The hunt for book IP continues to drive business.
Following what’s been described as a “highly competitive situation,” Universal International Studios (Uis) has bought the rights to author Lucy Foley’s latest novel, The Midnight Feast.
The Universal Studio Group (Usg)-owned Uis will develop a TV series adaptation of book, which publishes on June 6 and was among the highest profile titles on offer at the recent London Book Fair.
Foley will be an executive producer alongside former HBO Entertainment boss Sue Naegle and Ali Krug, who took over Annapurna’s TV development slate when Naegle exited her Chief Content Officer role at Meg Ellison’s studio back in 2022.
Usg’s Creative Acquisitions and IP Management played a significant role in the Midnight Feast acquisition, we hear. Several sources in the literary IP world have noted the increased U.S. presence at the London Book Fair last week, with Foley’s UK and U.
Following what’s been described as a “highly competitive situation,” Universal International Studios (Uis) has bought the rights to author Lucy Foley’s latest novel, The Midnight Feast.
The Universal Studio Group (Usg)-owned Uis will develop a TV series adaptation of book, which publishes on June 6 and was among the highest profile titles on offer at the recent London Book Fair.
Foley will be an executive producer alongside former HBO Entertainment boss Sue Naegle and Ali Krug, who took over Annapurna’s TV development slate when Naegle exited her Chief Content Officer role at Meg Ellison’s studio back in 2022.
Usg’s Creative Acquisitions and IP Management played a significant role in the Midnight Feast acquisition, we hear. Several sources in the literary IP world have noted the increased U.S. presence at the London Book Fair last week, with Foley’s UK and U.
- 3/22/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
A European TV project will soon be on the same quality level as American but for half the cost, predicted Mediawan and Sony execs today.
As the TV world gets set to emerge from the dual U.S. labor strikes, Mediawan CEO Elisabeth D’Arvieu said European production now has a “big competitive advantage” over America, pointing to tax credits across the continent during a panel at the Mia Market.
“We have a very favorable environment in terms of cost in places like Spain, Italy, Greece and Belgium,” she added. “The combination of a very cost-effective system and pool of talent is an incredible competitive advantage for European studios such as ours.”
Brendan Fitzgerald, Sony Pictures Television’s SVP International Co-Productions in Spain, pointed to shows from Sony labels Bad Wolf, Left Bank and Eleven shooting in Cee and Greece, which “work well in terms of location, crew, talent and tax credit.
As the TV world gets set to emerge from the dual U.S. labor strikes, Mediawan CEO Elisabeth D’Arvieu said European production now has a “big competitive advantage” over America, pointing to tax credits across the continent during a panel at the Mia Market.
“We have a very favorable environment in terms of cost in places like Spain, Italy, Greece and Belgium,” she added. “The combination of a very cost-effective system and pool of talent is an incredible competitive advantage for European studios such as ours.”
Brendan Fitzgerald, Sony Pictures Television’s SVP International Co-Productions in Spain, pointed to shows from Sony labels Bad Wolf, Left Bank and Eleven shooting in Cee and Greece, which “work well in terms of location, crew, talent and tax credit.
- 10/11/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Long-time Universal executive David O’Donoghue is stepping down from his role as the London-based head of studio for Universal International Studios, Variety can reveal.
The executive was promoted to the role in March 2022, reporting into former Hulu executive Beatrice Springborn, who was at the same time appointed president of UCP and Uis.
O’Donoghue was previously executive VP of business affairs and operations for Uis. He was upped to acting head of studio at Uis in September 2020, overseeing international operations following the surprise exit of Jeff Wachtel, and remained in the role until last March.
While working as senior leadership at Uis, O’Donoghue also served as joint managing director and chief operating officer for “Downtown Abbey” producer Carnival Films, which many consider to be one of the crown jewels in the Uis production portfolio, alongside Working Title.
Under Springborn and O’Donoghue’s leadership, Uis has delivered the critically...
The executive was promoted to the role in March 2022, reporting into former Hulu executive Beatrice Springborn, who was at the same time appointed president of UCP and Uis.
O’Donoghue was previously executive VP of business affairs and operations for Uis. He was upped to acting head of studio at Uis in September 2020, overseeing international operations following the surprise exit of Jeff Wachtel, and remained in the role until last March.
While working as senior leadership at Uis, O’Donoghue also served as joint managing director and chief operating officer for “Downtown Abbey” producer Carnival Films, which many consider to be one of the crown jewels in the Uis production portfolio, alongside Working Title.
Under Springborn and O’Donoghue’s leadership, Uis has delivered the critically...
- 1/26/2023
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Universal International Studios has appointed former Netflix executive Tesha Crawford as senior VP of global scripted series.
Based in London, Crawford will report into Uis president Beatrice Springborn and focus on expanding the studio’s scripted slate in the U.K. and Europe. Crawford will be responsible for scouting and packaging new projects for Uis and supporting its portfolio of deals, talent and projects. She will also head up the studio’s U.K.-based creative team.
