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Viaplay preps ‘biggest’ Norwegian drama

Modern Times Group (MTG)-backed Nordic streaming service Viaplay has ordered a Norwegian crime series that’s said to be one of the “biggest ever” drama productions from the country, with the Norwegian Film Institute supporting.

Jakob Mejlhede Andersen

Wisting is being produced by Norway’s Cinenord Drama and Denmark’s Good Company Films with MTG Studios.

It is based on Jørn Lier Horst’s books of the same name, which have sold more than 1.2 million copies in Norway and been translated into 30 languages. The stories follow an empathetic, meticulous and relentless detective in Norway as he hunts for the killer of two people over Christmas.

The show has been created and directed by Katarina Launing (Kick It!) and Trygve Allister Diesen (The Third Eye), who writes with Kathrine Valen Zeiner (Eyewitness).

The Norwegian Film Institute is supporting the production with NOK10.5m (US$1.3m) in funding, although its total budget remains under wraps. Filming starts in January and the series will premiere exclusively on MTG’s Viaplay and linear network TV3 across the Nordic region.

Jakob Mejlhede, MTG’s exec VP and head of programming and content development, said: “Our ambition is to become the Nordic region’s leading producer of original content, and we’re honoured that our unique storytelling capabilities have been recognised by the Norwegian Film Institute.”

Wisting joins MTG’s first Norwegian Viaplay original, Occupied. The company has more than 50 other original scripted projects on its slate, including ALEX, Hassel and Veni Vidi Vici, the latter of which was sold to Hulu in the US.

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