Why Elyas M’Barek is coming back to Germany
On 13 April 2026 at the Founder Summit in Wiesbaden, actor Elyas M’Barek announced that he and his American wife Jessica will return to Munich after three years living in New York City. The 43-year-old Munich native explained the move to moderator Matthias Killing with a simple line: ‘Ich bin ausgewandert, aber ich komme jetzt wieder zurück.’ The primary reason is exhaustion from constant transatlantic travel that has limited his professional flexibility, especially for projects produced by his own production company, including the Netflix documentary ‘Babo – Die Haftbefehl-Story’. As he put it: ‘Dieses Reisen ist zu anstrengend. Ich bin zu weit weg und zu unflexibel. Mit all den Terminen schaffe ich das einfach nicht mehr.’
Life in New York and the cost of living
M’Barek and Jessica lived in the trendy Dumbo neighborhood of Brooklyn near the Brooklyn Bridge, a part of New York City he described as wonderful but expensive. He summed up the city this way: ‘New York ist geil, aber extrem teuer.’ High living costs in areas like Dumbo were a clear factor in their decision to move back to Munich.
Family, partnership and the move back to Munich
The return was a joint decision. Jessica, who is American, followed M’Barek to the United States in 2023, and they decided together that living abroad had made life too complicated. He reflected: ‘Das war eine schöne Sache. Meine Frau ist Amerikanerin, deswegen bin ich dahin gegangen. Aber wir haben gemerkt, dass es mein Leben zu kompliziert macht.’ New York will remain a second home for him, but proximity to family and friends in Germany and a desire for greater flexibility ultimately tipped the balance.
Housing plans: looking to rent in Munich
Back in Munich the couple is already searching for a four-room rental apartment. M’Barek made it clear that buying a property is not part of the plan: ‘Ich will mieten, zu viel Besitz erschwert das Leben.’ Renting fits their desire for a simpler, more flexible lifestyle as he refocuses on work in Germany.
Professional reasons and upcoming projects
Professionally, the move is intended to reduce the strain of frequent long-distance travel and make it easier for M’Barek to participate in projects tied to his production company. He specifically referenced constraints that made it hard to manage appointments and be flexible for productions, including the Netflix documentary ‘Babo – Die Haftbefehl-Story’.
How the move affects current and future work
The relocation is planned for the coming months so he can better coordinate ongoing and upcoming projects. One named film is ‘Der perfekte Urlaub’, which is scheduled for theatrical release on 22 October 2026. Returning to Munich should allow him to be more present on set and more responsive to production needs.
Multiple reports from at least ten media sources agree on the core facts of the move and its reasons—some outlets emphasize the high cost of living in New York, others highlight the exhausting commute between continents. Together these points paint a consistent picture: personal and professional practicality outweigh the pull of New York as a second home.
What fans can expect
Fans can expect M’Barek to be more available for German film and television work and for events in Munich and elsewhere in Germany. The move should make scheduling easier for both him and his production company and allow him more time with family and friends. While New York will remain important to him emotionally, his professional focus will shift back to Germany for greater flexibility and balance.
Practical timeline and next steps
The couple plans to relocate within the next few months. They will continue to maintain ties to New York, but the immediate priority is settling into a rented Munich apartment and preparing for the demands of upcoming productions. For now, the plan is clear: return to Germany to simplify life, reduce travel fatigue, and focus on work and family.