Crawford joins from Netflix, where she spent the last six years working across international original series and was one of the first content executives hired on the Netflix International Originals team.
The exec started in Latin America, building the platform’s slate of originals including “La Casa De Las Flores” (“The House of Flowers”), “Ingobernable,” “3,” “Coisa Mais Linda” (“Girls from Ipanema”) and “Sintonia.”
She later relocated to Amsterdam to lead the company’s first Nordics series team,...
Based in London, Crawford will report into Uis president Beatrice Springborn and focus on expanding the studio’s scripted slate in the U.K. and Europe. Crawford will be responsible for scouting and packaging new projects for Uis and supporting its portfolio of deals, talent and projects. She will also head up the studio’s U.K.-based creative team.
Crawford joins from Netflix, where she spent the last six years working across international original series and was one of the first content executives hired on the Netflix International Originals team.
The exec started in Latin America, building the platform’s slate of originals including “La Casa De Las Flores” (“The House of Flowers”), “Ingobernable,” “3,” “Coisa Mais Linda” (“Girls from Ipanema”) and “Sintonia.”
She later relocated to Amsterdam to lead the company’s first Nordics series team,...
- 1/24/2023
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Tesha Crawford, a Netflix international exec who has worked on the likes of The Witcher, Snabba Cash and Young Wallander, has joined Universal International Studios (Uis) to aid with its global scripted push.
Crawford has taken on the London-based SVP, Global Scripted Series role and will focus on expanding the studio’s scripted slate in the UK and Europe.
Reporting into Uis President Beatrice Springborn and working closely with LA-based SVP, Global Scripted Series Kelsey Balance, she will scout and package new projects, support talent and lead the UK-based creative team.
Crawford has spent the past six years working on international series for Netflix during a time of non-u.S. growth for the streamer. She was most recently across global franchises in London such as The Witcher and Millarworld and prior to this she led the first dedicated Nordics series team, overseeing the likes of Quicksand, Ragnarok, Snabba Cash and Young Wallander.
Crawford has taken on the London-based SVP, Global Scripted Series role and will focus on expanding the studio’s scripted slate in the UK and Europe.
Reporting into Uis President Beatrice Springborn and working closely with LA-based SVP, Global Scripted Series Kelsey Balance, she will scout and package new projects, support talent and lead the UK-based creative team.
Crawford has spent the past six years working on international series for Netflix during a time of non-u.S. growth for the streamer. She was most recently across global franchises in London such as The Witcher and Millarworld and prior to this she led the first dedicated Nordics series team, overseeing the likes of Quicksand, Ragnarok, Snabba Cash and Young Wallander.
- 1/24/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
In today’s Global Bulletin, BBC Studioworks welcomes back studio audiences; Love Nature boards series “Otter Dynasty”; Endeavor Content acquires international rights for series “The Congregation”; Netflix, Ubisoft and Cineflix Studios hire senior team members; and BBC renews “Noughts + Crosses” for season 2.
After the U.K. government eased lockdown restrictions from Monday, BBC Studioworks is getting audiences back into studios from Tuesday, with safety measures in place.
Productions being recorded over the coming days with live audiences present include “The Goes Wrong Show,” produced by Big Talk/Mischief Screen in association with Lionsgate for the BBC; “The Jonathan Ross Show,” a Hotsauce TV/ITV Studios production for ITV; “Piers Morgan’s Life Stories, an ITV Studios production for ITV; and “The Martin Lewis Money Show,” a Multistory Media production for ITV.
Masked audiences will have to take mandatory temperature checks with thermal cameras before entry. Entry and departure to...
After the U.K. government eased lockdown restrictions from Monday, BBC Studioworks is getting audiences back into studios from Tuesday, with safety measures in place.
Productions being recorded over the coming days with live audiences present include “The Goes Wrong Show,” produced by Big Talk/Mischief Screen in association with Lionsgate for the BBC; “The Jonathan Ross Show,” a Hotsauce TV/ITV Studios production for ITV; “Piers Morgan’s Life Stories, an ITV Studios production for ITV; and “The Martin Lewis Money Show,” a Multistory Media production for ITV.
Masked audiences will have to take mandatory temperature checks with thermal cameras before entry. Entry and departure to...
- 5/18/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix has hired Jenny Stjernströmer Björk as its Director of Nordics Original Series. She is replacing Tesha Crawford, who is being upped to Director, Global Franchises.
Björk arrives from Sf Studios where, for the last five years, she was Chief Content Officer, overseeing projects including The Cake General, The Sunny side, and The Unthinkable. Her background is in publishing and she identified the adaptation potential for A Man Called Ove, which became an Oscar nominee in 2015.
