Between us
Rolf Jäger, believed dead, is back
Stefan Franz returns to "Unter Uns" as Rolf Jäger.
© TVNOW / Stefan Behrens
"Unter uns" fans can look forward to a reunion with the villain Rolf Jäger.
TV hammer on the RTL series "Unter Uns": Rolf Jäger, who was believed to be dead, returns! The former serial villain will again be causing a lot of drama from March 9th as part of the event week. "People believed dead live longer," said actor Stefan Franz (54) happily about the comeback of his cult role in an interview with spot on news. "There was never any real proof of Rolf's death."
Rolf Jäger first appeared in 2002 as the illegitimate son of Wolfgang Weigel in Schillerallee. However, a lack of recognition, unhappy love stories and psychological problems made him more and more an outsider. "Among us" fans should remember his dramatic farewell very well. After donating part of his liver for Sina's daughter Amelie, health complications arise. Weak he sets off on a motorcycle tour and falls down a stone quarry, the machine explodes.
"It's a bit like Rolf Jäger 2.0"
"The Weigels in particular are of course shocked," explains Franz about Rolf's return to Schillerallee. "Everyone thought that Rolf was dead and suddenly he is up to mischief again and nobody seems to be safe from him." However, the actor does not want to reveal much about Rolf's plans yet. "The story of the event week is well written, effective and will surprise many fans. It's a bit like Rolf Jäger 2.0. The audience gets Rolf 100 percent. Pure action, full power!" He shot all of the stunts himself and without a stunt double. Shortly before the shooting of "Unter Uns" he even lost almost 16 kilos. "I'm in top shape again," says the actor happily.
But will Franz return to the series permanently? "The longing of the fans seems to be there. You should just never say never," explains the 54-year-old. "There was always the potential for stories with Rolf, whether as a caring father or as a crazy psycho."
He received a "very warm welcome" from his colleagues on the set. From one moment to the next, all the trust from back then was completely there again. However, he would not necessarily have thought that he would slip into the role of Rolf again.
Return came as a surprise
"Of course, I was totally surprised when I got the call and was asked whether I would return to Schillerallee as Rolf Jäger. The fans obviously wanted that, last year there was probably a petition, Rolf back to 'Unter us'. I always said that I could imagine working at 'Unter Uns' again and I was all the more pleased about the decision of the production and RTL editorial team. "
And what did Franz do after his series end in 2016? "In the meantime, I primarily took care of my son and was busy with homeschooling, which I really enjoy. In between I also did a few other projects." The actor was seen in the ZDF series "Heldt", among others. As Rolf Jäger, he will be back on TV from March 11th. "Unter uns" runs daily from Monday to Friday at 5:30 p.m. on RTL and anytime on TVNow.