Copenhagen-based REinvent International Sales has closed Spain and Portugal with AMC Networks International Southern Europe, on the Finnish suspense disaster drama “Seconds”, Variety has learned exclusively.
One of REinvent’s MipTV highlights, “Seconds,” made a strong debut on Finnish pubcaster Yle this week, according to head of drama, Jarmo Lampela. “It will easily go over the average viewing target,” he said. German co-production partner Ndr is due to launch it later this year.
Created by screenwriter Laura Suhonen (“Hooked”) alongside Fire Monkey co-founders Mikko Pöllä and Roope Lehtinen, the six-part series chronicles the aftermath of a horrific train disaster in a small Finnish town that claimed the lives of more than 60 people.
Accident investigator Marita Kail (Leena Pöysti) and her team are put in charge of the case and start digging into the events that led to the tragedy. The whole nation is rocked by the event, as is Marita’s psyche.
One of REinvent’s MipTV highlights, “Seconds,” made a strong debut on Finnish pubcaster Yle this week, according to head of drama, Jarmo Lampela. “It will easily go over the average viewing target,” he said. German co-production partner Ndr is due to launch it later this year.
Created by screenwriter Laura Suhonen (“Hooked”) alongside Fire Monkey co-founders Mikko Pöllä and Roope Lehtinen, the six-part series chronicles the aftermath of a horrific train disaster in a small Finnish town that claimed the lives of more than 60 people.
Accident investigator Marita Kail (Leena Pöysti) and her team are put in charge of the case and start digging into the events that led to the tragedy. The whole nation is rocked by the event, as is Marita’s psyche.
- 4/10/2024
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
Finnish series creators are ready to laugh – also at themselves.
“While cultures vary, a fish-out-of-water experience is universal,” says writer Beata Harju, behind “Lay Low and Don’t Be Fabulous” about a woman who just can’t let go of her ex. Or of her Finnish roots.
“Finland is the perfect setting for a culture-clash comedy, because our networking events are so silent, you can hear the crunch of a cucumber.”
The show, set to bow in the Focus on Finland showcase at Mipcom, won’t be the only one led by complex female protagonists. In “True North,” three women fight for power after Egyptian refugee, Layla, joins a catering company with a secret.
“Through placing the story in [Spain’s] Marbella, where international jet-setters and social media celebrities live next to refugees and locals struggling to get by, we create a unique story around some of the inequalities of today’s society,...
“While cultures vary, a fish-out-of-water experience is universal,” says writer Beata Harju, behind “Lay Low and Don’t Be Fabulous” about a woman who just can’t let go of her ex. Or of her Finnish roots.
“Finland is the perfect setting for a culture-clash comedy, because our networking events are so silent, you can hear the crunch of a cucumber.”
The show, set to bow in the Focus on Finland showcase at Mipcom, won’t be the only one led by complex female protagonists. In “True North,” three women fight for power after Egyptian refugee, Layla, joins a catering company with a secret.
“Through placing the story in [Spain’s] Marbella, where international jet-setters and social media celebrities live next to refugees and locals struggling to get by, we create a unique story around some of the inequalities of today’s society,...
- 10/12/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Copenhagen-based REInvent International Sales has boarded Finnish crime series “Deception,” produced by Fire Monkey, Variety has found out exclusively.
It sees Riku, a kid from a bad part of town, deciding to infiltrate a rich young elite in order to rob them. When he falls in love with an heiress, he starts to enjoy his new luxurious lifestyle. But his old friends, and creditors, want to see money and results.
Created by Mikko Pöllä, who also serves as one of the writers, “Deception” (“Kerma”) is produced by Saara Kankaanpää. Daniel Virtanen, Marketta Tikkanen, Elias Gould, Pihla Maalismaa and Karim Rapatti star, while Mikko Kuparinen will direct.
Currently in production, the show will premiere in 2023 on C More in the Nordics.
“Fire Monkey produces high-profile series, and has a proven track record that there is a great audience for them. We are sure ‘Deception’ is in this league,” says sales and marketing director Helene Aurø.
It sees Riku, a kid from a bad part of town, deciding to infiltrate a rich young elite in order to rob them. When he falls in love with an heiress, he starts to enjoy his new luxurious lifestyle. But his old friends, and creditors, want to see money and results.
