The Unfamiliar Netflix cast is led by Susanne Wolff as Meret Schäfer and Felix Kramer as Simon Schäfer, a married couple who once worked for Germany’s foreign intelligence service. They now run a safe house in Berlin, but a threat from their past forces them back into the world they tried to leave.
The six-part 2026 thriller combines espionage with a family drama. Meret and Simon must protect their household while questioning old allies, former enemies and each other. Samuel Finzi, Andreas Pietschmann, Henry Hübchen, Maja Bons and Seyneb Saleh are among the major supporting players.
For more spy and action ensembles, see our Elite Force Netflix review, Nemesis Netflix cast guide and CIA cast guide.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Year | 2026 |
| Platform | Netflix |
| Episodes | 6 |
| Country | Germany |
| Setting | Berlin |
| Creator | Paul Coates |
Cast at a glance
| Actor | Character | Why the character matters |
|---|---|---|
| Susanne Wolff | Meret Schäfer | A former BND agent and co-manager of a Berlin safe house. |
| Felix Kramer | Simon Schäfer | Meret’s husband, also a former agent trying to protect the family. |
| Maja Bons | Nina Schäfer | A younger member of the Schäfer family caught in the consequences of the past. |
| Samuel Finzi | Josef Koleev | A significant figure from the intelligence world surrounding the family. |
| Genija Rykova | Vera Koleev | A character connected to Josef and the wider network. |
| Andreas Pietschmann | Jonas Auken | An important player whose loyalties must be examined carefully. |
| Henry Hübchen | Gregor Klein | A veteran figure linked to old operations and institutional history. |
| Seyneb Saleh | Julika Ritter | A key member of the present-day thriller. |
| Aaron Altaras | Mark Sinclair | A character involved in the renewed spy conflict. |
| Natalia Belitski | Katya Volkova | A figure whose name signals the story’s international reach. |
Who is who in the cast?
Susanne Wolff as Meret Schäfer
Susanne Wolff plays Meret Schäfer, a former BND agent whose skills have not disappeared simply because her official career ended. Running a safe house allows Meret to remain close to the habits of intelligence work while creating the appearance of a more stable life.
Meret is both operative and parent. Wolff makes those identities feel connected: the same instinct that once assessed threats for an agency now shapes how Meret protects her family, sometimes at the cost of honesty.
Felix Kramer as Simon Schäfer
Felix Kramer portrays Simon Schäfer, Meret’s husband and former colleague. Simon understands the practical risks of their past, but marriage creates a different kind of vulnerability. Classified histories and survival instincts can make ordinary trust difficult.
Kramer gives Simon a grounded quality that balances the faster thriller elements. He is capable, but the series does not treat him as someone who can solve every problem through force.
Maja Bons as Nina Schäfer
Maja Bons plays Nina Schäfer, a younger member of the family who has not chosen the dangerous history surrounding her parents. Nina’s role gives the series a reason to examine what former agents owe their children.
Family members in spy dramas are often used only as leverage. Unfamiliar is more interesting when Nina has her own reactions, questions and decisions instead of existing only to be rescued.
Samuel Finzi and Genija Rykova as Josef and Vera Koleev
Samuel Finzi plays Josef Koleev, while Genija Rykova portrays Vera Koleev. The pair connect the Schäfers to a broader intelligence network and to relationships that may not fit neatly into friend-or-enemy categories.
Finzi and Rykova help give the thriller an international dimension. Their characters remind viewers that old operations can create personal obligations that last much longer than official assignments.
Andreas Pietschmann as Jonas Auken
Andreas Pietschmann plays Jonas Auken, an important figure in the renewed conflict. In a series built around former agents, any familiar face can bring either help or danger. The uncertainty around Jonas is therefore part of his function from the beginning.
Pietschmann is well suited to roles where calm behavior can conceal complicated motives. His scenes encourage viewers to pay attention to what is not being said.
Henry Hübchen as Gregor Klein
Henry Hübchen portrays Gregor Klein, a veteran figure associated with the older intelligence world. Gregor represents institutional memory, including the choices that agencies and individuals may prefer to forget.
His presence also creates a generational contrast. Meret and Simon are trying to leave their past behind, while Gregor’s experience suggests that intelligence work rarely offers a clean ending.
What is the series or movie about?
Unfamiliar begins after Meret and Simon have left active intelligence work and established a Berlin safe house. Their controlled environment is disrupted when an old threat returns. The couple must identify who is targeting them and why, while keeping their family alive and deciding how much truth to reveal.
The series is more domestic than a globe-trotting spy adventure, but it still uses surveillance, hidden identities and shifting loyalties. Readers who prefer character-driven conspiracies can also try our Obsession Netflix review or the tactical story covered in the Man on Fire cast guide.
Where and when to watch
Unfamiliar is a six-episode German Netflix series released in 2026. It can be watched with the original German audio or with available dubbed and subtitled options, depending on region.
Because the plot relies on past relationships, episodes should be watched in order. Character names can be revisited in the table above, but avoiding detailed recaps will preserve the major loyalty reveals.
Frequently asked questions
Susanne Wolff plays former BND agent Meret Schäfer.
Felix Kramer plays Simon, Meret’s husband and former intelligence colleague.
BND refers to Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service, the country’s foreign intelligence agency.
The series has six episodes.
Yes. It is a German spy thriller set mainly in Berlin.
Paul Coates created Unfamiliar.