The Icelandic neo-noir starring Heida Reed has started filming for Sagafilm. Red Arrow Studios International handles global distribution. 

Based on the best-selling crime novels Stella Blómkvist, Season 2 (3×90’ or 6×45’), is directed by Óskar Thór Axelsson (Trapped, Riviera) and Thora Hilmarsdóttir (The Valhalla Murders). Head-writer Jóhann Ævar Grímsson (Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize nominated in 2017 for season 1 with co-writers Andri Óttarsson and Nanna Kristín Magnúsdóttir) is working in the writers’ room with a new team consisting of Jónas Margeir Ingólfsson (The Minister), and rising female writing talents Snjólaug Lúðvíksdóttir and Dóra Jóhannsdóttir. 

Heida Reed (Poldark) reprises her role as the titular hard-nosed lawyer who defends criminals and hustles her way through the court system. In Season 2 her ex-lover and Iceland’s Prime Minister Dagbjört is causing massive social upheaval with her war chest full of money from China. When Stella is asked to take on new cases, she will have her wits, sense of justice, and even her belief in herself, truly tested, while diabolical murders are being committed.

Sagafilm is producing, with co-financing from Lumiere Group in the Benelux, support from the Icelandic Film Centre and the Ministry of Industries and Innovation. Iceland’s major streaming service Síminn and NENT Group are co-commissioners, with NENT Group’s streamer Viaplay handling the second window in Iceland as well as rights in the rest of the Nordics and in the Baltic region. 

Kjartan Thor Thordarson, Executive Producer at Sagafilm said: “Stella [Blomkvist] paved the way for a new kind of Nordic TV hero, and we will continue in this season to break the mould of traditional Scandinavian television. There will be plenty of surprises in the second season and I’m looking forward to hearing the response from the show’s well established fanbase.”

Pálmi Guðmundsson, EVP Programming at Síminn, added: “We are delighted to bring Stella Blómkvist back for a second season. Stella was our first venture into drama back in 2017 and it’s still the most watched series on our platform. Síminn is fully committed to local drama and we continue to grow our investment in original content, serving our ever-growing customer base.”

Filippa Wallestam, NENT Group Chief Content Officer also said: “Stella means ‘star’ and this edgy and unconventional show is one of the brightest lights in Icelandic drama today. Investing in unique local storytelling is a priority for NENT Group in every market. Viaplay has reshaped Iceland’s streaming landscape since launching this spring and we’re just getting started.”

Season 1 was sold by Red Arrow Studios International to AMC Networks’ Sundance Now SVOD platform for North America, the UK, Australia and New Zealand, and NBCUniversal Global Networks for Spain and French-speaking territories.