Created by Mikko Pöllä, who also serves as one of the writers, “Deception” (“Kerma”) is produced by Saara Kankaanpää. Daniel Virtanen, Marketta Tikkanen, Elias Gould, Pihla Maalismaa and Karim Rapatti star, while Mikko Kuparinen will direct.
Currently in production, the show will premiere in 2023 on C More in the Nordics.
“Fire Monkey produces high-profile series, and has a proven track record that there is a great audience for them. We are sure ‘Deception’ is in this league,” says sales and marketing director Helene Aurø.
- 10/11/2022
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
The series starts shooting in spring 2023.
REinvent has boarded international sales for Finnish suspense-driven disaster drama series Seconds.
Laura Suhonen (Hooked) wrote the script, and co-creators are Mikko Pöllä and Roope Lehtinen.
Saara Kankaanpää of Fire Monkey produces, with Finnish public broadcaster Yle as co-producer.
The 6 x 50’ series has not confirmed cast yet. It starts shooting in spring 2023.
The story follows what happens in a small town after a major train derailment causes an explosion and fire that kills more than 60 people. Accident investigator Marita Kaila – who might be a risk factor herself - has to dive deep...
REinvent has boarded international sales for Finnish suspense-driven disaster drama series Seconds.
Laura Suhonen (Hooked) wrote the script, and co-creators are Mikko Pöllä and Roope Lehtinen.
Saara Kankaanpää of Fire Monkey produces, with Finnish public broadcaster Yle as co-producer.
The 6 x 50’ series has not confirmed cast yet. It starts shooting in spring 2023.
The story follows what happens in a small town after a major train derailment causes an explosion and fire that kills more than 60 people. Accident investigator Marita Kaila – who might be a risk factor herself - has to dive deep...
- 5/18/2022
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
REinvent International Sales has inked a raft of deals across its slate of high-concept series, including “Transport” (pictured) and “Enemy of the People,” rolling off of MipTV.
The company has sold both “Transport,” which is penned by Auli Mantila (“Silver Stars”), and the Icelandic comedy series “Ordinary People” to AMC Networks Southern Europe for Spain and Portugal.
“Transport” is an eight-part TV show following a young journalist investigating a chip found in baby food. She crosses paths with an insurance investigator and a bank manager who are both connected to the case. The series stars Emmi Parviainen (“Shadow Lines”), Maria Heiskanen (“Everlasting Moments”), Pirkko Hämäläinen (“Devil’s Bride”) and Geert van Rampelberg (“De Infiltrant”). Miia Haavisto (“Tom of Finland”) and Tia Talli (“Nurses”) at Tekele are producing “Transport.”
“Ordinary People,” which is produced by Glassriver, follows the ups and downs of a friendship between two young women entering adulthood and...
The company has sold both “Transport,” which is penned by Auli Mantila (“Silver Stars”), and the Icelandic comedy series “Ordinary People” to AMC Networks Southern Europe for Spain and Portugal.
“Transport” is an eight-part TV show following a young journalist investigating a chip found in baby food. She crosses paths with an insurance investigator and a bank manager who are both connected to the case. The series stars Emmi Parviainen (“Shadow Lines”), Maria Heiskanen (“Everlasting Moments”), Pirkko Hämäläinen (“Devil’s Bride”) and Geert van Rampelberg (“De Infiltrant”). Miia Haavisto (“Tom of Finland”) and Tia Talli (“Nurses”) at Tekele are producing “Transport.”
“Ordinary People,” which is produced by Glassriver, follows the ups and downs of a friendship between two young women entering adulthood and...
- 4/6/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Thanks to fresh takes on established genres and highlighting local elements, Finnish drama is commanding attention from international buyers. A Series Mania Focus on Finland will teasing more series to come, from “Nordic blue” to horror for kids and a Christmas fairytale crime story. The biggest event dedicated to television series in Europe will take place March 18-25 in Lille, France. Here’s a breakdown on some higher titles:
“Crash Plan” (Take Two Studios)
(Nordic blue/procedural crime)
Creator: Ralph Christians, Marteinn Thorisson
Producers: Eero Hietala, Ralph Christians, Dirk Schweitzer
8 Episodes x 44 Minutes/ 4 Episodes x 90 Minutes
Take Two Studios production “Crash Plan,” co-produced by Splendid Film, is a “Nordic blue” procedural drama taking place in the Finnish Turku archipelago, where police detective Elisa and emergency helicopter doctor Markus investigate local crime. Elisa recently transferred from patrol police and is eager to prove her skills. Markus has no experience as a detective,...
