All Quiet On The Western Front - What We Know So Far

The streaming wars continue to alter the very nature of film and television production from the ground up. And even as competitors have more than caught up to Netflix in recent years, the streamer continues to be at the forefront of the movement. They continue to bet big on their slate of original programming as well, with 2022 already delivering a handful of major releases à la new seasons of hit series like "Ozark" and "Stranger Things," along with films like "Hustle" and "The Gray Man."

Things are only going to get bigger for Netflix as the year moves on and prestige movie season rears its shiny golden head. Indeed, the streamer is already lining up a list of releases fit to play a major role in the coming awards ceremonies, including new projects from Guillermo del Toro ("Pinocchio"), Noah Baumbach ("White Noise"), and Andrew Dominik ("Blonde"). One of the least talked about of the streamer's potential awards season players is the upcoming World War I drama "All Quiet on the Western Front." Here's everything we know about the project so far.

If you count yourself a fan of classic literature or cinema, the title "All Quiet on the Western Front" is likely quite familiar. That's because it has already fronted a pair of major Hollywood projects, including 1930's Best Picture-winning opus from Lewis Milestone, and a high-profile 1979 TV movie. Both of those projects were based on Erich Maria Remarque's lauded 1929 novel of the same title. Both the novel and prior theatrical productions are regarded as iconic in their fierce anti-war sentiments as well as their resolute stance against blind nationalism.

Those topics are arguably as prominent in the current climate as they were when "All Quiet on the Western Front" was first published, so there's little reason to suspect the upcoming Netflix venture won't tackle them with the same fervor as its predecessors. As it is, those themes are viewed through the eyes of young Paul Bäumer, a German youth who joyously enlists to fight in WWI alongside several friends, only to find the unflinching brutality of warfare too much to bear once they arrive at the front. 

If you've read Remarque's pacifist tome of Lost Generation woe, or seen either adaptation you know there's a lot more going on in the mix, with "All Quiet on the Western Front" depicting both the horrors of war, and the devastating toll it takes on soldiers in ways few stories had before, or have since. It should be fascinating to see how modern audiences respond to that material.

The new adaptation of "All Quiet on the Western Front" is being helmed by German filmmaker Edward Berger. The director admitted to Netflix Queue he was partly inspired to make the film by his own daughter, who'd recently read the source material in school. Berger's past credits include stints on "Deutschland 83," "The Terror," "Patrick Melrose," and "Your Honor." "All Quiet on the Western Front" is undoubtedly the director's biggest project to date, but given his credentials, the material appears to be in capable hands. 

Berger has assembled an impressive cast for the project as well, fronting a solid mix of German actors both young and old. Perhaps most prominent among them is Marvel Cinematic Universe standout Daniel Brühl, who will portray real-life anti-war writer and politician Matthias Erzberger (per Collider). Erzberger did not actually make an appearance in the original novel, signaling Berger is aiming to ground the film more directly to the real world than even Erich Maria Remarque's book, itself based on the writer's own experiences in the war.

Joining Brühl in the film is Felix Kammerer, who will anchor the tale as its central character Paul Bäumer in just his second credited screen role. Appearing alongside Kammerer are relative newcomers Albrecht Schuch as Stanislaus Katczinsky, Moritz Klaus as Frantz Müller, Aaron Hilmer as Albert Kropp, Tjaden Stackfleet as Edin Hasanović, and Adrian Grünewald as Ludwig Behm.

With the what's and the who's of Netflix's upcoming adaptation of "All Quiet on the Western Front" covered, the question becomes when viewers will be able to see the film. The good news for fans eager to revisit the classic anti-war story is that it will be hitting theaters and streaming sooner rather than later. "All Quiet on the Western Front" had its world premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival. A couple of weeks after its TIFF debut, Edward Berger's epic will make its way to German theaters and other international markets for a proper theatrical run.

As Netflix is almost sure to press the movie for awards season glory, it's a safe bet that "All Quiet on the Western Front" will see some sort of U.S. theatrical release as well, though that release will likely be extremely limited based on the streamer's past strategies. Whatever the case, "All Quiet on the Western Front" is currently slated to hit Netflix proper on October 29, 2022. So mark your calendars accordingly.