NordenBladet – The upcoming RÚV/Netflix co-production ‘The Valhalla Murders’ was just recommended on BBC’s ‘Ten TV shows to watch in December’ and Icelandic media is freaking out.
The show is about a police investigator named Arnar who travels from Denmark to assist in the investigation surrounding Iceland’s first serial killer. He has to work with Kata, the officer in charge of the case, and together they must race against the clock to find the murderer before it’s too late. While the victims initially seem unrelated, the trail leads them to an abandoned boys’ home named Valhalla, where some horrifying events occurred 35 years earlier. The series will premiere on RÚV and Netflix on December 26th and for those select few who don’t get books on Christmas, it looks pretty binge-worthy.
Of the show, the BBC wrote, “…this latest Nordic noir ticks the right boxes for addictive viewing this winter.” We could not agree more.
Judging by the trailer alone, it looks like it will be filled with violence, scandal, and deep, philosophical examination of the human condition. So if you liked ‘Trapped‘, ‘The Valhalla Murders’ should be right up your alley.
BROT / THE VALHALLA MURDERS – TRAILER from Mystery Productions on Vimeo.
Truenorth’s Thordarson told Variety: “We are extremely pleased to have signed this ground-breaking deal with Netflix. This is a validation of our efforts to bring the best quality content to the world and our trust in our young and promising director-creator Þórður Pálsson who has worked on this passion project for many years.”
“This is historic contract with Netflix. This fascinating project in general is a big result for our more ambitious and focused work at RÚV aimed at massively increasing the selection, distribution, and above all else, the quality of Icelandic TV material,” added Magnús Geir Þórðarson. director general of RÚV.
“The Valhalla Murders” reunites some of Iceland’s top talents. The series, based on an idea by Pàlsson, a graduate from London’s National Film & TV School, is co-penned by seasoned screenwriter Margrét Örnólfsdóttir (“Trapped 2”, “Prisoners”), Otto Geir Borg (“I Remember You”), Mikael Torfason (“Made in Iceland”) and crime author and poet Óttar M. Norðfjörð. Pálsson directs the show with David Oskar Olafsson and Thora Hilmarsdottir.
Toplining the series are actors Nína Dögg Filippudóttir (“Trapped”) and Björn Thors (Woman at War).
The story centers on police profiler Arnar, sent back home from Copenhagen to his native Iceland to investigate the country’s first serial killer case. He teams up with the local senior cop Kata. The murders don’t seem to have much in common until the investigative duo connect them to an abandoned boys’ home named Valhalla, where horrendous crimes occurred 35 years earlier.
The Icelandic show is set to premiere on RÚV at Christmas 2019.
During her keynote speech in Göteborg, Brounéus confirmed the latest Netflix investments in the Nordic region:
*“Quicksand”, its first Swedish Original, which is set to bow its first two episodes in the Berlin Festival’s Berlinale Series. The FLX production will premiere on Netflix on April 5;
*“The Rain” Season 2,” the returning season of its first Danish original, produced by Miso Film;
*“Young Wallander,” an English-language show produced by Yellow Bird U.K., based on Henning Mankell’s best-selling Kurt Wallander novels.
*“Ragnarok,” Netflix’s first Norwegian original, from “Borgen” creator Adam Price, produced by SAM Productions.
*Recent acquisitions include Bille August’s “A Fortunate Man” and FLX’s “Bonus Family,” Season 3.
Brounéus reiterated that Netflix is ramping up local content in the Nordics, as part of the group’s ambition to bring more than 100 non-English language series to the world.
She voiced her interest in authentic, relevant and unique projects from a local viewpoint, with potential on the global market, whatever the genre. She also said that she would be looking as well into original feature film production, kids content and documentaries.