TV4 lines up first English comedy

Sweden’s TV4 has commissioned its first English-language comedy series, about an American who falls in love with a Swedish girl.

Welcome to Sweden is being produced by brother and sister team Amy and Greg Poehler under their Sykson production banner, along with local firm FLX and Entertainment One (eOne).

The series is a fish-out-of-water comedy based on Greg Poehler’s own experiences and centres on a New York accountant who follows his girlfriend to Sweden.

Poehler will make his acting debut in the lead role while Aubrey Plaza and rock legend Gene Simmons have cameo roles. Filming will take place in New York and Sweden starting on Monday.

Veteran Swedish TV exec Felix Herngren, who works on TV4’s hit comedy series Solsidan, which is now in its fourth season and is also produced by FLX, will executive produce. Carrie Stein executive produces for eOne and Fredrik Arefalk for TV4.

eOne holds the international rights to the series and is currently pitching it to networks in the US.