A riveting sixth season of flames and ash
The crime series Die Byl is making history with its sixth season, premiering in January 2025. This new season makes it the longest-running drama series in kykNET’s history. This time around, Byl and his team hunt a relentless serial killer determined to make their lives a living hell, while battling their own humaneness.
Byl (played by Waldemar Schultz) continues to lead the unit, supported by detectives Juan (Marvin-Lee Beukes) and Lena (Lika Berning), legal expert Nicki (Milan Murray) and Jo (Amalia Uys), a former assassin now serving as a weapons expert. Capt. William Miller (Tyrone Keogh) is a profiler, and Dr Anton Fourie (Marcel van Heerden), a pathologist who joined the team in season five, also returns.
Eliaan Slee (Melissa Willering) is small and fragile but hyper-intelligent and susceptible to ideology. Dr Elize Opperman (Roeline Daneel) is an ambitious scientist only interested in her own gain. Daniël Weyers (Sherman Pharo), a former policeman now working as a private investigator, is Dr Opperman’s accomplice.
Other returning characters include Benjamin Vlok (Danny Ross), web developer Stephen (Sean van Noordwyk) and Capt. Tarina Spies (Ronel Stander), who is eager to become a member of Byl’s team. Familiar faces in the new season include Melanie du Bois, Hannes van Wyk, Pascual Wakefield, Antoinette Louw, Rika Sennett, Geon Nel, Cedwyn Joel, Carel Nel and the legendary veteran acting duo Johan and Lida Botha.
In the first episode, two bodies are found in different locations, both accompanied by a pile of burned-out matches. This sets the stage for the hunt for a serial killer on a gruesome crusade in the name of justice. Other cases this season include a grandfather bullying his grandson and a famous author hiding a dark secret.
The series was originally developed by the late Herman Binge and Elmarie Botha, whereafter the late Leon Kruger was appointed as head writer from the second season. The upcoming sixth season was written by Elmarie Botha, Berdene Burger and Lorraine Burger. Directors include Berdene Burger, Liezl Spies and Nina Swart, with Jay Marais as cinematographer and sound design by Juan Kindo. Mary-Sue Morris was the head of wardrobe, and Stefan Benade the production designer. Sulani Saayman was responsible for the make-up and SFX make-up.
Elmarie Botha, story planner and producer for Wolflight Films, says:
“The sixth season of Die Byl promises to be the most intense and gripping one yet.”
Waldemar Schultz says:
“I am extremely excited about the upcoming series of Die Byl! I think this one will have viewers watching through their fingers! I am also so proud to have worked with a fantastic team of co-actors and production crew to create another season of thrilling episodes. We always work with so much zeal and passion to tell stories, and the goal is always that viewers will enjoy it.”
A combination of complex characters, shocking crimes and emotionally charged storylines will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. The matches introduced in the first episode serve as a metaphor for the fragility of life and the fine line between justice and revenge.
With new technology and a larger budget, the sixth season is set to captivate audiences with breathtaking cinematography and inspired sound design. The SFX make-up, filming locations and set design was of utmost importance to the success and authenticity of the series, which makes it again of high quality.
The sixth season of Die Byl premieres on 14 January 2025 at 20:00 on kykNET (DStv channel 144). The episodes will also be available on DStv Stream and Catch Up.
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