Picture: Netflix
Among the most anticipated projects coming out of Poland on the platform this year is an ambitious historical epic adapted from one of the country’s most acclaimed novels: The Doll (Lalka). But what is it about? And why is it another ambitious gamble for Netflix?
Check out the official teaser below:
We listed it earlier this year as part of our top anticipated European projects for 2026. Indeed, this six-episode project marks yet another book-to-screen adaptation for Netflix, utilizing high-end production values to bring classic literary works to life. The Leopard was another project that attempted this in a very similar way, and while the Bridgerton franchise proves there is a massive global audience for period dramas, The Doll is something else entirely. It is nothing less than the adaptation of what some consider to be the greatest Polish novel ever written—an epic saga of business, trade, war, and romance set during a tumultuous time in European history.
What is The Doll about?
Here is the official logline for the series:
“Based on the book by Bolesław Prus, the series is a saga set against the backdrop of the “Spring of Nations” in mid-19th Century Poland, as well as the Russo-Turkish War in Bulgaria. It follows a nouveau riche merchant, Stanisław Wokulski, through a series of trials and tribulations occasioned by his obsessive passion for an aristocratic beauty, Izabela Łęcka.”
Who is in the cast and crew of The Doll?
The Doll (cr. R. Palka/Netflix)
The series is directed by Paweł Maślona, who also co-wrote the episodes alongside Paweł Demirski and Jagoda Dutkiewicz. The director is best known for his previous movie, Scarborn (2023), an account of the life of Polish revolutionary hero Tadeusz Kościuszko, a general who organized an uprising against the Russian Empire in the 18th century.
The lead role of Izabela is played by Sandra Drzymalska, who was nominated for a Polish Academy Award for her role in Jerzy Skolimowski‘s EO (2022). Netflix subscribers may know her best as Monika, one of the leads in the comedy series Sexify, which ran for two seasons. The role of Stanisław Wokulski is played by Tomasz Schuchardt, who has an extensive career in Poland across both film and television. He also had a supporting role in Operation Hyacinth, a Netflix original movie that premiered in 2021.
The cast is rounded out by Dariusz Chojnacki, Jacek Braciak, Julia Wyszyńska, and Magdalena Cielecka.
When is The Doll premiering?
The Doll will premiere globally on Netflix in the second half of 2026.
Interestingly, Netflix’s The Doll isn’t the only adaptation of Bolesław Prus’s legendary novel arriving in 2026. A feature film adaptation, directed by Maciej Kawalski and featuring a completely different cast, is also slated to hit Polish cinemas in September of the same year.
This rare “dueling adaptations” scenario happens more often than you think. There’s a fascinating deep dive by design writer Zośka into the visual identities of both projects. Her piece critically compares the historically inspired gothic typography of the upcoming film’s posters to the “generic gold letters” seen at the end of the Netflix trailer, proving that audiences are already scrutinizing every detail of these two ambitious releases.
Have you read the original novel for this new project? Are you anticipating this highly ambitious new series? Sound off in the comments below and here’s more first looks:
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