Erdoğan Atalay: Saying goodbye to Semir Gerkhan is difficult

The “new and for the time being last” season of the action series “Alarm für Cobra 11 – Die Autobahnpolizei” will start on July 29th. In an event programming, the new episodes will be shown one after the other from July 29th on three Thursdays (always from 8.15 p.m. or via). Two triple episodes will be followed by a final double episode on August 12, 2021. An RTL spokesman admitted at the beginning of July when asked by the news agency spot on news how things could go on with “Alarm for Cobra 11”. Before deciding on a sequel, however, you want to know how the new episodes are received by viewers. “But we are convinced that the story of the ‘Cobra’ is not over at RTL”, he gave hope to all fans.

Erdoğan Atalay (54) is the heart of the series. Since 1996 and episode three he has been there as Commissioner Semir Gerkhan. “I am aware that series don’t last forever and I was able to do a job for 25 years that I really liked,” he said in an interview with spot on news. That alone is very unusual in the film industry. In no way did he expect the series to work for so long. “I would certainly have continued for a while, but unfortunately I don’t have the power to decide that!” Saying goodbye to his role is “like a divorce from a partner you still love”.

Atalay’s children do not know him without the role and even played in the series themselves. Even the family fashion label “Cobra Eleven” is reminiscent of the format. First and foremost, his family would surely be happy that he had more time for them “and, especially when it comes to show business, I keep telling my children: ‘Enjoy when you are successful, but be careful not to need it because there is also a wonderful life without a camera, ‘”says the Semir Gerkhan actor.

Ex- “Cobra 11” partner was his best man

All in all, the series has grown up at the moment, “which doesn’t mean that we will always stay that way. But the ‘Cobra’ has gone through all life cycles and I don’t know of any series that made such different episodes that were only possible through the benevolence of our viewers were”. Nine different partners have stood by Atalay in 25 years, including Mark Keller (56), Tom Beck (43) and Daniel Roesner (37). “A farewell is always a farewell, because a long period of togetherness comes to an end and you don’t know what’s going to happen. I am still in contact with many of my partners, a few days ago I met Daniel and Tom was even my best man ! “

With all the farewells to his colleagues, did Atalay already have thoughts of quitting? “Every morning when the alarm goes off at 5:30 am,” the actor admits. But the good moments make up for it. “These are those that I was touched and proud of every time. That the team, after so many years of working together, is still so enthusiastic about getting the best out of every scene, and that goes for every department that was and is very unusual. ” The series is known for its elaborate images of car chases, exchanges of fire and explosions. “We always try to consider everything and with the high number of stunts, relatively little happened,” Atalay looks back. “Of course we, especially stunt women and men, bear a residual risk when it comes to the unforeseen. Of course, you can never completely rule it out.”

Atalay is writing his biography

In the last episodes for the time being, Atalay supports Pia Stutzenstein (32) in the action scenes. Only last year she celebrated her debut as Inspector Vicky Reisinger. “Pia is not only a great woman, but also a wonderful actress. She doesn’t take herself too seriously and is tough enough to have her place in our testosterone-controlled world,” enthuses Atalay about her colleague. She is neither grouchy nor particularly vain and always open to suggestions that improve a scene. According to the announcement, the commissioners are reaching their limits in the new season and their past is catching up with them. “It will be dramatic and there will be an ending that the audience certainly won’t expect,” promised Atalay.

And what does the actor plan for a future without “Cobra 11”? “Semir is a role that has undoubtedly shaped my life very much. But if he should no longer exist, other tasks are waiting for me. Which ones will still be revealed,” says the 54-year-old. At the moment he is writing his biography and “I am sure that the people who want to read it will be a little amazed at the career I have contested”.