Iceland’s leading film and TV production company Glassriver has announced its new original series Hot Stuff, a co-production with Romania’s Idea Film. Icelandic media company SÝN has commissioned the series for their Channel 2 and Oble has picked up global distribution rights.
Hot Stuff is a comedy-drama set in 1979, following a group of Icelanders who go on holiday in Spain. Blending humor, romance, and sharp social commentary, the series cleverly tackles themes of gender inequality, consumerism, and xenophobia. Through playful ridicule and authentic storytelling, it explores the pitfalls of insular thinking, toxic masculinity, and performative activism. With a unique blend of morality-driven drama and comedy, Hot Stuff offers fresh perspectives that appeal not just to traditional genre fans but to anyone looking for engaging and thought-provoking entertainment.
Ragnar Bragason is the creator and co-writer of the series. Bragason is Iceland’s most successful drama and comedy creator of the award winning and audience acclaimed TV series like The Shift trilogy (The Night Shift, The Day Shift, The Prison Shift) remade in Norway, Germany and US. The Drama series PRISONERS is also an international hit and can be seen on BBC, Netflix, AMC, The Sundance Channel and more.
Co-writer Snjolaug Ludviksdottir is a screenwriter writing for TV & film, she is currently adapting the bestselling Icelandic novel Konur (Women) for the screen and wrote the second season of the crime series Stella Blomquist.The series will be directed by Magnús Leifsson. Magnús released his debut short film, Dovetail which won Short Film of The Year at the annual Icelandic Film & TV Awards in 2019.
Hot Stuff joins Glassriver’s extensive scripted slate including Avalanche, a co-production with Whatevergroup and the recently optioned titles Elma from Eva Björg Ægisdottir and Reykjavik Noir from author Lilja Sigurdardottir which are being adapted for screen. Glassriver has also wrapped production on its coproduction with Portugal’s SPi titled Cold Haven and has had the season 2 of Black Sands release at the end of 2024.
Andri Ómarsson, co-owner and producer at Glassriver says “We are taking it back to the 70’s! We are excited to introduce Hot Stuff – a unique story that crosses into several genres and topics, set against the backdrop of sunny Spain in 1979. With our partners and friends at IDEA Film, we are looking forward to this series hotting up”.
Kristjana Thors Brynjolfsdottir, Director of Media at SÝN says “Hot Stuff is exactly the kind of bold, character-driven storytelling we champion at SÝN. It’s smart, stylish, and socially relevant—blending humour with razor-sharp insight in a way that feels both nostalgic and strikingly modern. We’re thrilled to bring this ambitious series to Icelandic audiences and proud to support original stories with global resonance”
