Russian Original Series ‘Anna K’ Reveals Cast & Begins Filming at Netflix

Netflix's first Russian original series, Anna K has begun filming in Moscow today, (it will also film in St. Petersburg). The streamer has also revealed new actors who will join the cast for the series with previously announced Svetlana Khodchenkova who is playing Anna Karenina.

The new actors joining the cast are Fedor Bondarchuk, Yuliya Aleksandrova, Yuriy Kutsenko, Yuriy Borisov, Alexander Tsypkin, Tatiana Dogileva, and Dasha Vereshchagina. Netflix will reveal additional cast at a later date including the character of Vronsky, a man who draws Anna towards him with irresistible passion and charm to complete the casting.

“We are delighted to begin work on the first Russian Netflix series,” said Anna Nagler, Director, Local Language Originals, CEE, and Russia. “It's fantastic for us to begin production in a new and exciting place, and we believe our show will appeal to audiences all over the world. We've partnered together with fantastic Russian actors and are delighted to introduce a talented cast.”

Fedor Bondarchuk will play Alexey Karenin. Fedor is a Russian A-list film director (Stalingrad, Invasion, Attraction) as well as an actor (Sputnik), producer, and television personality.

Yuliya Aleksandrova will play Darya ‘Dolly’ Oblonskaya. Yuliya is a humorous actress who has been in several popular Russian comedies, including the blockbuster Gorko!

Yuriy Kutsenko will play Stepan ‘Stiva’ Oblonsky. Yuriy is a Russian stage and film actor best known for his roles in Mama Don't Cry and the vampire franchise Night Watch and Day Watch.

Yuriy Borisov will play Konstantin Levin. Borisov is the only Russian actor who has two films in which he plays the lead role that has been selected for the Cannes Film Festival 2021 (Petrov's Flu, Compartment #6). He also appears in Silver Skates, which is available on Netflix internationally.

Alexander Tsypkin will play Sergey Koznyshev. Alexander is a Russian celebrity writer and columnist whose Unscrupulous series is based on Tsypkin's novel.

Tatiana Dogileva will play Agatha Mikhailovna. Tatiana's most recent international achievement is a supporting role in An Ordinary Woman, which was chosen as a Series Mania official competition selection in 2018.

Dasha Vereshchagina will play Ekaterina ‘Kitty’ Shcherbatskaya.

ANNA K is a lavish, modern retelling of Leo Tolstoy's classic novel "Anna Karenina," one of the world's most well-known novels. The series is set in modern-day Russia, where socialite Anna Karenina, the wife of St. Petersburg's soon-to-be governor, embarks on a life-changing love affair with Vronsky, the dashing heir to an aluminum empire. Their affair gradually spirals out of control, jeopardizing the delicate balance of their familial and social ties. Set in cosmopolitan Moscow, historical St. Petersburg, and Russia's harsh countryside, the drama tackles themes of desire, loyalty, and the undeniable reality that no amount of wealth can escape us from love's potential to either free or doom us.

Valeriy Fedorovich, Evgeniy Nikishov, and Roman Kantor will direct and produce the series. A couple of episodes will also be directed by Natasha Merkulova and Aleksey Chupov. Sergey Kornikhin will also produce the series.