HBO Europe enters Wilderness

HBO Europe is adding to its growing Nordic slate with an eight-part comedy-drama series from Norway.

Antony Root

Set in a small Norwegian town, Wilderness (Utmark) has been created and written by Kim Fupz Aakeson (A Somewhat Gentle Man, In Order of Disappearance).

It is being produced by Finn Gjerdrum and Stein Kvae at SF Studios-owned prodco Paradox and will be directed by Dagur Kári (Virgin Mountain, Dark Horse, The Good Heart).

The show features characters including a corrupt sheriff, an alcoholic shepherd, a nature-loving bootlegger, a God-hating pastor and a grieving pimp.

“Everyone knows everyone in this secluded corner of the Nordic north. Now an optimistic new school teacher rolls in, hopeful for a fresh start. But the elements are strange and wild here. And in this place, outsiders don’t always fare well,” said the producers.

Hanne Palmquist, commissioning editor and VP of original programming at HBO Nordic, said: “Kim Fupz has created an original bunch of flawed yet wonderful characters living in a far-flung place where civilisation is a choice rather than a given. Utmark is bold, at times totally hilarious – and human all the way.”

Antony Root, executive VP of programming and production at HBO Europe, added: “Wilderness draws you into its unique world from the very start, so wonderfully drawn are the characters and story from the imagination of Kim Fupz. The creative team perfectly reflects our ambition to work with the finest talent from the region on series that are authored, authentic and stand out from the crowd.”

Shooting begins this summer in Norway. The executive producers are Palmquist, Steve Matthews and Root for HBO Europe. The show will premiere day-and-date across HBO Europe territories.

It joins HBO Europe’s other Nordic shows Gösta, written and directed by Lukas Moodysson; Beforeigners, from Lilyhammer creators Anne Bjørnstad and Eilif Skodvin; and the adaptation of Frederik Backman’s Beartown, directed by Peter Grönlund, which is currently in production.