Erik Poppe reunites with The Emigrants’ Lisa Carlehed for Quisling

Carlehed who starred in Poppe’s previous epic drama The Emigrants is cast as Maria Quisling, the wife to the infamous former Norwegian head of state, Nazi collaborator and traitor Vidkun Quisling, played by Gard B. Eidsvold.

The film and TV series produced by Paradox for SF Studios and TV2 Norway focuses on Quisling’s final hours, as he sits in his cell at Akerhus Fortress and must be held accountable for his actions and crimes.

Anders Danielsen Lie is the priest Peder Olsen who collected Quisling’s thoughts from his arrest until his execution October 25, 1945, which he wrote down in a diary. The notebook was one of the key source materials that helped Poppe and screenwriting team Anna Bache-Wiig and Siv Rajendram Eliassen bring to life thepsychological drama about truth and lies, faith and doubt.

Carlehed said “getting to play Maria Quisling is an exciting challenge, and I take the role extremely seriously. Who exactly was this Ukrainian woman who loyally stood by her husband's side until the end”, she asks. “As a Swede, I knew little about Quisling, and his role in Norway during the war. Surprisingly, this story is still relevant today, with the war in Europe, and state leaders who still share much of the thinking and rhetoric of Quisling and his co-conspirators,” commented the actress.

Poppe sees Maria Quisling as a very demanding character, which is why he was “very relieved when Lisa accepted the role. We have previously worked together on The Emigrants where she did a fantastic interpretation of the iconic Kristina. Her talent, thoroughness and enthusiasm are incredibly inspiring. Again, she adds to this story a fascinating interpretation of some extremely dramatic days we have known little about and the role she played in Vidkun Quisling's life.”
Quisling-The Final Days is expected to be delivered in 2024.

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