Thriller author Fitzek plays himself in two GZSZ episodes

In the series, Fitzek meets actor Wolfgang Bahro, who has played the role of villain Jo Gerner for decades. Before filming, the author was impressed by his colleague's stage presence. "Wenn man dann weiß, was Gerner in der Serie schon alles durchgezogen hat, zittert man vor der Kamera zumindest insgeheim schon ein bisschen," Fitzek said in an interview with RTL.

Filming and preparation

Rehearsing for the role also cost the author quite a bit of discipline: "Ich habe wirklich lange nicht mehr so viel Text lernen müssen. Normalerweise ist das auf meinen Lesungen ja ganz anders: Da habe ich mein Buch in der Hand oder erzähle Geschichten aus meinem Leben, die kenne ich natürlich," the writer explained. For filming, he therefore had to memorise longer passages — an experience that differs markedly from his usual appearances at readings.

The episodes are embedded in the continuous narrative fabric of Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten. Fitzek does not appear as a fictional character, but as himself, which represents a special constellation for the production: a real author becomes part of a fictional series world while also introducing his own novel into the storyline.

Broadcast and streaming

The broadcaster RTL had already reported on the guest appearance in advance; the original report was distributed via the dpa-Infocom news channel. According to the broadcaster, both episodes will air on 23 and 24 July at the regular broadcast time. For RTL+ subscribers, they were already available in the media library one week earlier.

With the appearance, Fitzek underscores the close connection between literary material and the series, which regularly incorporates real people and motifs into its storylines. "Der Nachbar" is his current psychological thriller, whose reading in the series becomes the trigger for a mysterious twist. In this way, the production weaves the guest appearance directly into the author's work.

Studio Babelsberg as filming location

The Studio Babelsberg site in Potsdam has been the productive centre of the series for years. The fact that an author whose books reach print runs of millions is filming there of all places underscores the importance the production attaches to the literary source. For Fitzek, according to his own account, it is the fulfilment of a long-held wish.

With regard to the upcoming episodes and the streaming version available in advance, fans of the series and readers of the author can follow the appearance in both formats. The combination of literary material, a long-standing series character and a prominent guest makes the two episodes a programming event in RTL's summer schedule.