Rex is back: Production is underway on “Rex – The Call of Vienna,” which will bring the world’s most successful television dog back to Vienna for six full-length episodes.
Beta Film, MR Film, Seven.One, and ORF have teamed up to deliver a new twist on the Rex series.
In Rex – The Call of Vienna, the crime-fighting dog teams up with his partner Detective Max Steiner, played by Maximilian Bruckner (War Horse, Hanam), to solve the most difficult cases in the Austrian capital.
Over the past 30 years, Rex the German Shepherd has become the ultimate four-legged detective and a worldwide phenomenon, resulting in numerous international film adaptations and a total of 750 episodes.
The original “Rex – A Cop’s Best Friend” began in Vienna in 1994, with Tobias Moretti playing the first “dog dad” detective. All 123 episodes were dubbed into dozens of languages, from Spanish to Mandarin, and Beta sold them to nearly every country in the world. The original has been joined by multiple international adaptations. “Hudson & Rex,” currently starring Luke Roberts, established the IP in North America with 136 episodes over eight seasons. “Hudson & Rex,” currently airing on Citytv in Canada and produced by Shaftesbury, Pope and Beta Films, has been sold in more than 120 territories to date. In Italy, “Il Commissario Rex” (aka “Rex – A Cop’s Best Friend – Rome”; Beta/RAI/ORF) has 92 episodes, and in Poland “Komisarz Alex” (aka “Inspector Alex”; Water Color Studios/TVP) has 255 episodes.
MR Film producers Katrin Strasser and Oliver Auspitz said: “Vienna is known for many things: its rich cultural heritage, stunning architecture and vibrant art scene. But there is one TV series that stands out: Rex.” This popular series has been running for over 30 years, with Rex solving crimes in Europe as well as North America. Now it’s time for the most famous four-legged detective to go home – back to where it all began. ”
“‘Rex’ is one of the world’s most famous and successful television series, a truly beloved classic, and now ‘Rex – Vienna Calling’ will continue to draw people of all ages to the screen,” said Oliver Bachart, Beta Film’s chief distribution officer. We believe Rex’s success story will continue and remain as remarkable as it was in the beginning. ”
In Rex – The Call of Vienna, it doesn’t take long for the four-legged detective to use his keen instincts and incredible intelligence to uncover clues about criminals. And when push comes to shove, Rex is always there to back up his partner Max Steiner. Together with Max’s colleague Felix Berger (Ferdinand Seebacher, Other People’s Money), they are ready to prove their nerves of steel, solve a spectacular diamond heist, and find the baker’s killer who was forced into his home’s oven when a bomb threatens to hit a high-rise building in the middle of the city.
The homicide unit is assisted by Evelyn Lightner (Doris Golpashin). Esther Rausch (Snow, Without a Trace – The Case of Nathalie B.) and Andreas Kopriva (Janny: The Fifth Girl) are credited as co-directors. The program will be broadcast in 2026 on ORF in Austria and SAT.1 (linear) in Germany, as well as on the digital channel Joyn.
“Rex – The Call of Vienna” is produced by MR Film in co-production with Seven.One and ORF and is funded by Fisa+, Fernsehfonds Austria, Vienna Film Fund and the State of Lower Austria. Beta Film will be responsible for international sales.
