by Thinus Ferreira
M-Net is done with the Afrikaans crime drama series Die Byl after six seasons, the last of which started on kykNET (DStv 144) last week.
The Cape Town set first season of Die Byl starring Waldemar Schultz as Colonel Piet van der Bijl - a detective specialising in serial killer cases - was first shown almost a decade ago in 2016 on kykNET and MultiChoice's video streaming service Showmax.
kykNET confirms Die Byl, inspired by the real-life South African detective Piet Byleveld and originally produced by Marche Media and later Wolflight Films, is done after this 6th season.
The confirmation from kykNET came on Friday afternoon in a press statement, the day after a pre-recorded insert was first broadcast on kykNET on Thursday night in the magazine show Bravo! in which Waldemar Shultz in a sit-down interview said Die Byl is finished.
"After six seasons, it's time to say goodbye. It was a very special experience. We didn't know back then that we, the cast, were joining a family that would work together for ten years. The people and the camaraderie will stay with me forever," says Waldemar Schultz in a prepared quote.
According to kykNET, Die Byl is the drama series with the most seasons in kykNET's history.
The 5th and 6th seasons of Die Byl were produced without Leon Kruger who used to be the head writer and Herman Binge, executive producer, who both died in
2021.
"Seasons 5 and 6 are our tributes to them. Also to our Dr Fritz, Eric Nobbs, who passed away in 2022. But I think it's a
good time to wrap up. I'm 10 years older now than when we started, and poor
Van der Bijl has been through so much violence, murder and tragedy in his long
career. Perhaps he'll welcome a bit of peace and quiet."
"I'm not so sure I want to say goodbye. Maybe I'm still
holding out hope for a feature film."
The rest of Die Byl cast includes Marvin-Lee Beukes, Lika Berning, Milan Murray and Amalia Uys.
Tyrone Keogh is the profiler Capt.
William Miller with Marcel van Heerden who joined from season 5 as pathologist Dr Anton Fourie.
Die Byl was written by Elmarie Botha, Berdene Burger and
Lorraine Burger with Berdene Burger, Liezl Spies and Nina Swart as directors, and cinematography by Jay Marais.
The
series was produced by Elmarie Botha for Wolflight Films.
