The Kollective: Everything you Should know About the Intense Global Thriller Inspired by real Events

Hulu has just dropped the official trailer for The Kollective, and it’s already turning heads. With explosive visuals, a chilling line—“This isn’t an accident, it is a cover-up!”—and a thunderous pace, the trailer teases a nerve-racking plunge into the dark side of power and media. 

The Kollective draws influence from the groundbreaking work of the real-life Dutch investigative group Bellingcat—whose daring efforts were the focus of the Emmy-winning documentary Bellingcat: Truth in a Post-Truth World. 

But this isn’t a documentary; it’s a taut, fictionalized drama that takes cues from real events and transforms them into an edge-of-your-seat series. Set across international backdrops, the trailer gives a first look at the show’s stylish aesthetic and its unflinching tone.

So what exactly is The Kollective, who’s behind it, and why is it generating so much buzz? We’ve got the cast, creators, story hints, and rollout details—plus more surprises along the way. And don’t worry, we’ll be updating this deep dive with every new clue that drops, so keep checking back if you’re chasing the full truth.

Release date & Where to Watch

All six episodes of The Kollective begin streaming in the US on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 via Hulu and Hulu on Disney+. Internationally, the series is set to debut in 2025 through a coordinated release by The European Alliance—France Télévisions (France), Rai Fiction (Italy), ZDF (Germany)—with Videoland handling the premiere in the Netherlands.

What is the plot of The Kollective?

The Kollective follows a fearless team of young citizen journalists who launch an international investigation after the sudden loss of one of their own in the Congo. As they chase the truth across cities like Budapest, St. Petersburg, and London, they become entangled in a vast conspiracy that stretches across borders and governments.

Fueled by determination and grief, the group uncovers a trail of rogue state actions, political assassinations, and buried evidence, risking everything to expose the global machinery of deceit. Inspired by real-life investigative collectives like Bellingcat, the series highlights the personal and political costs of uncovering the truth.

Anchored by a stellar cast—The Kollective is both a gripping thriller and a timely exploration of truth in an age of misinformation.

Who’s in the cast of The Kollective?

• Natascha McElhone
• Gregg Sulkin
• Celine Buckens
• Grégory Montel
• Felix Mayr
• Orsolya Bukovszky as Sofiya
• Timothy V. Murphy as Kuzmin
• Roy McCrerey as Alexander Potugin
• Sergej Onopko as Sergej
• Rebecka Johnston as Nancy
• Katia Bokor as Ludmilla
• Anders Olof Grundberg as Boris
• Veronika Mox as Anna Shugalova
• Zora Gerda Fejes as Female Companion
• Gyula Mesterházy as Policeman
• Ethan Nguyen as Doctor Xin Aryan
• Alessandro Sparta as Chef Tommy
• György Méhész as Protester

Is There a Trailer for The Kollective?

The trailer for The Kollective plunges viewers into a high-stakes world where a group of young citizen journalists confronts a web of corruption and deceit. Opening with the ominous line, “I don’t think the plane crash was an accident,” the narrative quickly escalates as the protagonists uncover a series of sinister events. 

The trailer reveals elements such as murdered journalists, downed planes in the Congo, and Russian state actors involved in political assassinations, painting a grim picture of global conspiracy. The tension is palpable as one character asserts, “We’ve got murdered journalists, planes brought down in the Congo, and Russian state actors involved in the assassination of political candidates.”  

Visually, the trailer is a montage of rapid cuts and stark imagery, underscored by a haunting score that amplifies the sense of urgency and danger. Scenes of clandestine meetings, shadowy figures, and frantic chases through urban landscapes convey the perilous journey the journalists undertake. 

The dialogue, including lines like “Those people will go to any lengths to silence the truth,” emphasizes the risks involved in their quest for justice.  

The trailer culminates in a crescendo of suspense, leaving viewers with the haunting declaration, “The greatest victories are those that require no battles.” This final note encapsulates the series’ exploration of truth, power, and the sacrifices made in the pursuit of justice.  

Behind the Scenes

The Kollective is helmed by lead director and executive producer Assaf Bernstein alongside director Randa Chahoud. The gripping political thriller is written by Leonardo Fasoli and Maddalena Ravagli, both known for their work on Gomorrah, with additional writing and co-executive production by Ed Hemming.

The creative team also features acclaimed talents like Robrecht Heyvaert and Lennert Hillige as lead directors of photography, Alexei Tylevich as visual designer for the on-screen investigations, and Alison Riva as production designer.

Executive producers include Femke Wolting of Mediawan-owned Submarine, alongside Patrick Vien, Alexandra Finlay, and Hannah Dal Pozzo for A+E Media Group; Andreana Saint Amour and Andrea Ozza for Rai Fiction (Italy); Frank Seyberth and Laura Mae Harding for ZDF; and Manuel Alduy, Morad Koufane, and Pascale Deschamps for France Télévisions. 

The series is backed financially by Creative Europe, Eurimages, the Netherlands Film Fund, and the Council of Europe Pilot Programme for Series Co-Productions.

Speaking about the project, EP Femke Wolting said, “We made this series to highlight the bravery of the individuals who will do everything in their power to protect each other and the society around them, even in a time of political turmoil. With a fantastic creative team and cast to match, this series is equal parts thrilling, entertaining, and driving important conversations” (via Deadline).

Writer Leonardo Fasoli added, “We love investigating what is happening in the world around us and tackling difficult questions through our work. We feel like the battle for truth against fake news is the battle of our time, it’s a fight for the millennial generation.”