The streamer recently confirmed that it will open its Nordic hub in the second half of 2021, Björk will join from September 1 to lead that team. She will report into Larry Tanz, Vice President, Head of Original Series, Emea. The company will also have a small team in Copenhagen.
Netflix said that by the end of 2021 close to seventy original titles originating from the Nordics will be available on Netflix.
Björk arrives from Sf Studios where, for the last five years, she was Chief Content Officer, overseeing projects including The Cake General, The Sunny side, and The Unthinkable. Her background is in publishing and she identified the adaptation potential for A Man Called Ove, which became an Oscar nominee in 2015.
The streamer recently confirmed that it will open its Nordic hub in the second half of 2021, Björk will join from September 1 to lead that team. She will report into Larry Tanz, Vice President, Head of Original Series, Emea. The company will also have a small team in Copenhagen.
Netflix said that by the end of 2021 close to seventy original titles originating from the Nordics will be available on Netflix.
- 5/18/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix has named former Sf Studios executive Jenny Stjernströmer Björk its new director of Nordics Original Series, further boosting the streamer’s presence in Scandinavia.
Björk worked as chief content officer at Sf Studios, building up an originals lineup that included critically-acclaimed drama series, such as Solsidan (The Sunny Side), and features, including sci-fi drama The Unthinkable and comedy The Cake General.
Starting on Sept. 1, Björk will lead Netflix’s original series team in the Nordics, reporting to Larry Tanz. She succeeds Tesha Crawford, who is moving to Netflix’s global franchises teams as director of global franchises.
While at Sf, Björk helped launch several partnerships ...
Björk worked as chief content officer at Sf Studios, building up an originals lineup that included critically-acclaimed drama series, such as Solsidan (The Sunny Side), and features, including sci-fi drama The Unthinkable and comedy The Cake General.
Starting on Sept. 1, Björk will lead Netflix’s original series team in the Nordics, reporting to Larry Tanz. She succeeds Tesha Crawford, who is moving to Netflix’s global franchises teams as director of global franchises.
While at Sf, Björk helped launch several partnerships ...
- 5/18/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Netflix has named former Sf Studios executive Jenny Stjernströmer Björk its new director of Nordics original series, further boosting the streamer’s presence in Scandinavia.
Björk worked as chief content officer at Sf Studios, building up an originals lineup that included critically acclaimed drama series, such as Solsidan (The Sunny Side), and features, including sci-fi drama The Unthinkable and comedy The Cake General.
Starting on Sept. 1, Björk will lead Netflix’s original series team in the Nordics, reporting to Larry Tanz. She succeeds Tesha Crawford, who is moving to Netflix’s global franchises teams as director of global franchises.
While at Sf, Björk helped launch several ...
Björk worked as chief content officer at Sf Studios, building up an originals lineup that included critically acclaimed drama series, such as Solsidan (The Sunny Side), and features, including sci-fi drama The Unthinkable and comedy The Cake General.
Starting on Sept. 1, Björk will lead Netflix’s original series team in the Nordics, reporting to Larry Tanz. She succeeds Tesha Crawford, who is moving to Netflix’s global franchises teams as director of global franchises.
While at Sf, Björk helped launch several ...
- 5/18/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Netflix has ordered “The Unlikely Murderer,” a Swedish limited series based on Thomas Pettersson’s eponymous 2018 award-winning book.
The five-part drama series is a fictional interpretation of how Stig Engström, the graphic designer named as the suspected murderer of Sweden’s prime minister Olof Palme, managed to elude justice right up to his death through a combination of audacity, luck and a perplexed police force.
Engström’s murder was not planned well, he did everything wrong from the beginning and almost no one believed his lies about what he actually did during that fateful night in 1986 in Stockholm, Sweden. The series will question how police could have let the suspect get away, despite tracking him.
The series is written by Wilhelm Behrman and Niklas Rockström. Charlotte Brändström (“The Witcher”) is the conceptual director and will helm the first two episodes of the show.
The Swedish-language series will be produced by Flx,...
The five-part drama series is a fictional interpretation of how Stig Engström, the graphic designer named as the suspected murderer of Sweden’s prime minister Olof Palme, managed to elude justice right up to his death through a combination of audacity, luck and a perplexed police force.
Engström’s murder was not planned well, he did everything wrong from the beginning and almost no one believed his lies about what he actually did during that fateful night in 1986 in Stockholm, Sweden. The series will question how police could have let the suspect get away, despite tracking him.
The series is written by Wilhelm Behrman and Niklas Rockström. Charlotte Brändström (“The Witcher”) is the conceptual director and will helm the first two episodes of the show.
The Swedish-language series will be produced by Flx,...
- 12/3/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix has greenlit a five-part Swedish-language series on Stig Engström, the man who was named as the probable murderer of former Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme.
The Unlikely Murderer is made by Swedish producer Flx — which is behind Netflix series Quicksand and Love & Anarchy — and stars Robert Gustafsson as Engström. The part-fictionalized story is based on a 2018 book by Thomas Pettersson.
