Iceland’s leading film and TV production company Glassriver has announced it has optioned book trilogy Reykjavik Noir from bestselling author Lilja Sigurdardottir for a series adaption. Icelandic broadcaster Síminn has picked up the series.
The first book in the series is Snare. After a messy divorce, young mother Sonja is struggling to provide for herself and win sole custody of her son. With her back to the wall, she resorts to smuggling cocaine into Iceland and finds herself caught up in a ruthless criminal world. As she desperately looks for a way out of trouble, we are introduced to her nemesis, Bragi, an experienced customs officer, and see her develop a new relationship with a woman, Agla. Set in Reykjavik, with an original plot and complex characters, Snare is a bold and captivating Nordic crime thriller laced with intrigue and sensuality.
Snare is followed by second book in the series, Trap, and the third and final book, Cage.
Her books have been translated into seventeen languages, including English, German and French. Snare was awarded Thriller of the Year (2017) by New York Journal of Books, and was awarded in The Times and the Sunday Times Crime Club’s best books of the past five years, 2020. It was longlisted for the CWA International Dagger award in 2018.
Icelandic crime-writer Lilja Sigurdardottir was born in the town of Akranes in 1972 and raised in Mexico, Sweden, Spain and Iceland. An award-winning playwright, Lilja has written nine crime novels, with Snare, the first in Reykjavik Noir- series, hitting bestseller lists worldwide.
The deal was brokered by Reykjavik Literary Agency.
Expanding its slate of high-end Icelandic IP, the Reykjavik Noir series joins Glassriver’s extensive portfolio of scripted series, including the recently optioned Elma book series from Eva Björg Ægisdottir. The company is currently developing over 20 other TV and feature film projects, spanning genres from comedy to sci-fi.
Andri Ómarsson, co-owner and producer at Glassriver says “ The Reykjavik Noir trilogy is a masterful blend of intrigue, suspense, and deeply human storytelling. Bringing Lilja’s unique anti-heroine, compelling characters and atmospheric world to the screen is a huge opportunity for Glassriver. It fits perfectly with our mission to showcase Iceland’s distinctive voice in global storytelling.”
Author Lilja Sigurdardottir says “Seeing The Reykjavik Noir series adapted for television is an incredible milestone. Glassriver has a strong reputation for creating high-quality, distinctive content that resonates with audiences all over the world. Their vision for the series fits perfectly with the gritty, character-driven stories of the books, and I’m excited to bring Sonja, Bragi, and the world of Reykjavik Noir to life for the screen with them.”
Birkir Agustsson, VP of Media at Síminn adds “The Reykjavík Noir series is a bold and thrilling addition to Síminn’s ever-growing slate of high-quality scripted Icelandic content. With its gripping storytelling and unforgettable characters, the series promises to captivate our audiences. We are proud to support the adaptation of this iconic Icelandic work and to bring this extraordinary story to life, reaffirming our commitment to showcasing the very best of Icelandic culture and creativity.”
Stella Soffia Johannesdottir, Senior Agent at Reykjavik Literary Agency says “I am thrilled that this riveting crime novel, a favourite among readers worldwide, is being adapted for television. Lilja Sigurdardóttir has a razor-sharp eye for location and plot, crafting an exciting cast of colorful characters. Her crime thrillers are highly visual, almost as if written for the screen, with rapid changes of viewpoint and short chapters that heighten the pace and tension. This adaptation will bring her compelling storytelling to an even broader audience.”
