As a connoisseur of Nordic Noir, I must say that the upcoming series “Cry Wolf” has piqued my interest like never before. The trailer alone is a testament to the skillful storytelling and captivating performances we’ve come to expect from this genre. With its unique blend of action, thriller, and dark comedy, it promises to be a rollercoaster ride that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
The fifth season’s flagship Nordic Drama Queens, in collaboration with Swedish channel TV4, have exclusively shared the trailer for “Cry Wolf,” also known as “Vargasommar.” This high-octane action thriller boasts British musician-turned-actor Eliot Sumner (“Ripley”, “The Gentlemen”), Eva Melander (“Border”) and Henrik Dorsin (“Triangle of Sadness”) in the lead roles.
The initial solo novel written by Hans Rosenfeldt, titled “Cry Wolf,” is being represented at Mipcom by the international distribution division of Fifth Season, prior to its global debut at the Stockholm Film Festival and its broadcast premiere on TV4 Play on December 25th.
In the secluded northern Swedish town of Haparanda, police investigator Hanna Wester stumbles upon a grisly sight: human remains found inside a deceased wolf’s stomach. This gruesome find is later connected to a violent drug transaction that occurred across the border in Finland. As the quiet town of Haparanda becomes increasingly uneasy, a ruthless assassin arrives in search of three valuable packages.
According to Prentiss Fraser, President of TV Distribution at Fifth Season, ‘Cry Wolf’ provides a distinct and invigorating perspective within the Nordic Noir genre. Filmed in a quaint town situated on the Swedish-Finland border, this series sets itself apart by making its characters the primary storytellers. Similar to shows like ‘Fargo,’ it maintains the essence of thriller crime while incorporating dark humor and unexpected turns of events. Notably, it’s penned by the talented Oskar Söderlund (‘Snabba Cash,’ ‘The Dark Heart’), ensuring viewers can expect a captivating, binge-worthy series.
The creators of ‘Cry Wolf’, Josefine Tenglad along with Sandra Harms in Stockholm and Line Winther Skyum Funch in Copenhagen, aimed high from the start, intending to revitalize the Nordic Noir genre. They drew inspiration from shows like ‘Fargo’ and ‘No Country for Old Men’, maintaining a consistent tone throughout the six episodes, with Jesper Ganslandt serving as the director for each one.
As “Cry Wolf”, the inaugural series from the three-year-old Scandinavian drama label known as Nordic Drama Queens, this is their flagship show. It was made possible through support from TV4, ZDF, Swedish tax incentives, Nordisk Film & TV Fond, Filmpool Nord, and Fifth Season, who served as the production banner’s main partner (formerly Endeavour Content).
A prime example of Nordic Drama Queens and Fifth’s Season’s close creative collaboration was with the casting of Sumner. “We had looked everywhere in the Nordics for the actor to play Kat. Then casting director Pauline Hansson and EIja Skarsgård showed us a picture of Eliot and we felt ‘Yes! That’s it! How can we connect?’” Tenglad said. “Fifth Season put us in touch, and it turned out he had lived in Sweden, was obsessed with it, he knew Swedish and was an admirer of Jesper’s work.”
Financial backing from Fifth Season expedites the approval process for the trio of drama queens. “We lead the business, they back us, trust in our vision, are prepared to take early risks, enabling us to secure an early approval,” explained Funch, a previous CCO and executive producer at Yellow Bird.
For Fraser, Fifth Season’s [early risk] approach “is really backed up by the spate of recent commissions the Nordic Drama Queens has landed.” “Nordic Drama Queens make projects which are natural fits for our slate,” said the global distribution honcho of the CJ ENM Entertainment-controlled group. “Each title offers great talent, a compelling story – sometimes original and sometimes based on literary IP, and a premium viewing experience for audiences all around the world. Historically, Nordic series also have an excellent track record of becoming English-language remakes, making Nordic Drama Queens’ slate a valuable asset for our studio business as well.”
Two more Nordic Drama Queens series, similarly grounded in renowned intellectual properties, are nearing their end stages and will be presented to potential buyers during Mipcom.
The collaborative production between Amazon and MGM Studios, titled “Blind Spot,” showcased at Cannes with two finished episodes, is a four-part series. It’s adapted from Anne Holt’s popular Norwegian crime novel “1222.” The story revolves around detective Hanne Wilhelmsen, who delves into the mystery of a murder that occurs in a secluded hotel within a Norwegian ski resort. Trapped there due to a heavy snowstorm, a group of individuals become potential suspects and victims.
Emmy-nominated Sara Heldt (“The Crown Princess”) wrote the adaptation alongside helmer Erik Skjoldberg (“Insomnia”, “Occupied”). “Blind Spot” is the perfect “whodunnit’ genre show, and the plot of the original book has been cleverly modernised,” said Fraser who stressed the “visually appealing” mountainous universe.
As the primary creator, Harms expressed her longstanding fascination with the lead character. She admires her intelligence, integrity, and quick-wit. “1222” is the eighth installment in the Wilhelmsen series, and it’s unique because Hanne, portrayed by Ida Engvoll from “Love & Anarchy”, is depicted in a wheelchair for the first time, allowing for a richer exploration of her past.
The series titled ‘Blind Spot’ will be available on Amazon Prime in the Nordic region by 2025. According to reports, a second season for this show is currently under development.
The eight-episode series titled “The Scarab Flies at Dusk,” originally written by Maria Gripe and now being produced by SVT, is being adapted from its Swedish literary namesake. According to EbMaster’s announcement, this project brings joy to those involved in creating family content, with gratitude expressed towards SVT for their support. Tengblad, one of the creators, fondly remembers “The Scarab” as one of her favorite books from when she was ten years old. The Norwegian company Monster is also contributing to the production of this series, boasting an impressive cast including Pernilla August, Lena Endre, Malte Gårdinger, and Tomas von Brömssen.
As a movie enthusiast, I’m currently juggling no less than ten intriguing projects in various stages of production – a fantastic mix, as described by Funch. Interestingly, among these works-in-progress, Nordic Drama Queens has also a series and a feature film underway, both starring the talented Swedish actress Sofia Helin. This is part of our first-look deal with her, which grants us exclusive rights to her future projects.
Moving forward, the three-person production team announced that their upcoming project will be a full-length movie, marking their significant leap. Notably, two of these projects are substantial international ventures that have partial English dialogue and are being jointly developed with Fifth Season.
Progress is being made, and we’re seizing the chances that arise as they present themselves,” Tengblad summarized.
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2024-10-21 08:17