Filming of the third and final season of the award-winning series The Empress have begun. The international Emmy award-winning historical drama about the eventful life of Empress Elisabeth is once again being filmed in Bavaria and the Czech Republic, complemented by new, surprising locations in Spain.

The plot of the final season begins after the Sardinian War: Emperor Franz returns traumatised, burdened by the guilt of having lost thousands of soldiers. Elisabeth fights not only for her own honour, but also to support Franz and the empire - while at the same time being challenged by opposition at court and health problems. In the six-part series, she also comes across an encounter that will decisively change her life and the future of Europe.

Devrim Lingnau and Philip Froissant return in their leading roles, as do Melika Foroutan, Johannes Nussbaum, Josephine Thiesen and Runa Greiner. New faces complete the cast, including Dejan Bućin, Merlin Sandmeyer, Marlene Burow and Sebastian Blomberg.

Showrunner Katharina Eyssen leads the creative team, supported by executive producers Robert Eyssen, Jochen Laube, Fabian Maubach and Scarlett Lacey. The season will once again be produced by Sommerhaus Serien GmbH.

The Empress tells the story of young Elisabeth, who is drawn into the power games of the Viennese court after her marriage and has to find her place between love, duty and political influence. The series delights viewers worldwide and has made a name for itself internationally with its two seasons to date.