Frank Doelger announced in 2020 at Cannes, as part of the International Market for Television Programs (MIPTV), that his next TV series The Swarm was going to be the adaptation of novel The Swarm by Frank Schätzing. The series was produced by ZDF within the framework set by the European Alliance, with France Télévisions and RAI, and in co-production with ORF, SRF, Viaplay Group and Hulu Japan who formed the joint venture 'Schwarm TV Productions GmbH & Co KG'. The series is the first project from Doelger-led Intaglio Films, a joint venture formed in 2019 by the German production company Beta Film and ZDF Enterprises.
Produced with an estimated budget of EUR40 million, which makes it the most expensive German TV production (produced in English) of all time, it had its world premiere at 73rd Berlin International Film Festival in Berlinale Series on 19 February 2023, where first 3 episodes out of 8 were screened out of competition.
There has been no official renewal or cancellation announcement from ZDF or the co-producers as of September 2025. The series was produced as a single 8-episode event but one of the directors, Barbara Eder, said there are ideas for a second season, though any continuation would depend on the producers/ZDF evaluating the first season's figures. Some German outlets and ZDF leadership expressed doubt that a second season will happen, despite the show's strong profile, so industry coverage leans toward "possible but unlikely," not a firm cancellation.
Filming began on 7 June 2021 in Italy and Belgium.The final scenes of the series were filmed at a EUR23 million underwater studio on the outskirts of Brussels.
The US distribution rights were sold to The CW in May 2023; the series premiered on Sept. 12