Home / Arts and Entertainment / Surreal Whodunit: Magritte Clears Name Amid Surging Surrealism
Surreal Whodunit: Magritte Clears Name Amid Surging Surrealism
10 Oct
Summary
- New8 alliance of 8 European broadcasters presents first co-production
- Belgian series "This Is Not a Murder Mystery" features young Magritte
- International cast includes Dalí, Lee Miller, Man Ray, and Max Ernst
In 2023, eight European public broadcasters—including Germany's ZDF, the Netherlands' NPO, and Belgium's VRT—formed the New8 alliance to co-produce and share content, boosting the viewership and relevance of European productions. Now, in October 2025, the alliance is set to present its first showcase, led by VRT's English-language series "This Is Not a Murder Mystery."
The six-episode series follows a young René Magritte, the renowned Belgian surrealist painter, as he tries to clear his name after waking up next to a dead woman in an opulent English estate in 1936. Magritte is joined by a roster of other iconic artists, including Salvador Dalí, Lee Miller, Man Ray, and Max Ernst, all of whom are just beginning to make their mark on the surging surrealist art movement.
Produced by Belgium's Panenka in co-production with Deadpan Pictures, and distributed worldwide by Studiocanal (excluding the New8 member territories), "This Is Not a Murder Mystery" is praised for its "bold and unique tone" and "stunning visuals." The series is set to premiere this fall in Belgium, with other European markets to follow in the winter.