“Crash Plan” (Take Two Studios)
(Nordic blue/procedural crime)
Creator: Ralph Christians, Marteinn Thorisson
Producers: Eero Hietala, Ralph Christians, Dirk Schweitzer
8 Episodes x 44 Minutes/ 4 Episodes x 90 Minutes
Take Two Studios production “Crash Plan,” co-produced by Splendid Film, is a “Nordic blue” procedural drama taking place in the Finnish Turku archipelago, where police detective Elisa and emergency helicopter doctor Markus investigate local crime. Elisa recently transferred from patrol police and is eager to prove her skills. Markus has no experience as a detective,...
- 3/18/2022
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
As the industry starts paying closer attention to Finnish films and talent – following the Cannes success of Juho Kuosmanen’s “Compartment No. 6” and Zaida Bergroth’s crowd-pleasing “Tove” – Finnish TV drama is next in line, argued the participants of the Berlinale Series Market Focus on Finland drama showcase. Kuosmanen premiered short-form series “Zone B,” which he co-created, at the Red Sea International Film Festival in December.
“We have seen a rise in Finnish stories, because as content creators and writers, we got to be a little bit braver,” said Minna Panjanen, now behind “Next of Kin”. “The truth is, everyone needs content right now. It’s almost a mathematical impossibility to say what would be the next big thing – we all saw it with ‘Squid Game’. But we need to be braver in order to stand out.”
In “Next of Kin”, set in the near future – the series is...
“We have seen a rise in Finnish stories, because as content creators and writers, we got to be a little bit braver,” said Minna Panjanen, now behind “Next of Kin”. “The truth is, everyone needs content right now. It’s almost a mathematical impossibility to say what would be the next big thing – we all saw it with ‘Squid Game’. But we need to be braver in order to stand out.”
In “Next of Kin”, set in the near future – the series is...
- 2/16/2022
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Mikko Pöllä and Roope Lehtinen, seasoned Finnish showrunners and co-founders of Fire Monkey, are bringing to market a handful of premium dramas in post and development.
Headlining their production slate under REinvent’s sales banner is the thriller “Enemy of the People,” from “Man in Room 301” helmer Mikko Kuparinen, currently in post.
Co-created by Lehtinen and Timo Varpio (“Easy Living”), the eight-part TV show boasts a stellar cast, including Kreeta Salminen, Mikko Nousiainen (“Peacemaker”), Tobias Zilliacus (“Beartown”), and Johannes Holopainen (“All the Sins”).
Co-penned by Varpio and Fire Monkey’s in-house writer Laura Suhonen, the thriller explores investigative reporting in an era of trolls and fake news. After writing a critical piece about the local town’s soccer star and biggest celebrity, involved in a dubious business scheme, reporter Katja Salonen finds herself drawn into a whirlpool of lies, deceit and abuse of power, in the middle of which...
Headlining their production slate under REinvent’s sales banner is the thriller “Enemy of the People,” from “Man in Room 301” helmer Mikko Kuparinen, currently in post.
Co-created by Lehtinen and Timo Varpio (“Easy Living”), the eight-part TV show boasts a stellar cast, including Kreeta Salminen, Mikko Nousiainen (“Peacemaker”), Tobias Zilliacus (“Beartown”), and Johannes Holopainen (“All the Sins”).
Co-penned by Varpio and Fire Monkey’s in-house writer Laura Suhonen, the thriller explores investigative reporting in an era of trolls and fake news. After writing a critical piece about the local town’s soccer star and biggest celebrity, involved in a dubious business scheme, reporter Katja Salonen finds herself drawn into a whirlpool of lies, deceit and abuse of power, in the middle of which...
- 10/10/2021
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
Indian streaming platform Zee5 and producer Big Synergy Media have struck a deal with Nent Studios U.K. to produce two seasons of “Black Widows.”
The show was originally a Finnish dark comedy-drama of the same title, in which three best friends try to kill their husbands. But one of the men survive and seeks revenge on the deadly female trio. It was created by Roope Lehtinen and Mikko Polla for Finnish broadcaster Nelonen, and has since been sold by Nent as a scripted format.
