Meet the phenomenon that is “Maxton Hall”
Maxton Hall – The World Between Us has emerged as one of Prime Video’s most compelling TV shows—a German romantic drama that transcends borders through its sophisticated take on class, desire and self-discovery. Adapted from Mona Kasten’s bestselling novel “Save Me,” the series unfolds within the gilded halls of an elite private school where lineage matters more than merit, and where scholarship student Ruby Bell (Harriet Herbig-Matten) finds herself entangled with the last person she’d ever choose: James Beaufort, who is played by Damian Hardung.
James Beaufort (Damian Hardung, Ruby Bell (Harriet Herbig-Matten)
What sets Maxton Hall apart from typical teen drama is its willingness to explore power structures with genuine depth. It’s not just about stolen glances across marble corridors; it’s about what occurs when two individuals from vastly different worlds dare to truly see each other — beyond the roles assigned to them. There is a unique magnetism in portraying a character who exists at the crossroads of privilege and vulnerability. Damian Hardung, the German actor portraying James Beaufort in Prime Video’s Maxton Hall – The World Between Us, understands this delicate balance deeply.
In a recent conversation, Hardung discussed his character’s development from Season 1’s untouchable heir to Season 2’s more introspective young man. This change reflects broader conversations about masculinity, power, and the bravery required to let go of the armour we inherit.
Damian Hardung on “Maxton Hall”, James Beaufort and more:
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What is it about?
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The series, adapted from Mona Kasten’s bestselling novel “Save Me,” follows the electric collision between Ruby Bell (Harriet Herbig-Matten)—a brilliant scholarship student from a working-class background with Oxford ambitions—and James Beaufort, the impossibly wealthy and maddeningly arrogant heir to a luxury hotel empire. Set within the marble corridors of an elite private school where legacy trumps merit, the show transcends typical romantic drama by interrogating class divisions, family legacies, and the cost of conformity. When Ruby accidentally witnesses a secret that could destroy the Beaufort dynasty, she’s thrust into James’s rarefied world, igniting an enemies-to-lovers story that asks profound questions about privilege, authenticity, and whether love can truly bridge irreconcilable worlds. In our conversation, Hardung revealed the nuances of playing a character learning to shed inherited armour—a journey that feels particularly resonant in our current cultural moment.
For season 2, it’s expected to be more emotional, dramatic and intense. Take a look at Prime Video’s official synopsis of season two.
“Those who fly high can also fall low…After their passionate night together in Oxford and her greatest life goal within reach, everything seems to be going perfectly for Ruby (Harriet Herbig-Matten). But a stroke of fate in James’ (Damian Hardung) family changes everything, and James himself, of all people, brings her back from cloud nine to a harsh reality. Ruby is devastated. She has never had such strong feelings for anyone as she does for James – and she has never been so hurt by anyone either. She wants her old life back, where no one at Maxton Hall knew her and she wasn’t part of the elitist world of her classmates. But she can’t forget James – especially since he’s doing everything he can to win her back.”
Where can you watch it?
You can watch on Prime Video.
Watch HereWho is in the cast?
Damian Hardung, Harriet Herbig-Matten, Ben Felipe, Fedja van Huêt, Runa Greiner, Justus Riesner, Andrea Guo
