NENT Group plays with The Ambassador, Veni Vidi Vici formats

The ten-part comedy show The Ambassador produced by NENT’s brand Brain Academy (Swedish Dicks, The Conspiracy of Silence) is written by Patrik Ehrnst. Swedish comedian Mikal Tornving (Johan Falk) stars in the Swedish version, currently filming, and the Danish and Norwegian versions with local actors (tba) will start later.

In the Swedish format, the story revolves around a lucrative arms’ deal soon to be signed between Sweden and Mexico. But the delicate negotiations are further complicated by the egocentric Swedish ambassador, convinced that the contract will propel him to his rightful post in Washington DC. Swedish co-stars include Happy Jankell (A Moon of My Own), Fredrik Hallgren (The Bonus Family), Anna Gunnarsson (Partaj) and Emil Almén (Gåsmamman/Mother Goose).

Jakob Mejlhede Andersen, NENT Group Head of Content said: “This is local storytelling with boundless ambition-one super sharp script made even more relevant by three tones and textures. The Ambassador is NENT Group’s first original series with dedicated Swedish, Norwegian and Danish versions, which shows both the potential of the format and our commitment to creating content that resonates with every audience.”

The Ambassador will premiere exclusively on NENT Group’s streamer Viaplay in 2020 across the Nordics.

Meanwhile the Nordic entertainment provider has announced that Veni Vidi Vici will be its first US remake, following a deal signed with the US group Lionsgate Television. The US version is being developed by the series’ original creator Rafael Edholm, with Fredrik Lundberg (HandsUp Sthlm), together with Danish producer Kim Magnusson and Michael Flutie (Madwood Studios).

Edholm said: “We continue to take this tale of complex characters navigating absurdity from Viaplay to the world. Together with Lionsgate, Madwood Studios and the team, I look forward to creating something I haven’t seen yet but would definitely pay a buck to watch. We came, they saw, and now we’re ready to conquer the US.”

The original show which focuses on a struggling arthouse film director and his difficult foray into the adult entertainment industry, was launched in competition at MIP TV Drama Screenings in 2017. In its aggressive push to create 20 original shows a year for the Nordic and international market.  NENT Group also announced earlier this week its partnership with Kew Media Group and top Hollywood showrunner Adi Hasak (Shades of Blue) on the series Margeaux to be filmed in Hebrew, Arabic, English and German in the fall 2019. Margeaux tells the tragic story of the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre from the points of view of an Israeli Mossad psychologist and the Palestinian coordinator behind the attack.

JJ Wienkers will co-write and co-produce alongside Hasak, with Kew Media Distribution handling world distribution. The ambitious show will premiere exclusively on Viaplay.

Finally, in other major deals, the Nordic group has secured the content of Hollywood groups NBC Universal (including blockbuster films Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again!, Minions 2) and MGM. The three-year first window deal with MGM secures access of Viaplay and Viasat customers to the James Bond catalogue, including the upcoming Bond 25, on top of upcoming series Perpetual Grace and Four Weddings and a Funeral. The partnership with the legendary US studio also covers MGM’s co-production and global distribution outside Scandinavia of three NENT Group original productions.