Jannis Niewöhner: From athlete to bearded dragon slayer Siegfried!

Jannis Niewöhner: From athlete to bearded dragon slayer Siegfried!

The actor Jannis Niewöhner appears in an extremely striking role in his latest film “Hagen”. Known for his wiry appearance and fine manners, the 32-year-old transforms into a bearded, rugged hero for the iconic role of Siegfried. He owes this dramatic transformation not only to hard training, but also to a rather unhealthy diet that consisted of lots of fast food, which is a challenge for his body.

In “Hagen”, a lavish new adaptation of the Nibelungen saga, Niewöhner plays the central character Siegfried, the legendary dragon slayer. The film is often compared to “Game of Thrones” due to its magnificent production and complex characters. Niewöhner himself explains that he can identify with his Siegfried, but not with the classic hero image. “We didn’t want to create a shining hero, but rather a broken, complex character,” he says in an interview.

Nutrition and transformation

In order to grow into the role, Niewöhner had to gain considerable weight. “I had to eat a lot and get bigger, but also fuller,” he explains. His character's lifestyle, which is fun-loving and carefree, plays a crucial role. Niewöhner reports intensive training sessions in the gym, combined with a diet based on burgers and fries. “It was nice at first, but it quickly became tiring,” he admits.

Despite the fact that he wants to quickly lose the extra kilos after the film, which was shot in Prague over eight months, this lifestyle has not been good for his health. He emphasizes that such an unhealthy diet is not recommended in the long term. "It's an energetic question. The better you treat and nourish your body, the more energy you have," explains Niewöhner.

The arduous journey to his body for the role also raises questions about the modern image of a hero. While many believe that we need heroes more than ever these days, Niewöhner disagrees and thinks it's important to show the complexity of the characters. “In our film, everyone is completely lost, and that says more about our society than a shining hero would,” he says. Rather, the approach of portraying a less perfect heroism reflects the challenges society faces today.

This makes it all the more exciting to follow the developments in “Hagen”, which will be shown in cinemas from October 17th. With a combination of legendary characters and modern narrative strategies, the film could captivate the audience and make them think at the same time.