ORF premiere on December 27th and 28th on ORF 1
Vienna (OTS) – The imperial couple is facing their greatest test to date: “Sisi”, the young empress, wife and mother, is fighting for her family, longs for adventure and suffers from the obligations at court. She turns her back on the Hofburg when her husband Franz sends their son Rudolf into military training against her will and flees with the Crown Prince to Paris. Can the love between Sisi (Dominique Devenport) and Franz (Jannik Schümann) withstand these pressures? ORF 1 will show the new six-part season of the series event in triple episodes as an ORF premiere on Wednesday, December 27th and Thursday, December 28th, starting at 8:15 p.m. New to the “Sisi” cast include Arian Wegener as Crown Prince Rudolf, Pauline Werner and Max Hubacher as Walli and Gustav, a romantic couple of crooks, Deniz Orta as Sisi’s companion Alma, Jakob Geßner as Albert, leader of the workers’ movement, and Daniel Friedrich as the Archduke Franz Karl, father of Franz. There will be a reunion with Désirée Nosbusch (Archduchess Sophie), Tanja Schleiff (Countess Esterhazy), David Korbmann (Count Grünne), Marcus Grüsser (Duke Max), Bernd Hölscher (Otto von Bismarck), Marie Sophie by Reibnitz (Eugénie) and Boris Aljinovic (Napoleon III).
The third season of “Sisi” was filmed by Story House Pictures on behalf of RTL and RTL+ in collaboration with Beta Film and ORF from April to August 2023 in Croatia, Riga, Vilnius and the surrounding area with the participation of approximately 500 crew members and 2,500 Extras. 1,500 costumes – 60 for Sisi alone – and 120 wigs were used.
The content of the individual episodes in detail:
“Sisi” – Episode 13 (Wednesday, December 27th, 8:15 p.m., ORF 1)
The proclamation of the Republic and the overthrow of Napoleon III. also lead to unrest in Vienna. Franz decides to start his son Rudolf’s military training earlier. At the same time, he orders Grünne to mingle incognito with the protesting workers in order to find out who their leader is. Sisi cannot protect her sensitive son from the army and decides to free him on her own.
“Sisi” – Episode 14 (Wednesday, December 27th, 9:15 p.m., ORF 1)
Sisi packs her things and leaves Franz an ultimatum. She will only return to the court with Rudolf if Franz leaves the upbringing to her. Despite Franz’s guards, who are close on Sisi and Rudolf’s heels, they manage to escape. The photographer Alma, who takes mother and son with her to the south of France, is helpful. However, their arrival on a small island does not go unnoticed.
“Sisi” – Episode 15 (Wednesday, December 27th, 10:15 p.m., ORF 1)
Mother and son finally find their joy in life on the island. At the same time, Sisi develops a trusting relationship with Alma. Franz fights against an alliance between the German Empire and Russia, which he can only prevent with the help of his mother. But then he finds out from a spy where Sisi and Rudolf are.
“Sisi” – Episode 16 (Thursday, December 28th, 8:15 p.m., ORF 1)
Franz goes to see Sisi and Rudolf in France. The family is finally reunited. The Emperor and Empress spend a passionate night together, but the very next day Franz secretly takes Rudolf back to Vienna. Sisi and Franz try to forget each other in strangers’ arms. Franz’s harsh treatment of the rebellious workers makes Grünne doubt his loyalty to the crown.
“Sisi” – Episode 17 (Thursday, December 28th, 9:15 p.m., ORF 1)
When Sisi learns that Franz has taken Rudolf out of the army, she returns to the court. Despite their relationship problems, Sisi and Franz receive the Russian Tsar together for the alliance negotiations. Meanwhile, one of the unfortunate workers makes his way to the Hofburg to carry out an assassination attempt on the imperial family.
“Sisi” – Episode 18 (Thursday, December 28th, 10:15 p.m., ORF 1)
Sisi learns that her son has been kidnapped by a worker who demands the emperor’s life in exchange for the crown prince’s release. Closely followed by Franz, Sisi rides off to save Rudolf. While Archduchess Sophie and Countess Esterhazy look after the German Chancellor Bismarck, Sisi and Franz find themselves in a seemingly hopeless situation.