The Indian version will be the eighth international remake of the show, following earlier versions in Ukraine, Estonia, Lithuania, the Middle East, Mexico, Scandinavia and the Czech Republic. Zee5 and Big Synergy plan two 12-hour series. The first episodes will premiere on Zee5 later this year and be produced by Namit Sharma and Big Synergy.
“ ‘Black Widows’ is an engaging story featuring strong female protagonists,...
The show was originally a Finnish dark comedy-drama of the same title, in which three best friends try to kill their husbands. But one of the men survive and seeks revenge on the deadly female trio. It was created by Roope Lehtinen and Mikko Polla for Finnish broadcaster Nelonen, and has since been sold by Nent as a scripted format.
The Indian version will be the eighth international remake of the show, following earlier versions in Ukraine, Estonia, Lithuania, the Middle East, Mexico, Scandinavia and the Czech Republic. Zee5 and Big Synergy plan two 12-hour series. The first episodes will premiere on Zee5 later this year and be produced by Namit Sharma and Big Synergy.
“ ‘Black Widows’ is an engaging story featuring strong female protagonists,...
- 6/11/2020
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
For the first time ever, a record number of 13 talent scouts -including U.S. reps from Wiip, CAA, Gersh- will set foot at Göteborg’s sold-out Nordic TV Drama Vision (Jan.29-30), where around 50 series in progress and in development will play to 420 industry delegates.
“This is the first time ever we have such a large presence of talent agents in Göteborg, but mirrors the worldwide trend of people trying to uncover and snap up the next big talent and stories, of which the Nordics abound,” said head of industry Cia Edström.
Heading the works in progress is HBO’s Swedish original “Beartown,” to be discussed by HBO Nordic’s commissioning editor & VP Original Programming, Hanne Palmquist, director Peter Grönlund, and Filmlance International’s producers Bonnie Skoog Feeney and Mattias Arehn. The adaptation of Fredrik Backman’s best-selling novel will bow on HBO later this year.
The dramedy “Dreaming of England,...
“This is the first time ever we have such a large presence of talent agents in Göteborg, but mirrors the worldwide trend of people trying to uncover and snap up the next big talent and stories, of which the Nordics abound,” said head of industry Cia Edström.
Heading the works in progress is HBO’s Swedish original “Beartown,” to be discussed by HBO Nordic’s commissioning editor & VP Original Programming, Hanne Palmquist, director Peter Grönlund, and Filmlance International’s producers Bonnie Skoog Feeney and Mattias Arehn. The adaptation of Fredrik Backman’s best-selling novel will bow on HBO later this year.
The dramedy “Dreaming of England,...
- 1/20/2020
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Zac & Mia star Kian Lawley and My Dead Ex star Katherine C. Hughes are set to front Finnish comedy drama Perfect Commando for Svod service Elisa Viihde.
The U.S. teen stars, familiar to Awesomeness TV viewers, will feature alongside a cast of Finnish actors in the 10-part comedy.
The English and Finnish-language comedy follows two young characters; Van and Rachel who have led carefree lives in their home of California. However, Van’s first ever trip to his mother’s home country of Finland takes an unexpected wrong turn as soon as he steps off the plane when due to Van’s dual American-Finnish citizenship he is thrown into Military service. Forced out of his comfort zone, will this privileged kid from La survive this tough new life in the army barracks with a bunch of oddballs and rise to the challenge of Army Commando?
Johannes Holopainen (Heavy...
The U.S. teen stars, familiar to Awesomeness TV viewers, will feature alongside a cast of Finnish actors in the 10-part comedy.
The English and Finnish-language comedy follows two young characters; Van and Rachel who have led carefree lives in their home of California. However, Van’s first ever trip to his mother’s home country of Finland takes an unexpected wrong turn as soon as he steps off the plane when due to Van’s dual American-Finnish citizenship he is thrown into Military service. Forced out of his comfort zone, will this privileged kid from La survive this tough new life in the army barracks with a bunch of oddballs and rise to the challenge of Army Commando?
Johannes Holopainen (Heavy...
- 7/18/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Scandinavian sci-fi series “The White Wall” is coming to the international market, starting at Natpe, after Drg picked up international rights to the upcoming project. Finland’s Fire Monkey and Nice Drama, part of the Nordic Entertainment Group, are making “The White Wall” for Swedish pubcaster Svt and its Finnish counterpart, Yle.
It will feature a roster of well-known Scandi talent, including Aksel Hennie (“Headhunters”), