Dramacorp prepares for Great Century

Sweden-based Dramacorp-Pampas Studios has secured the rights to adapt a second book series from Swedish author Jan Guillou, behind the novels that upcoming TV series Agent Hamilton is based on.

Petter Skavlan

Under the latest book deal, the Beta Film subsidiary will develop a drama series based on Guillou’s The Great Century novels, and is looking for partners on the project.

The story follows three siblings, born in a poor Norwegian fishing village, who set out on a lifetime adventure and lay the foundations of what will become a family dynasty across Norway, Sweden and Germany.

The action starts on a small Norwegian island during the run-up to the First World War, before moving to Germany, West Africa and the UK.

According to Dramacorp-Pampas Studios, the first instalments of the TV adaptation will “blend serialised and episodic drama in a multi-season format.”

Petter Skavlan (The 12th Man, Kon-Tiki) is attached to the project as head writer.

“With Jan Guillou’s gripping family saga spanning several generations and countries, it’s safe to say we’re in for the long haul,” said Patrick Nebout, executive producer at Dramacorp-Pampas Studios.

Patrick Nebout

“I can think of no other writer than Jan who has explored in such scale and depth the complex bonds between Scandinavia and Germany in the early 20th century — and no other screenwriter than Petter Skavlan, with his passion for larger-than-life drama, who would be capable of bringing this once-in-a-generation project to life.

“This is Scandinavia’s answer to The Crown or South & North, with a modern tone and take. We’re now set to find the best home and partners for this extraordinary project.”

Guillou is most well-known for the Carl Hamilton spy thriller novels, which Dramacorp-Pampas Studios is adapting into a TV series alongside Kärnfilm, in coproduction with TV4, C More, Beta Film and ZDF.

The adaptation, titled Agent Hamilton, had its world premiere screening at Mipcom last month and will launch on TV4 in Sweden in 2020.