Viaplay/Filmlance’s Ronja the Robber’s Daughter starts rolling - stellar cast on board

Filming has just started on the 12-episode Swedish epic adventure Ronja The Robber’s Daughter, exactly a year after Viaplay, Banijay’s Swedish brand Filmlance International, and The Astrid Lindgren Company broke the news of their partnership on the blockbuster screen project. (See story here).

The young actress Kerstin Linden who starred in Erik Poppe’s The Emigrants, has landed the title role as Ronja the robber’s daughter, Jack Bergenholtz Henriksson the part of her friend Birk Borkason, while seasoned actors Krista Kosonen (Beforeigners, Blade Runner 2049) and Christopher Wagelin (The Truth Will Out, Love Me) are cast as Ronja’s parents Lovis and Mattis.

Completing the Scandinavian cast are Sverrir Gudnason (Falling, Monica Z) and Maria Nohra (Honour, Likea) as Borka and Undis, leaders of the Borka Robbers enemy group.

The first season is directed by UK/Swedish director Lisa James Larsson (Victoria, Britannia, Agatha Christie’s Hjerson) from a screenplay by Hans Rosenfeldt (The Bridge, Marcella) (read our interview).

The story follows the adventures of Ronja (11), born into a band of robbers in a medieval Scandinavian fortress. Growing up, she learns that the surrounding forest can be a magical and sometimes dangerous place filled with strange creatures. But when Ronja befriends the young boy Birk from a rival band, a vicious family feud ignites, as a notorious bailiff arrives to rid the area of robbers once and for all. Ronja and Birk flee into the forest and try to survive on their own.

"I remember my mother reading 'Ronja, the Robber's Daughter' to me. Now I read it to my daughter and the magic is still very much present. It is the ultimate story of love, courage, friendship and girl power", said Kirsta Kosonen.

Filmlance International producers Bonnie Skoog Feeney and Mattias Arehn feel it is "a great privilege to produce a series based on the loved and well-known story of ‘Ronja the Robber’s Daughter’. Shooting in epic landscapes, in deep forests and raging waterfalls, with wild horses and fantasy creatures is a huge undertaking for everyone involved. We’re already so impressed and proud of the work our cast and crew have put in and thrilled to see the vision come to life.”

Hanne Palmquist, Executive Producer and Filmlance Managing Director believes the “reinterpretation will bring elements such as love, courage, the essential connection between nature and human and girl power to the forefront, and is set to give a deeper insight into Ronja’s world than ever before”. “We’ll stay true to the story, which is loved so much, but update for today’s audiences with special effects, beautiful scenery, and brilliant characters, all written by the iconic screenwriter Hans Rosenfeldt.”

Serving as executive producers next to Palmquist are Viaplay’s Sara Askelöf and the Astrid Lindgren Company’s Johan Palmberg, great-grandson to the Swedish legendary author Astrid Lindgren. The series received co-financing from Film i Väst and Nordisk Film & TV Fond.

Ronja The Robber’s Daughter is a prime example of Viaplay’s ambitions which is take the most iconic Nordic stories and brands to the world.