David Troncoso, Patrick Nebout, Leonine’s Odeon Fiction, Yle Unite for Cold War Satire ‘Learning to Fly’ (EXCLUSIVE)

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Following the release of the submarine-based series “Whiskey on the Rocks,” which debuted on Disney+ outside Sweden since January 22, Dramanation’s French-Swedish producer Patrick Nebout is now aiming for the skies with another Cold War satire spy thriller titled “Learning to Fly.” This exciting news has been obtained exclusively by EbMaster.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but share my excitement about the flagship European series that originated from Nebout’s brilliant concept. Nebout, who has a rich background in the industry, played a pivotal role in the early development and executive production of this series, known as “The Head,” at The Mediapro Studio. This groundbreaking show was actually based on an original idea by David Troncoso Conlin.

As a movie buff, I’m captivated by the tale of Mathias Rust, a daring West German teenager back in 1987. He stunned the globe when he navigated his small Cessna aircraft through Soviet air defenses and made an audacious landing smack in the heart of the Red Square.

The six-episode miniseries, still in its early stages, is being developed by Germany’s Odeon Fiction, in collaboration with Nebout’s Dramanation, Troncoso Conlin’s Studio60, and the Finnish broadcaster Yle. Executive producers include Nebout, Troncoso Conlin, Britta Meyermann of Odeon Fiction’s international co-productions, and Jarmo Lampela from Yle’s drama department.

Nebout mentioned that during the 1980s, two noteworthy Cold War events took place in Northern Europe. The first was known as the “Whiskey on The Rocks” incident in 1981, which involved a Soviet submarine accidentally beaching on the eastern Swedish coast. The second significant event occurred in 1987 when an audacious amateur pilot managed to bypass Soviet air defense and successfully landed on Moscow’s Red Square.

As a cinephile, I must say that “Learning to Fly” is an exhilarating, comedic-thriller set against the backdrop of espionage, loosely based on the daring Moscow Red Square landing incident. This intriguing narrative delves into the secret world hidden behind the scenes, where a motley crew of spies from either side of the Iron Curtain collaborate clandestinely to alter the tides of history.

I’m excited to be working alongside David Troncoso-Conlin again on the creation of this exciting project. The collaboration is supported by Yle and the renowned production company, Odeon Fiction.”

“It’s a pleasure to join forces with David Troncoso-Conlin once more as we embark on this captivating journey. We have the backing of Yle and the heavyweight production studio, Odeon Fiction, for this venture.

Meyermann expressed: “This extraordinary tale captivates me in so many ways: the audacity of the action, its historical significance, the notion that one individual, a seemingly minor act could create such a significant impact. The outlandish theories connected to this story make it perfect for a satirical spy thriller series adaptation. It promises to be top-notch entertainment with an exceptional crew. We’re excited to welcome YLE as our initial broadcasting partner on this project.”

Lampela, who teamed up with Troncoso on the Spanish-Finnish crime show “The Paradise,” from The Mediapro Studio, said he and the Spanish TV executive have been searching for the right project to continue their successful partnership.

“Choosing ‘Learning to Fly’ was ideal since Mathias Rust actually flew from Helsinki to Moscow. A significant portion of the narrative will unfold in Finland. This production aligns perfectly with our drama strategy, which focuses on creating premium international series that resonate with our audience.

Nebout said the writer’s room will include an international lead writer and a Finnish co-writer.

Building on the success of “Whiskey on the Rocks,” which garnered approximately 1.4 million viewers per episode when it aired on SVT during Christmas, demonstrating a willingness among audiences to find humor in global diplomacy and power struggles, this project is expected to draw attention from prominent TV networks at this week’s TV Drama Vision showcase in Göteborg, where it will be presented for the first time.

Dramanation and Leonine Studios’ subsidiary, Odeon Fiction, are teaming up to produce another English-language dramedy in the works, titled “The Studio.” This new series is being marketed as a creative relative of shows such as “Call My Agent,” “Only Murders in the Building,” and “The Office.

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2025-01-27 16:17