Following the assassination of Palme in 1986, Engström managed to elude justice right up to his death through a combination of audacity, luck, and a perplexed police force.
Other cast includes Eva Melander, Mikael Persbrandt and Peter Andersson. Joel Spira, Emil Almén, Shanti Roney, Torkel Petterson, Henrik Norlén, Lia Boysen, Magnus Krepper, Björn Bengtsson, Peter Viitanen, and Cilla Thorell also feature.
Wilhelm Behrman and Niklas Rockström are the writers, while Charlotte Brändström is the conceptual director. Simon Kaijser also directs. The executive producer is Pontus Edgren, while Fatima Varhos...
The Unlikely Murderer is made by Swedish producer Flx — which is behind Netflix series Quicksand and Love & Anarchy — and stars Robert Gustafsson as Engström. The part-fictionalized story is based on a 2018 book by Thomas Pettersson.
Following the assassination of Palme in 1986, Engström managed to elude justice right up to his death through a combination of audacity, luck, and a perplexed police force.
Other cast includes Eva Melander, Mikael Persbrandt and Peter Andersson. Joel Spira, Emil Almén, Shanti Roney, Torkel Petterson, Henrik Norlén, Lia Boysen, Magnus Krepper, Björn Bengtsson, Peter Viitanen, and Cilla Thorell also feature.
Wilhelm Behrman and Niklas Rockström are the writers, while Charlotte Brändström is the conceptual director. Simon Kaijser also directs. The executive producer is Pontus Edgren, while Fatima Varhos...
- 12/3/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Harald Zwart, who directed the Jaden Smith-fronted reboot of The Karate Kid, is to helm a six-part TV drama for Netflix.
The streamer has ordered the untitled thriller series from Scandinavian production company Motion Blur. It is written by rising writer Petter Holmsen and production has just begun in Skarnes, Norway.
The Norwegian-language serialized story is told over six episodes with a cast including Kathrine Thorborg Johansen (Live), Elias Holmsen Sørensen (Odd), Andrée Sørum (Reinert), Kim Fairchild (Judith), Sarah Khorami (Rose) and Terje Strømdahl (Arvid).
Live Hallangen is declared dead. Hours later on the forensic table she suddenly wakes up with a sudden urge for blood. Meanwhile, her brother Odd tries to keep the family driven funeral home afloat, but there simply aren’t enough people dying in the small Norwegian town of Skarnes. When Live’s bloodthirst keeps intensifying she soon realizes that this newfound urge can actually solve her brother’s problem.
The streamer has ordered the untitled thriller series from Scandinavian production company Motion Blur. It is written by rising writer Petter Holmsen and production has just begun in Skarnes, Norway.
The Norwegian-language serialized story is told over six episodes with a cast including Kathrine Thorborg Johansen (Live), Elias Holmsen Sørensen (Odd), Andrée Sørum (Reinert), Kim Fairchild (Judith), Sarah Khorami (Rose) and Terje Strømdahl (Arvid).
Live Hallangen is declared dead. Hours later on the forensic table she suddenly wakes up with a sudden urge for blood. Meanwhile, her brother Odd tries to keep the family driven funeral home afloat, but there simply aren’t enough people dying in the small Norwegian town of Skarnes. When Live’s bloodthirst keeps intensifying she soon realizes that this newfound urge can actually solve her brother’s problem.
- 9/9/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix has ordered Dutch original series “Dirty Lines,” about the rise of erotic phone lines in the late 80s.
The screenplay, inspired by Fred Saueressig’s book “06-Cowboys,” is written by Pieter Bart Korthuis and produced by Amsterdam-based production company Fiction Valley.
The series tells the story of young businessman Frank Stigter. After several unsuccessful attempts to start his own business, Frank sees his chance when the national telephone company Ptt introduces premium-rate numbers. With the help of his brother and sister and some dubious investors, he starts the first telecom sex company in Europe. What starts as a clumsy improvized experiment in their parents’ garage, rapidly develops into a multi-million dollar industry.
A statement from Netflix explains the background: “Set at the end of the Cold War, the series inspires a young generation to shake off the doomsday thinking of the ‘80s and focus on how to celebrate life to its fullest.
The screenplay, inspired by Fred Saueressig’s book “06-Cowboys,” is written by Pieter Bart Korthuis and produced by Amsterdam-based production company Fiction Valley.
The series tells the story of young businessman Frank Stigter. After several unsuccessful attempts to start his own business, Frank sees his chance when the national telephone company Ptt introduces premium-rate numbers. With the help of his brother and sister and some dubious investors, he starts the first telecom sex company in Europe. What starts as a clumsy improvized experiment in their parents’ garage, rapidly develops into a multi-million dollar industry.
