NENT, MGM strike copro and development deal for six Viaplay Originals

Nordic Entertainment (NENT) Group and MGM International Television have agreed a multi-year deal to develop and coproduce six English-language original series for NENT’s streaming service Viaplay.

Filippa Wallestam

All six series will be shown exclusively as Viaplay Originals throughout the Nordics, Baltics, Netherlands and Poland, with MGM handling distribution in the rest of the world. The partnership’s first two projects will be Billy the Kid and Last Light.

Billy the Kid is an epic romantic drama series from Michael Hirst (Vikings) starring British actor Tom Blyth (Benediction) as the American outlaw. The series is a copro with Epix Studios and MGM International Television Productions, in association with NENT. Otto Bathurst (Peaky Blinders) is directing the first two shows of the eight-episode first season.

MGM and NENT will partner on apocalyptic thriller Last Light in association with NBCUniversal-owned streamer Peacock. Based on Alex Scarrow’s novel of the same name and originated by Viaplay Studios, Make It Happen Studio and REinvent, Last Light tells the story of a family fighting to survive in a world suddenly thrown into chaos.

The five-episode series stars and is executive produced by US actor Matthew Fox (Lost), alongside Joanne Froggatt (Liar, Downton Abbey). Dennie Gordon (Jack Ryan) is directing the entire series and serving as exec producer. Patrick Massett and John Zinman (The Blacklist) serve as showrunners and exec producers.

Viaplay recently upped its 2025 subscriber target to 12 million, including six million from overseas markets, with NENT president and CEO Anders Jensen predicting streaming consolidation at Mipcom last month.

Filippa Wallestam, NENT Group’s chief content officer, said: “Viaplay will soon be available in at least 16 markets and unique storytelling is a key part of our expansion strategy. We are proud of our long-term partnership with MGM and that we are now working together to coproduce series with some of Hollywood’s biggest names.”

Rola Bauer, president of MGM International Television Productions, added: “NENT Group’s focus on developing premium, global stories through an international lens aligns perfectly with our mission at MGM International TV Productions.”