Creator of Netflix smash hit series responds to 'heartbreaking' plagiarism allegations

The creator of Netflix's latest hit series has hit back at claims the idea for the series was plagiarised.

The new series 1899 has gone down well with viewers and critics alike - and it even dethroned The Crown as the streaming service's biggest show right now.

Created by Dark co-creators Baran Bo Odar and Jantje Friese, the highly anticipated series has been hit with a serious accusation from Brazilian comic creator Mary Cagnin, who has claimed her idea was used without permission for their new show.

Cagnin shared her ‘shock’ on twitter alongside side-by-side shots from the series and her 2016 comic book to show the alleged similarities between both properties.

She tweeted on Sunday (20 November): "I'M IN SHOCK [translated into English].

"The day I found out that the 1899 series is just IDENTICAL to my comic Black Silence, published in 2016."

The comic book creator also uploaded more frames and story details which are apparently similar in 1899.

Cagnin added: “It's all there: The Black Pyramid. The deaths inside the ship/ship. The multinational crew. The apparently strange and unexplained things. The symbols in the eyes and when they appear.”

In another tweet she wrote: “Codes written. The voices calling to them. Subtle plot details, such as the characters' personal dramas, including their mysterious deaths.”

Cagnin said she has cried over the situation because of her ‘dream’ to have her work recognised around the world.

The artist admitted: “I’ve cried a lot. My dream has always been to be recognized for my work nationally and internationally.

"And to see such a thing happen really breaks my heart. We know that in Brazil we have few opportunities to show our work and be recognized for it.

“I had the opportunity that many comic artists never had: to be able to show my work to an international audience. People. I gave lectures. Talked about the plot. I presented it to influential people in the area. The business is serious.”

The 1899 co-creator Baran bo Odar has now shared an Instagram post showing his official response to the situation.

Sharing a reply from a fan Instagram page which addressed the plagiarism situation, Odar said: “Thank you @1899netflix for these kind words.

"They mean a lot to us. As I already mentioned in my previous post: Unfortunately we don't know the artist, nor her work or the comic. we would never steal from other artists as we feel as artist ourselves.

"We also reached out to her so hopefully she takes back these accusations. the internet became a weird place. please more love instead of hate. thx. bo.”

UNILAD has contacted Netflix for comment.