A statement from Netflix explains the background: “Set at the end of the Cold War, the series inspires a young generation to shake off the doomsday thinking of the ‘80s and focus on how to celebrate life to its fullest.
- 6/26/2020
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix Orders ‘Dirty Lines,’ A Dutch Original Series On The Rise Of Erotic Phone Lines In The 1980s
Netflix is working with Fremantle-owned producer Fiction Valley on a Dutch original series that will examine the rise of erotic phone lines against the backdrop of the 1980s cultural revolution in Amsterdam.
Dirty Lines is inspired by Fred Saueressig’s book 06-Cowboys and centers on young businessman Frank Stigter, who goes about setting up Europe’s first phone sex line, sparking what would become a multi-million dollar industry.
Working with his brother and sister, Stigter started with a clumsy experiment in his parents’ garage, but his business becames part of the hedonistic culture of Amsterdam, offering anonymous thrills for new kinds of customers.
Dirty Lines will be written by Pieter Bart Korthuis (Fighter’s Heart) and the commission was overseen by Tesha Crawford, Netflix director of international originals in Northern Europe.
Crawford said: “We have been excited to tell a surprising story that combines elements of Amsterdam we have seen...
Dirty Lines is inspired by Fred Saueressig’s book 06-Cowboys and centers on young businessman Frank Stigter, who goes about setting up Europe’s first phone sex line, sparking what would become a multi-million dollar industry.
Working with his brother and sister, Stigter started with a clumsy experiment in his parents’ garage, but his business becames part of the hedonistic culture of Amsterdam, offering anonymous thrills for new kinds of customers.
Dirty Lines will be written by Pieter Bart Korthuis (Fighter’s Heart) and the commission was overseen by Tesha Crawford, Netflix director of international originals in Northern Europe.
Crawford said: “We have been excited to tell a surprising story that combines elements of Amsterdam we have seen...
- 6/26/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix has ordered “Clark,” a drama series about the Swedish criminal Clark Olofsson who will be portrayed by Bill Skarsgård (“It Chapter Two”).
The six-episode series is based on Olofsson’s autobiography “Vafan var det som hände” and will chart Clark’s early years until present day. Referred to as a “celebrity gangster,” Olofsson started his criminal career in the 1960s and became one of the most controversial personalities in contemporary Swedish history. Over the years, Clark gave rise to the concept of Stockholm Syndrome, managed to escape prisons and committed robberies all over Europe.
“Clark” is set to be directed by Jonas Åkerlund and will launch exclusively on Netflix. The Swedish-language series is being produced by Scandinavian Content Group.
“’Clark’ is the story about the most politically incorrect man, who lived the most politically incorrect life… It’s an ultra-violent, witty, emotional, real and surreal biography to put a...
The six-episode series is based on Olofsson’s autobiography “Vafan var det som hände” and will chart Clark’s early years until present day. Referred to as a “celebrity gangster,” Olofsson started his criminal career in the 1960s and became one of the most controversial personalities in contemporary Swedish history. Over the years, Clark gave rise to the concept of Stockholm Syndrome, managed to escape prisons and committed robberies all over Europe.
“Clark” is set to be directed by Jonas Åkerlund and will launch exclusively on Netflix. The Swedish-language series is being produced by Scandinavian Content Group.
“’Clark’ is the story about the most politically incorrect man, who lived the most politically incorrect life… It’s an ultra-violent, witty, emotional, real and surreal biography to put a...
- 5/11/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix is looking to fellow streamer Spotify for inspiration as it readies a new scripted series about the formation of the Swedish music giant.
The limited series will be based on a book titled Spotify Untold, which was written by business reporters Sven Carlsson and Jonas Leijonhufvud. The film will be produced by Yellow Bird UK, the studio behind another upcoming Netflix series titled Young Wallander, a crime series based on a series of Swedish novels. The Spotify project will be directed by Per-Olav Sørensen (Quicksand), who called Spotify “an ongoing fairytale in modern history about how Swedish wiz kids changed the music industry forever.” Berna Levin (Young Wallander) will serve as executive producer.
“The founding tale of Spotify is a great example of how a local story can have a global impact,” Tesha Crawford, Netflix’s director of international originals for Northern Europe, said in a statement. “We are...
The limited series will be based on a book titled Spotify Untold, which was written by business reporters Sven Carlsson and Jonas Leijonhufvud. The film will be produced by Yellow Bird UK, the studio behind another upcoming Netflix series titled Young Wallander, a crime series based on a series of Swedish novels. The Spotify project will be directed by Per-Olav Sørensen (Quicksand), who called Spotify “an ongoing fairytale in modern history about how Swedish wiz kids changed the music industry forever.” Berna Levin (Young Wallander) will serve as executive producer.
“The founding tale of Spotify is a great example of how a local story can have a global impact,” Tesha Crawford, Netflix’s director of international originals for Northern Europe, said in a statement. “We are...
