Since spring, Til Schweiger has been exposed to numerous allegations about the working atmosphere during the filming of the car comedy “Manta Manta”. He was silent for a long time. Now he spoke to the “Stern”.
Director and actor Til Schweiger has commented in detail for the first time in months on allegations surrounding the working atmosphere during the filming of the “Manta Manta” movie. He told Stern magazine: “I don’t want anyone to be afraid of me.” The 59-year-old star also spoke about his alcohol problems and explained that he was in therapy.
The magazine asked Schweiger, pointing out that there were employees during the filming who were afraid of him: “Are you a tyrant, Mr. Schweiger?” He replied: “The accusation hit me hard. Nobody needs to be afraid of me. I’m a friendly person.”
Schweiger: “I’m working on myself”
Nevertheless, friends had previously told him that he could have a manner that seemed “scary.” “I now accept that and am working on myself.” At another point in the “Stern” interview, he said that filmmaking is not grassroots democracy. Someone has to decide. Schweiger is one of the most famous and successful German actors and he has also worked as a director. The new Schweiger film “The best is yet to come!” hits theaters in December.
On the subject of alcohol during the filming of “Manta Manta – Second Part”, Schweiger explained: “There was a situation in which I wasn’t myself because I drank alcohol. But at that moment I didn’t want to admit it. I was convinced that I could shoot.”
Silent about his alcohol problems
Over the years, he said, he had repeated conversations with family and friends who were concerned that he was drinking too much. He always put this topic off his chest. It gradually increased, and then there was a loss of control. Afterwards he was ashamed.
Schweiger also said he sought help. He learned that he could no longer lose control. “I’ll be 60 soon. I don’t want to waste any more time now, I want to become a better person.”
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dpa asked Schweiger’s management for a further statement on the occasion of the “Stern” interview.
The accusations
The “Spiegel” got the whole case rolling in the spring. The report was about alleged harassment and a “climate of fear” on the film set.
“Manta Manta – Second Part” was filmed in North Rhine-Westphalia in the summer of 2022 and was released in cinemas in the spring. Schweiger was the director and the main actor at the same time. The action comedy follows on from the original film from the 1990s. In 1991, “Manta, Manta” with Schweiger in the lead role showed a funny clique in the Ruhr area for whom the car was the most important thing in life.
After the “Spiegel” report appeared, the production company involved, Constantin Film, initiated an external investigation by a law firm into the set conditions for “Manta Manta”. The recently presented result showed an ambivalent picture of the mood on set. Constantin now wants to sharpen his own production standards.
Debate about grievances in the film industry
After the “Spiegel” article appeared, a debate began about grievances in the film industry.
At the time, Schweiger’s lawyer told “Spiegel” about the allegations that some of the “facts” were “not known” to her client; another alleges “alleged facts that did not exist.” It also said that “rumors that have been circulating for years” were “wrongfully presented as fact.”
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
