Vince (Benito Bause) is lonely and desperate. His fling with Tom (Mads Hjulmand) has not only caused him to lose his best friend, but also the love of his life. Neither Levo (Arash Marandi) nor Robbie (Frédéric Brossier) want anything more to do with him. Vince would prefer to reset everything. But neither friendship nor love can be repaired that easily. Vince’s best friend and neighbor Sarina (Christin Nichols) also carries the burden that the family of choice has broken up. Levo has been living with her temporarily for two months. When Sarina’s brother Simon (Ludwig Brix) suddenly turns up on her doorstep and moves in with Vince without further ado, things start to move.

Rugby is a central theme of the season. Not necessarily a sport that you would expect to see on ALL YOU NEED … How did you come up with the idea of including the rugby team and casting Tom Keune as the coach?

We were looking for a queer safe space for Robbie, who is plagued by self-doubt, where he can fight his inner demons. Ideally in a team sport where he can rub shoulders with his teammates but also find a mentor figure in the coach. My producer, Nataly Kudiabor, then told me about the gay-inclusive rugby team, the Berlin Bruisers. We met with them and it was immediately clear to us: we’re not just taking them as a shining example. We can only capture this inspiring and impressive spirit if we get the Bruisers on board for our series. Which we managed to do. The great team actively supported us in front of and behind the camera. However, we were looking for a professional actor for the role of rugby coach Andreas. And it was clear to us from the first casting: Tom Keune has exactly the right mix of authority and authenticity, wit and warmth that this character so urgently needs. Tom was an absolute stroke of luck for our series.

What were you most looking forward to on the first day of filming?

That it’s finally starting. When you write a series as head writer and creator for over six months – together with the wonderful authors River Matzke and Ceylan Yildirim – and then spend another three months intensively preparing the shoot as director, there’s nothing better than hitting the first clapperboard.

…and the last one?

To sleeping in the next day.

Medical student Vince (Benito Bause) lives in a shared flat with web designer Levo (Arash Marandi). The two are best friends and yet very different. Levo also loves the advantages of life in the big city and has taken a lot with him. But unlike Vince, who has never had a relationship in his late twenties and meets men on dating apps, he believes in monogamy in love. When Levo moves to the stuffy suburbs to live with his new partner Tom (Mads Hjulmand), things start to change for Vince too. He meets fitness coach Robbie (Frédéric Brossier) in a club. He is not only brash, sexy and mysterious, but also completely different from what he initially thought. Robbie has a dark side that he wants to hide from Vince by any means necessary.

The change in status from “single” to “relationship” poses challenges for Vince and Robbie as well as Levo and Tom. How much freedom can safety cost? The hustle and bustle of city life doesn’t make it easy for them …

Benjamin Gutsche:
“It’s 2020 and characters from the LGBTQI community are still mainly told as supporting characters on German television. I’m delighted to be able to change this with ALL YOU NEED. And hopefully this is just the beginning.”

Christoph Pellander, Editorial Director ARD Degeto:
“ARD’s media library offensive is in full swing and has also changed our work at ARD Degeto. With our new series ALL YOU NEED, which is primarily planned as a media library offering, we are addressing a younger audience for the first time in a new short-form format. In 6 x 20 minutes, we tell the diverse stories of our four protagonists: diverse and edgy, modern and in tune with the times.”

Nataly Kudiabor, Producer UFA Fiction:
“We are finally starting to show what our society really looks like on screen. Diversity is naturally moving to the center of our work. This is very important to me and also to UFA. Benjamin Gutsche has created a modern and emotional series that takes us into the urban world of a queer group of friends. (Same)Sex and the city is back! Get your popcorn and tissues ready!”

ALL YOU NEED is a production of UFA Fiction (Producer: Nataly Kudiabor, Producer: Sophie von der Leyen), commissioned by ARD Degeto (Editors: Carolin Haasis, Christoph Pellander) for ARD Mediathek. The director and head writer is Benjamin Gutsche.