- 12/11/2019
- by Geoff Weiss
- Tubefilter.com
Netflix will tell the origin story of Swedish music streaming service Spotify in a yet-to-be-titled series from Young Wallander producer Yellow Bird UK.
The scripted series, which has echoes of Aaron Sorkin’s 2010 movie The Social Network, will be based on the book Spotify Untold, which was published this year by business journalists Sven Carlsson and Jonas Leijonhufvud.
It tells the story of how Swedish tech entrepreneur Daniel Ek and business partner Martin Lorentzon revolutionized the music industry through free and legal music streaming when they launched Spotify in 2006. Netflix said it is a drama about how hard convictions, unrelenting will and big dreams can challenge the status quo.
The untitled series will be directed by Per-Olav Sørensen, while Berna Levin (Young Wallander) is the executive producer. Luke Franklin is the producer.
Tesha Crawford, director of international originals Northern Europe at Netflix, said: “The founding tale...
The scripted series, which has echoes of Aaron Sorkin’s 2010 movie The Social Network, will be based on the book Spotify Untold, which was published this year by business journalists Sven Carlsson and Jonas Leijonhufvud.
It tells the story of how Swedish tech entrepreneur Daniel Ek and business partner Martin Lorentzon revolutionized the music industry through free and legal music streaming when they launched Spotify in 2006. Netflix said it is a drama about how hard convictions, unrelenting will and big dreams can challenge the status quo.
The untitled series will be directed by Per-Olav Sørensen, while Berna Levin (Young Wallander) is the executive producer. Luke Franklin is the producer.
Tesha Crawford, director of international originals Northern Europe at Netflix, said: “The founding tale...
- 12/11/2019
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Everest director Baltasar Kormákur is making a supernatural volcano drama for Netflix.
The Icelandic auteur has co-created Katla with Trapped showrunner Sigurjón Kjartansson. The eight-part series is set in Iceland and begins one year after the violent eruption of the subglacial volcano Katla, which dramatically disturbs the peace and tranquility of the small town of Vik.
As people evacuate the area, the ice near the volcano starts to melt. The few remaining people manage to provide necessary community service and despite its grand location the area turns out somewhat apocalyptic. Mysterious elements, that have been deeply frozen into the glacier from prehistoric times, start to emerge from the melting ice and cause consequences no one could have ever foreseen.
Production is set to start on the project, which is written by is written by Kjartansson, Lilja Sigurðardóttir and Davíð Már Stefánsson, in 2020.
Kormákur has been developing the series, which is...
The Icelandic auteur has co-created Katla with Trapped showrunner Sigurjón Kjartansson. The eight-part series is set in Iceland and begins one year after the violent eruption of the subglacial volcano Katla, which dramatically disturbs the peace and tranquility of the small town of Vik.
As people evacuate the area, the ice near the volcano starts to melt. The few remaining people manage to provide necessary community service and despite its grand location the area turns out somewhat apocalyptic. Mysterious elements, that have been deeply frozen into the glacier from prehistoric times, start to emerge from the melting ice and cause consequences no one could have ever foreseen.
Production is set to start on the project, which is written by is written by Kjartansson, Lilja Sigurðardóttir and Davíð Már Stefánsson, in 2020.
Kormákur has been developing the series, which is...
- 10/9/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix today announced Danish original series Equinox, based on the local podcast, Equinox 1985. The six part series will be created by Tea Lindeburg and executive produced by Piv Bernth (The Killing) and her company Apple Tree Productions, which is backed by ITV Studios. Production is expected to start later this year. The show will be a character-driven supernatural thriller about a young woman named Anna, who is affected by the unexplainable disappearance of a school class in 1999. The series is set in Denmark and swipes back and forth between 1999, where it all started, and the present time. Tesha Crawford, Director Netflix International Originals Northern Europe, said, “We are very excited about this new series which brings together a locally successful story and a highly acclaimed Danish producer. It’s also been very inspiring to work with a narrative that actually comes from a non-traditional format like a podcast. We are...
- 9/17/2019
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix has ordered “Equinox,” a six-part Danish supernatural thriller series based on a well-known podcast, “Equinox 1985.”
The show, which will be created by Tea Lindeburg (“Kødkataloget”), is set to start shooting later this year. It will be executive produced by Piv Bernth (“The Killing”) at Apple Tree Productions, which is backed by ITV Studios. Production is expected to start later this year.
“Equinox” takes place in Denmark and follows a woman named Anna, who was traumatized by the mysterious disappearance of a school class in 1999, when she was 10. Twenty years later, Anna sets off to discover what happened to the class when she finds out that the only survivor from 1999 mysteriously died. The character-driven series toggles between 1999 and the present time.
The original podcast, “Equinox 1985,” topped the iTunes podcast chart in Denmark.
“’Equinox’ is a very unique story about the difference between reality and imagination and the relation between free...
