The Danish thriller will be directed by Jesper W. Nielsen (Borgen, The Day Will Come). Fridthjof Film produces with support from Nordisk Film & TV Fond. LevelK handles sales.

Filming is set to start on August 27, with a delivery date set for 2019.

The Exception ((Undtagelsen) is based on Christian Jungersen’s eponymous best-selling and critically-acclaimed novel sold to more than 20 territories.

The film tells of four women who work for a small non-profit NGO in Copenhagen that specialises in genocide and crimes against humanity. When two of them receive death threats, their suspicion quickly turns to a Serbian war criminal, whom they have recently profiled. But as tensions mount amongst the women, they start suspecting and turning against each other.

Danica Ćurčić (Warrior), Sidse Babette Knudsen (L’hermine, Westworld), Lene Maria Christensen (The Legacy) and Amanda Collin (A Horrible Woman) play the female power team. Jesper W. Nielsen directs based on a script by Christian Torpe (Silent Heart).

Christian Jungersen who won two major national literary prizes for his novel, said he strongly believes in Nielsen and Torpe’s vision for the film. “They have a strong feel for the story and the characters and I am impressed by the script," he acknowledged.

Sidse Babett Knudsen said she looks forward to be reunited with the director of Borgen, adding. “I read the book in one day when I heard about the project. It's a real page-turner, a good thriller, with some really exciting characters. It's both obvious and challenging to make this book to film adaptation, but for us actors it's a great advantage to know the thoughts of the character so well." 

Top crew members include cinematographer Erik Zappon (The Day Will Come, Greyzone), composer Henrik Lindstrand (Greyzone, The Reunion) and production designer Sabine Hviid (When Animals Dream, Darkland). The film is produced by Marcella Dichmann, Mille Bjørke and Miriam Nørgaard for Fridthjof Film, with co-financing from DR, the West Danish Film Fund, support from the Danish Film Institute and Creative Media. Nordisk Film handles distribution.