Claes Bang Takes on the Role of Dr. Jakob Joseph, a Plastic Surgery Pioneer, in German TV Series

Claes Bang to Star in TV Series About Pioneer Plastic Surgeon

Claes Bang, renowned for his role in Bad Sisters, will head the cast of a new television series centered on the life of pioneering plastic surgeon Dr. Jakob Joseph.

The series, titled Dr. Jakob, is being crafted by British writer Barbara Machin. Production is led by UFA Fiction, known for Maxton Hall – The World Between Us, in collaboration with Paper Entertainment. The narrative will follow Dr. Joseph, an eccentric and visionary figure whose innovative methods and profound humanity often met resistance from the medical establishment.

Bang, a Danish actor with credits including Dracula and The Square, will portray Dr. Jakob Joseph, the Jewish doctor whose existence becomes increasingly perilous after World War I. Joseph was responsible for the first documented aesthetic surgical procedure in 1896, a groundbreaking act that marginalized him within the medical community. However, he soon found himself crucial to a society in need, as waves of severely disfigured soldiers returned from the war with unprecedented injuries.

Describing the eight-part series, UFA Fiction and Paper Entertainment outlined it as a “character-driven and highly suspenseful medical drama.” Further casting details are expected to be announced as development progresses.

Bang has expressed the importance of shedding light on Joseph’s story, stating that it “has been quietly erased” over the years. He remarked, “It would be an irresistible challenge to explore his story and bring him to the screen.”

Nataly Kudiabor, Managing Director of UFA Fiction, noted, “We were surprised that it was British creatives who brought Jakob Joseph to our attention, while in Germany his name remains largely unknown. How can a European visionary who helped shape modern plastic surgery be almost forgotten?”

Julien Leroux, Managing Director of Paper Entertainment, added, “We’re thrilled to announce Dr. Jakob and even more so to be developing it with such brilliant partners. Claes Bang will no doubt be an extraordinary central character which we can’t wait for global audiences to discover.”

Currently, the show is in development and has not yet secured a distributor. Executive producers include Kudiabor and Denise Neustadt from UFA Fiction, alongside Leroux and Caroline Amer from Paper Entertainment, with the script penned by Machin.

UFA Fiction, a part of Fremantle, is recognized for titles like Maxton Hall and Emil and the Detectives. Meanwhile, Paper Entertainment is also engaged in developing an English-language version of the Israeli comedy-drama Johnny and the Knights of the Galilee.