The show, which will be created by Tea Lindeburg (“Kødkataloget”), is set to start shooting later this year. It will be executive produced by Piv Bernth (“The Killing”) at Apple Tree Productions, which is backed by ITV Studios. Production is expected to start later this year.
“Equinox” takes place in Denmark and follows a woman named Anna, who was traumatized by the mysterious disappearance of a school class in 1999, when she was 10. Twenty years later, Anna sets off to discover what happened to the class when she finds out that the only survivor from 1999 mysteriously died. The character-driven series toggles between 1999 and the present time.
The original podcast, “Equinox 1985,” topped the iTunes podcast chart in Denmark.
“’Equinox’ is a very unique story about the difference between reality and imagination and the relation between free...
- 9/17/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix has ordered a new Swedish original from Flx, the producers behind “Quicksand.” Romantic dramedy “Love & Anarchy” is the first TV series created by filmmaker by Lisa Langseth.
The commission marks Netflix’s second time working with the Sf Studios-owned Flx, which produced crime drama “Quicksand.” “Quicksand,” which debuted on Netflix in April, was the first Swedish original series made for the streaming giant.
“Love & Anarchy” tells the story of a career-driven consultant, and married mother of two, who meets a young It tech on a job. The pair flirt and secretly challenge each other to do things that question modern day life, but what starts innocently soon becomes more daring with growing consequences.
The eight-part series was created by Langseth (pictured) who also serves as head writer alongside Alex Haridi. Haridi also worked on “Quicksand.” Langseth made her feature debut with 2010’s “Pure,” starring Oscar-winner Alicia Vikander,...
The commission marks Netflix’s second time working with the Sf Studios-owned Flx, which produced crime drama “Quicksand.” “Quicksand,” which debuted on Netflix in April, was the first Swedish original series made for the streaming giant.
“Love & Anarchy” tells the story of a career-driven consultant, and married mother of two, who meets a young It tech on a job. The pair flirt and secretly challenge each other to do things that question modern day life, but what starts innocently soon becomes more daring with growing consequences.
The eight-part series was created by Langseth (pictured) who also serves as head writer alongside Alex Haridi. Haridi also worked on “Quicksand.” Langseth made her feature debut with 2010’s “Pure,” starring Oscar-winner Alicia Vikander,...
- 8/29/2019
- by Robert Mitchell
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix has ordered a Swedish drama from Lisa Langseth, the filmmaker behind Alicia Vikander and Eva Green mystery feature Euphoria. The Svod service has commissioned eight-part romantic dramedy Love & Anarchy.
The series, which is produced by Quicksand producer Flx, follows Sofie, a career driven consultant and married mother of two. When Sofie gets an assignment to modernize an old publishing house she meets young It tech Max, and an unexpected flirting game begins. Sofie and Max secretly challenge each other to do things that question modern day life. It starts innocently enough, but as the game gets more and more daring the consequences grow beyond proportions.
Langseth has created the series and will serve as its head writer with Alex Haridi. It will be produced by Fatima Varhos, and Frida Asp and exec produced by Pontus Edgren and Martina Håkansson
“This has been my dream project for a long time.
The series, which is produced by Quicksand producer Flx, follows Sofie, a career driven consultant and married mother of two. When Sofie gets an assignment to modernize an old publishing house she meets young It tech Max, and an unexpected flirting game begins. Sofie and Max secretly challenge each other to do things that question modern day life. It starts innocently enough, but as the game gets more and more daring the consequences grow beyond proportions.
Langseth has created the series and will serve as its head writer with Alex Haridi. It will be produced by Fatima Varhos, and Frida Asp and exec produced by Pontus Edgren and Martina Håkansson
“This has been my dream project for a long time.
- 8/29/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
The Creator of The Kiling Is Developing a Police Thriller Series for Netflix Called The Chestnut Man
Netflix is continuing to expand its content after the success of the first season of its first Danish series, the 2018 sci-fi thriller The Rain. The streamer is now adding another Danish original series to its lineup, called The Chestnut Man, “a police thriller based on The Killing creator Søren Sveistrup’s popular novel.” The first season of the series will have six 50-minute episodes.
Tesha Crawford, director of Netflix International Originals in Northern Europe, had this to say about the acquisition:
“We were instantly compelled by the strong story and Søren’s voice. We are happy to continue the collaboration with Sam Productions and are looking forward to bringing ‘The Chestnut Man’ to our global audience.”
Variety reports that the series is set to start production in 2020 and has not yet set a release date. Are you a fan of The Rain, or the book series this is based upon?...
Tesha Crawford, director of Netflix International Originals in Northern Europe, had this to say about the acquisition:
“We were instantly compelled by the strong story and Søren’s voice. We are happy to continue the collaboration with Sam Productions and are looking forward to bringing ‘The Chestnut Man’ to our global audience.”
