Netflix readies Bloodride, Quaid comedy

US streamer Netflix has ordered its latest Norwegian original series and has commissioned a holiday-themed comedy series starring Dennis Quaid.

Dennis Quaid
(photo: gdcgraphics)

Bloodride, announced at the ongoing Berlinale event in Germany, is a horror anthology series of six unique tongue-in-cheek stories from the writer and director of Norwegian series Maniac, Kjetil Indregard.

Indregard has teamed up with director Atle Knudsen and Bård Fjulsrud, Håkon Briseid and Ida Håndlykken Kvernstrøm from Nordic Entertainment Group-owned prodco Monster Scripted to devise Bloodride, along with the director of Netflix original Lilyhammer, Geir Henning Hopland.

Kelly Luegenbiehl, VP of international originals for Europe, Turkey and Africa at Netflix, said the series “blends grounded horror and dark Scandinavian humour” in a way that will entertain viewers from around the world, not just Norway.

“Monster strongly believes in the strength of local perspective through homegrown stories from passionate talents,” said Briseid, CEO of Monster Scripted. “Bloodride is just such a project.”

The announcement follows on from the Netflix’s order of Merry Happy Whatever, starring Dennis Quaid (The Day After Tomorrow).

Season one of the eight-episode series is set at Christmas and sees Quaid as a strong-willed patriarch who must juggle the demands of his difficult family with the stress of Yuletide as his youngest daughter returns for the festivities with her new boyfriend.

Merry Happy Whatever is written and exec produced by showrunner Tucker Cawley (Everybody Loves Raymond), with Quaid also exec producing. Aaron Kaplan of Kapital Entertainment and TrillTV’s Wendi Trilling also exec produce. Pamela Fryman (How I Met Your Mother) will direct.

Although the show is set at Christmas, Netflix has not ruled out exploring other holidays in future seasons.