bart Edwards, who played Duny in the first season of The Witcher.
Given that Tom's story has a direct connection to New York, it is reasonable to assume that the American actors in the cast, Gallagher and Stevens, are linked to that part of the plot, although Netflix has not confirmed any details about their characters beyond the two main leads.
When will Oktoberfest be released on Netflix?
Filming began on September 15, 2026, coinciding with the actual start of the festival at the Theresienwiese. The crew filmed surrounded by thousands of real attendees, inside authentic beer tents, and throughout the fairgrounds. The remaining scenes are now being shot at Studio Penzing, near Munich, where Netflix is elaborately recreating the Oktoberfest atmosphere.
According to Netflix's initial announcement in September, the participation of about 4,000 extras was expected for the reconstruction of the festival tents in the studio.
For now, Netflix has not offered a release date or even an approximate window. The project was not part of the catalog of 17 German titles presented by the platform in January, so it is a later addition. Considering that filming extends until the fall of 2026 and that a comedy of this scale requires a considerable post-production period, it is reasonable to expect the film to arrive sometime in 2027, possibly coinciding with the proximity of that year's Oktoberfest, which starts in September. This is, in any case, an estimate and not a date confirmed by Netflix.
This is not the first time Netflix has used Oktoberfest as a setting: the platform previously had Oktoberfest: Beer & Blood, a period drama released in 2020 that left the catalog last October.
Frequently asked questions about Netflix’s Oktoberfest romantic comedy
Who are the leads in Netflix’s Oktoberfest romantic comedy?
The leads are Jeanne Goursaud, in the role of Miri, a waitress and single mother, and Jannis Niewöhner, as Tom, an American businessman stranded at the festival.
Who is directing the Netflix film Oktoberfest?
It is directed and written by Simon Verhoeven, known for hit comedies in Germany such as Männerherzen and Willkommen bei den Hartmanns, in his first project for Netflix.
Which international actors are in the cast?
The cast includes Peter Gallagher, known for Grace and Frankie and The O.C., Fisher Stevens, from Succession, and Bart Edwards, who appeared in the first season of The Witcher.
When will Oktoberfest be released on Netflix?
Netflix has not yet confirmed a release date. Considering the filming schedule, the film is expected to arrive sometime in 2027, although this has not been officially confirmed by the platform.
Where is the film being shot?
Filming began at the Theresienwiese in Munich during the actual 2026 Oktoberfest and continues at Studio Penzing, near the city, where the festival atmosphere is being recreated.