Variety reports that the series is set to start production in 2020 and has not yet set a release date. Are you a fan of The Rain, or the book series this is based upon?...
- 8/21/2019
- by Jessica Fisher
- GeekTyrant
Haugesund, Norway — Further expanding its Scandinavian footprint, Netflix has announced its second Danish original series, “The Chestnut Man,” a police thriller based on “The Killing” creator Søren Sveistrup’s popular novel.
The streaming giant will team with Sveistrup’s Sam Productions, minority owned by Studiocanal, part of Vivendi Canal Plus Group, to deliver this noir-influenced literary adaptation, which will track two Copenhagen detectives as they investigate an increasingly high profile murder case.
“Netflix has shown a strong, genuine interest in my book and I’m excited about the deal and confident that Netflix will be the perfect place for [it],” says Sveistrup.
The six-episode, 50-minute series marks Netflix’s continued push into the Scandinavian market. In recent years, the streamer picked up international rights for the TV 2 produced potboiler “Borderliner” and partnered with Miso Film for their first Danish original, “The Rain.” The latter will draw to a close following its third season next year.
The streaming giant will team with Sveistrup’s Sam Productions, minority owned by Studiocanal, part of Vivendi Canal Plus Group, to deliver this noir-influenced literary adaptation, which will track two Copenhagen detectives as they investigate an increasingly high profile murder case.
“Netflix has shown a strong, genuine interest in my book and I’m excited about the deal and confident that Netflix will be the perfect place for [it],” says Sveistrup.
The six-episode, 50-minute series marks Netflix’s continued push into the Scandinavian market. In recent years, the streamer picked up international rights for the TV 2 produced potboiler “Borderliner” and partnered with Miso Film for their first Danish original, “The Rain.” The latter will draw to a close following its third season next year.
- 8/20/2019
- by Ben Croll
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix is adapting Scandinavian movie trilogy Snabba Cash (Easy Money) into a six-part series. The Svod service has partnered with screenwriter Oskar Söderlund and author Jens Lapidus on the project.
The series is set in Stockholm ten years after the events depicted in the feature films. It is a buzzing environment where the craving for status and money is stronger than ever. The entrepreneurial jet set as well as the criminal world has become even more brutal, chaotic and ruthless. When these two worlds collide, loyalty, friendships and business partners will all be tested in the never-ending quest for easy money. The films starred The Killing’s Joel Kinnaman.
Snabba Cash is produced by Sf Studios, the original producer of the film trilogy, set in the gritty criminal underground of Stockholm. Oskar Söderlund, the screenwriter behind The Fat and the Angry and Greyzone, has developed the series together with Lapidus,...
The series is set in Stockholm ten years after the events depicted in the feature films. It is a buzzing environment where the craving for status and money is stronger than ever. The entrepreneurial jet set as well as the criminal world has become even more brutal, chaotic and ruthless. When these two worlds collide, loyalty, friendships and business partners will all be tested in the never-ending quest for easy money. The films starred The Killing’s Joel Kinnaman.
Snabba Cash is produced by Sf Studios, the original producer of the film trilogy, set in the gritty criminal underground of Stockholm. Oskar Söderlund, the screenwriter behind The Fat and the Angry and Greyzone, has developed the series together with Lapidus,...
- 6/20/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix has ordered a six-part original series based on the hit Swedish crime franchise “Snabba Cash” from Sf Studios.
Based on Jens Lapidus’s bestselling novels, the series is set in Stockholm’s gritty criminal underground ten years after the events depicted in the “Snabba Cash” movie trilogy. The society has become even more obsessed with status and money, while the entrepreneurial jet set as well as the criminal worlds have collided.
The show was developed by Oskar Söderlund, the acclaimed screenwriter behind “The Fat and the Angry,” together with Lapidus, a Swedish criminal defense lawyer and author who has sold more than 2.2 million books in Sweden alone.
Lapidus, who also serves as executive producer, said he had “been waiting for an opportunity to continue with ‘Snabba Cash.'” “The stories are still epic but also depict our time in an unfiltered light. It will be amazing,” said Lapidus.
Tesha Crawford,...
Based on Jens Lapidus’s bestselling novels, the series is set in Stockholm’s gritty criminal underground ten years after the events depicted in the “Snabba Cash” movie trilogy. The society has become even more obsessed with status and money, while the entrepreneurial jet set as well as the criminal worlds have collided.
The show was developed by Oskar Söderlund, the acclaimed screenwriter behind “The Fat and the Angry,” together with Lapidus, a Swedish criminal defense lawyer and author who has sold more than 2.2 million books in Sweden alone.
Lapidus, who also serves as executive producer, said he had “been waiting for an opportunity to continue with ‘Snabba Cash.'” “The stories are still epic but also depict our time in an unfiltered light. It will be amazing,” said Lapidus.
Tesha Crawford,...
- 6/20/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
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