Dynamic-NDF-Nordisk Film plot crime series

The series is based on Danish author Anna Grue’s best-selling book series sold to multiple territories including Norway, Iceland, Germany, Italy and France. World distribution and packaging company Dynamic Television (Trapped) started pre-selling the 10x45’ or 5x90’ crime show at MIPCOM on behalf of German prodco NDF and Denmark’s Nordisk Film.
TV2 Denmark is attached and a German broadcaster will soon be announced.

Head-writer Nikolaj Scherfig said in a statement that the project is different from the classic Scandi noir. “It is a tight clean crime series reflecting on life outside urban cities understanding how modernity and social development affect life in the province.” Set in a picturesque coastal town, each episode will revolve around a murder case solved by the titular Dan Sommerdahl and his partner, detective Fleming Torp. 

So far seven out of 12 books featuring the ‘bald detective’ have been published. The deal with Anna Grue secured by NDF allows the creative and financing partners to expand the characters and universe beyond the book series. Filming in Denmark is set to start next summer.

Klaus Zimmermann, Dynamic Television’s co-MD told nordicfilmandtvnews.com: Every 90-minute episode will be based on a book. This will fit TV2 Denmark’s wish to programme a close- ended crime show.” “NDF originally acquired the rights to the books and wanted to make it in the tradition of a German crime series with German actors for an international market. But then we felt it made more sense to make it as an original Danish show with a Danish writer and Danish actors. It’s simply the right way to tell the story.”

Zimmermann was also at MIPCOM to pre-sell season 2 of the Icelandic hit series Trapped based on an original idea by Baltasar Kormákur. “We’re in development and have the same partners on board with the same creative team,” he confirmed. The series commissioned by RUV has been sold to BBC, ZDF, France Television, SVT, NRK and DR among others.