Netflix goes for Danish, ups UK spend

Christian Potalivo and Jannik Tai Mosholt’s The Rain

Netflix has ordered another original series in Denmark from the duo behind one of its most watched non-English-language series, The Rain, while its UK spending is set to reach US$1bn in 2020.

Christian Potalivo and Jannik Tai Mosholt are behind Chosen, a coming-of-age sci-fi story that marks the third collaboration between the duo and the streamer after The Rain and Elves.

Chosen follows a young girl whose reality is suddenly turned upside down when everything she thought she knew turns out to be wrong and she realises that the world is not as safe and blissful as she thought.

The six-part series will be produced by Potalivo and Tai Mosholt’s recently founded production company Tall & Small, with production expected to begin this year in Denmark.

Potalivo and Tai Mosholt said in a joint statement: “The Rain was a fantastic opportunity to tell stories in a genre we rarely experience in Scandinavia, and our collaboration with Netflix has been a pleasure that has only grown bigger and stronger over the years.

“Therefore, it was natural that Netflix was the right partner for Chosen, and the perfect place to develop and tell a story that is universal, has the sci-fi genre as a driving force, but also draws on our own lives and Danish themes.”

Tesha Crawford, director of Nordic original series at Netflix, added: “This story is pushing the boundaries of what one can expect of the sci-fi genre and at the same time will have the similar strong, character-driven storytelling as The Rain, which captivated audiences in Denmark and beyond.”

The Danish commission comes as Netflix continues to spend big elsewhere in Europe, with the UK in particular a focus for the global streamer and second only to the US in terms of spend.

According to reports, Netflix has doubled its UK production budget to US$1bn this year, with more than 50 UK shows on its slate, including hits such as The Crown and Sex Education.

The UK is one of Netflix’s top three locations for production globally, along with the US and Canada, and it operates its own UK production hub at Shepperton Studios.

The past year has seen Netflix UK significantly increase its commissioning team, which now includes Anne Mensah in original scripted/drama, David Kosse in non-English-language films, Kate Townsend in documentaries, Alexi Wheeler in kids and family, Ben Kelly and Daisy Lilley in non-fiction and Fiona Lamptey for features.