Uthaug will direct the epic adventure Amundsen, most likely after his Tomb Raider Reboot project for MGM in Hollywood. The €8-9 million feature Amundsen will be based on a script by Danish writer Mikael Olsen, former Zentropa producer/writer, now working as script development producer. The story will focus on legendary Roald Amundsen’s costly polar expedition, his vision and drive to bring his crew to the South Pole in 1910. Producer Fredrik Martin says Nordisk Film is attached to the project, still in early stages of financing.
Friland Film will be pitching as well at the Berlinale Co-Pro Series their first TV drama project. Until now, the 14 year old company had focused essentially on feature film, bringing to world screens quality projects such as Jens Lien’s Sons of Norway, Erik Skjoldbjærg’s Pioneer and Morten Tyldum’s passport to Hollywood Headhunters. But new market conditions over the last few years have incited the company’s Co-MDs to expand into TV drama.
Their first project developed with TV2 Norway is the Nordic noir Brotherhood created by experienced author/writer Nikolaj Frobenius (Insomnia). The thriller inspired by true events, centres on a police investigator Tom Hagen at Oslo police section who becomes heavily involved in organised crime. His secret links to the underground world are suddenly challenged and the protection he has built around his family starts to fall apart. The 8x45’ project in early stages of financing.