The next original series from MTG Studios will be Norwegian crime drama ‘Wisting’, which will be one of Norway’s biggest ever drama productions and is supported by the Norwegian Film Institute. Filming starts in January 2018 and the series will premiere exclusively on MTG’s Nordic video streaming service Viaplay and on TV3 across the Nordic region.
Empathetic, meticulous and relentless – the only thing to escape Larvik detective William Wisting in his hunt for Norway’s most notorious criminals is a happy family life. And when two mysterious deaths interrupt Wisting’s Christmas, it is the beginning of a showdown with the deadliest killer of them all.
The series is based on Jørn Lier Horst’s ‘Wisting’ books, which have sold over 1,2 million copies in Norway alone and been translated into 30 languages.
William Wisting is played by leading Norwegian actor Sven Nordin (‘Valkyrien’; the Oscar-nominated ‘Elling’). ‘Wisting’ is created and directed by Katarina Launing (‘Kick It!’) and Trygve Allister Diesen (‘The Third Eye’), written by Trygve Allister Diesen and Kathrine Valen Zeiner (‘Eyewitness’), and produced by Cinenord Drama AS and Denmark’s Good Company Films.The Norwegian Film Institute is supporting the production with NOK 10.5 million in funding.
Jakob Mejlhede, MTG EVP and Head of Programming and Content Development: “Our ambition is to become the Nordic region’s leading producer of original content, and we’re honoured that our unique storytelling capabilities have been recognized by the Norwegian Film Institute. ‘Occupied’, MTG’s first Norwegian Viaplay original, is already thrilling audiences across the Nordic region, and now we’re creating another incredible series that showcases Norway’s very best creative talents.”
MTG has over 50 original scripted projects in the pipeline. ALEX Occupied; Hassel; Peppy Pals; ‘Veni Vidi Vici’; and season one of ‘Swedish Dicks’ have already premiered. Recently commissioned originals include ‘Pro’s and Con’s’; ‘Straight Forward’; ‘Conspiracy of Silence’; ‘Embassy Down’; ‘The Lawyer’; season two of ‘Swedish Dicks’; and MTG’s first Icelandic original ‘Stella Blómkvist’.
MTG’s originals have also been picked up internationally with ‘Veni Vidi Vici’ to premiere on premium US streaming service Hulu in December 2017; season one of ‘Swedish Dicks’ airing on Pop TV in the US; ‘Black Lake’ picked up by BBC Four and AMC Networks-backed Shudder; and ‘Superswede’ acquired for global distribution by IM Global Television.
