Cineflix Rights comes onboard ‘Nordic Blue’ series Hildur as filming begins in Iceland
From left to right: Rick Okon, Ebba Katrín Finnsdóttir, Lauri Tilkanen (Photos: Nils Schwarz, Dora Duna, Ilkka Saatamoinen)
London-based distributor Cineflix Rights has come onboard as the worldwide distribution partner on Hildur, the forthcoming crime series based on the novels by Satu Rämö.
Production has begun in Iceland on the crime drama, which follows a detective who fights against time to confront a serial killer in the fjords of Iceland while unravelling the mystery of her long-lost sisters.Set in the remote and picturesque Westfjords region of Iceland, the English- and Scandinavian-language six-part series is coproduced by Take Two Studios for Nelonen Media’s streamer Ruutu and Sagafilm for Siminn, with financing provided by Finnish venture capital fund manager IPR.VC.
The move comes after Finnish prodco Take Two Studios received investment from IPR.VC in 2022 to adapt the books.
Hildur’s cast includes Ebba Katrín Finnsdóttir (Húsó), Lauri Tilkanen (Deadwind) and Rick Okon (Das Boot). The director is Tinna Hrafnsdóttir and it is written by head writer Matti Laine together with Margret Örnolfsdottir.
The executive producers are Sara Norberg and Eero Hietala for Take Two Studios; Kjartan Thor Thordarson and Tjörvi Thorsson for Sagafilm; and Timo Argillander, James Baker and Andrea Scarso for IPR.VC.
Described as ‘Nordic Blue,’ as opposed to the darker Nordic Noir, the series is a crime thriller which embraces families, friendships, humour and the power of love, while reflecting Iceland’s blue skies, mountains, ice and seas, the producers said.
Publishing rights to the Hildur trilogy have sold around the world including the UK, where it has the title The Clues in the Fjord, plus Germany, Italy, the Nordics and Spain. The worldwide sales for the novels are now approaching one million copies.
James Durie, head of scripted at Cineflix Rights, said: “Hildur is the perfect example of the increasingly popular Nordic Blue genre – a thriller with strong characters unravelling a complex case, but combined with warmer themes of love and friendship, humour and mysticism, all set against the beautiful backdrop of one of the world’s most scenic locations.”
Hietala said: “Readers around the world have fallen in love with Hildur and so have we at Take Two Studios. Rooted in both Finnish and Icelandic culture, the series blends suspense, family drama, and Nordic mysticism.”
Thordarson added: “Iceland has a deep storytelling tradition, and Hildur is a perfect blend of thrilling mystery, emotional depth, and the raw beauty of our country.”
Author Rämö said: “Making a TV series based on the Hildur trilogy is the fulfilment of a great dream. The fact that the series will be filmed in Iceland feels very important, as the country’s nature and landscapes play a significant role in the books.”
