Scandi Alliance Unveils Epic Drama ‘Royal Blood’ – A Battle for Power Unseen!

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The Scandinavian collaborators in the Scandi Alliance – TV4 Sweden, TV2 Denmark, and TV2 Norway – have unveiled their initial joint drama project titled “Royal Blood” (“Blått Blod”). This production is currently being worked on at Miso Film Norway, which belongs to Miso Film, a subsidiary of Fremantle.

The esteemed authors responsible for the monumental historical undertaking are Stephen Uhlander, a multiple award recipient known for “Nobel” and “The Girl from Oslo”, and Emma Broström, recognized for “STHLM Blackout” and “Knocking”. They collaborate with Monica Boracco (“Mars & Venus”) and Katarina Launing (“Battle”), serving as co-creators. As of now, a director has not been assigned to the project.

Out of 75 Scandinavian series submissions, the chosen project was revealed today, January 28th, by drama executives Alice Sommer from TV2 Norway, Mette Nelund from TV2 Denmark, and Johanna Lind from TV4 Sweden. This announcement was made during a Scandi Alliance panel at Göteborg’s TV Drama Vision event.

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Today, January 28th, the project that was selected among 75 Scandinavian series submissions was unveiled by drama leaders Alice Sommer (TV2 Norway), Mette Nelund (TV2 Denmark), and Johanna Lind (TV4 Sweden). The announcement took place at a Scandi Alliance panel held at Göteborg’s TV Drama Vision.

1807, nestled in Scandinavia, finds a shoe stage where Europe’s dominant forces collide, igniting an intense power struggle within Denmark-Norway and Sweden. The ruling families encounter threats to their authority from cunning power seekers who employ various tactics such as money, seduction, deception, and even assassination in their relentless pursuit of power. This ruthless game of ambition will ultimately mold the destiny of these nations.

Sommer mentioned that ever since the start of the Scandi Alliance project in September 2023 and the initiation of their initial submissions, she and her team have been on a quest to discover an authentic Scandinavian narrative.

She emphasized that ‘Royal Blood’ truly lives up to its name,” she said. “Unlike being part of a three-way collaboration, it naturally captivates audiences worldwide due to the compelling essence of its narrative.

As a movie critic, I’d say: “In ‘Royal Blood,’ I delve into an enthralling tale that unravels the intense, gripping, and ferocious origins of modern-day Scandinavia and its current geopolitical landscape. This epic journey takes us back to the tumultuous beginning of the 1800s, revealing a power struggle among royals that our northwestern hemisphere has never witnessed before.

Lind agreed with her colleague’s viewpoint: “One unique aspect of ‘Royal Blood’ from a Scandinavian point of view is that it resonates equally well across all three nations. Finding something that appeals to all three countries is quite challenging. Many ideas were intriguing and captivating, but they only held significance for two or even just one country.

In my view, the democratic system we have today can be traced back to the relentless struggles among a particular group of noblemen, monarchs, and military commanders. These individuals were merciless and didn’t hesitate to betray each other in the blink of an eye, if it served their purpose.

Exploring ‘Royal Blood’ can provide valuable insights into the foundations of our shared Scandinavian history, which while seemingly close, often feels remote. By studying this aspect, we can better grasp the connections between our current political strife and conflicts, particularly those marked by sudden and frequent battles, and the more peaceful democratic societies we see today in Scandinavia. This is because these conflicts are, in fact, remnants of our not-too-distant past.

Nelund emphasizes the compelling character dynamics and relatable human struggles of its characters, which resonate with modern Scandinavian and international audiences. At the heart of this intricate royal-political power struggle lies a group of profoundly complex characters occupying influential positions in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. Amidst tumultuous times in the early 1800s, these individuals grapple with immense pressure, providing us an opportunity to delve into enduring themes of human behavior, such as the extremes people in power can reach when faced with dreams, fears, ambitions, vengeance, idealism, loyalty, and duplicity.

Characters in this narrative are persistently troubled by potential dangers from external forces and questionable intentions of both allies and adversaries. Their motivations, however, are not solely driven by aspirations for future success or optimism, but equally by a deep-rooted fear of vulnerability, the need to safeguard themselves, their status, community, and even their nation.

Regarding the Scandi Alliance’s joint financial and creative contribution, Sommer stated: “The financial blueprint is still being refined, but our investment pledge aligns with the appeal we made to the industry in 2023. We are committed to contributing a total of NOK 90 million ($7.9 million) for Nordic exclusive rights. Miso Film can sell world rights (excluding the Nordics) at a rate ranging from 30-50% of the overall budget.

Summer mentioned that we’ve formed a collective ‘hub’ of executives from each of the three countries, where everyone has an equal voice in creative decisions. Our communication and collaboration with Miso is primarily handled by our Norwegian executive, but we also regularly meet with all parties involved,” Summer explained.

As stated by Kristin Ulseth, a producer at Miso Film’s Norwegian branch (which is owned by Fremantle), the production for this project is scheduled to commence in spring 2026.

Ulseth, producer of the series, expressed great excitement about creating a drama series that holds significance across Scandinavia for Miso Film, given their established presence in Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. He is thankful for the special chance offered by the Scandi Alliance collaboration, which allows them to realize a grand project at a time when the industry faces tough challenges and financial constraints, as stated by Are Heidenstrøm, managing director of Miso Film Norway.

The Scandi Alliance is part of a small group of collaborations established recently between Nordic, European public and private broadcasters. These partnerships aim to fund grand, globally-oriented TV series and acquire the rights to popular content in a fierce market competition.

Previously, collaborative initiatives were undertaken at a Nordic scale, such as the N12 (Nordic 12) involving broadcasters DR, SVT, NRK, YLE, and RÚV. Over the past seven years, this partnership has led to approximately 70 completed projects.

In the autumn of 2023, a new public service collaboration named New8 was initiated, comprising broadcasters such as DR from Denmark, SVT from Sweden, NRK from Norway, Yle from Finland, RÚV from Iceland, ZDF from Germany, NPO from The Netherlands, and VRT from Belgium.

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Starting in the fall of 2023, a public service partnership called New8 was launched, encompassing broadcasters like DR (Denmark), SVT (Sweden), NRK (Norway), Yle (Finland), RÚV (Iceland), ZDF (Germany), NPO (The Netherlands), and VRT (Belgium).

Göteborg’s TV Drama Vision runs Jan.28-29.

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2025-01-28 17:23