Paradox sets in motion Erik Poppe’s Quisling - Bård Breien’s In the Name of Love

SF Studios’ owned Norwegian production outfit Paradox is enjoying one of its busiest and buzziest production years.

After The Emigrants which opened September 2 in Norway, Erik Poppe has started filming the drama Quisling about the infamous former Norwegian head of state, Nazi collaborator and traitor Vidkun Quisling, interpreted on screen by Gard B. Eidsvold (A Somewhat Gentle Man, Wisting).

In an interview with us (CLICK HERE), Poppe explained that the film will focus on Quisling’s final hours, as he sits in his cell at Akerhus Fortress and must be held accountable for his actions and crimes committed in the name of Nazi ideology. But first, he has to meet the spiritual leader and priest Peder Olsen, played by Anders Danielsen Lie (The Worst Person in the World, Bergman Island).

“In a world with more and more anti-democratic leaders, it is important to try to unmask those who are perhaps the most dangerous of them all; the ideologically driven, said Poppe. “One contribution to this is to get as close to them as possible. Gard and Anders have the qualities needed to do this, and thus bring to life the challenging narrative of what may have unfolded between the two men inside the prison.”

“The film and the TV2 series will have a lot of material in common”, continues the director.

“At the same time, we will create two completely unique expressions and use the film and series format in the best possible way, which means that the audience gets something different and extra, and told in different ways. We are researching how to unleash different teams to both cut, sound and add music, and the project is a gigantic challenge that I can't wait to take on.”

Based on a script by Anna Bache-Wiig, Siv Rajendram Eliassen and Ravn Lanesskog, Quisling is being produced by Poppe’s long-time production partners Finn Gjerdrum and Stein B. Kvae of Paradox.

Filming started last week. The theatrical premieres via SF Norge and on television via TV2 Norway are set for the fall 2024.

Meanwhile the Viaplay eight-part series In the Name of Love toplining Maria Bonnevie and Trond Espen Seim, is also lensing in Norway. Real-life acting brothers Jonas Oftebro and Jakob Oftebro have been cast in the show as the sons of Anne-Lise Bang, a primary school teacher, who does everything to keep her husband Lars’s highly profitable porn business a secret.

The comedy drama set in 1970s Norway, is based on the true story of award-winning director Bård Breien’s unusual childhood. “I grew up in a fantastic family who lived an increasingly wild life in the 1970s and 1980s due to the money my father earned from porn. Neither I nor my family came out unscathed. That’s why it feels extra good finally to tell this story together with Viaplay,” said Breien, multi-awarded for The Art of Negative Thinking.

In the Name of Love is produced by Paradox’s Rebecca Mathiesen and Finn Gjerdum, with Viaplay’s Kari Moen Kristiansen serving as executive producer. The premiere on Viaplay is set for 2023.

Paradox’s anticipated feature drama Storm starring Ane Dahl Torp, is due to open in Norway September 30. The film is directed by Erika Calmeyer from a script by Johan Fasting, who shared the Nordic Talents Pitch Prize 2014 for the project.