The Norwegian dystopian thriller series currently filming in Bergen, will be distributed worldwide by TrustNordisk.

The eight-part high-concept series is based on an original screenplay by seasoned writer John Kåre Raake (The Wave, The Quake) and Linn-Jeanethe Kyed, credited for NRK’s hit youth series Rod Nock (Rådebank), the car chasing film franchise Børning and the Oscar nominated short film Tuba Atlantic. Emmy-award-winner director Cecilie Mosli (Mammon, Three Wishes for Cinderella, Thin Ice) and Mikkel Brænne Sandemose (Ragnarok, State of Happiness) are co-directing.

In the title roles are Norway’s star actor Tobias Santelmann (Beforeigners, Exit), stage and screen actress Selome Emnetu (Occupied, The Third Eye) and British actor Russell Tovey (The Good Liar, Years and Years).

The story for The Fortress is set in 2037. An enormous wall surrounds Norway, where its population - increasingly xenophobic and fearful of terrorism, enjoy - supposedly - privileged lives in a self-sufficient Nordic paradise. But when a deadly pandemic breaks out, the inhabitants soon realise that the wall intended to protect, is instead holding them prisoner.

“Our next Norwegian Viaplay Original might be set 15 years in the future, but it is relevant to audiences everywhere today,” commented Filippa Wallestam, Nent Group Chief Content Officer. “History repeatedly shows us that what starts as a wall, ends as a prison. This unique and compelling production is the latest example of Viaplay’s commitment to Nordic storytelling that goes beyond borders-in this case, literally!”

The series is being produced by Synnøve Hørsdal and Ales Ree for Norway’s leading production house Maipo Film, in co-production with Lithuania’s ArtBox, with support from Media Creative Europe, the Norwegian Film Institute and Zefyr Media Fund. Viaplay’s Kari Moen Kristiansen and Tanya Nanette Badendyck are executive producers.

Susan Wendt, CEO at TrustNordisk which is handling international sales said: “We are excited to be representing this high-concept thriller series, full of tension and nerve, with a strong story and an interesting take on today’s societal and political issues.“

Maipo Film’s most recent high-end drama series includes State of Happiness season 2, which aired earlier this year on NRK.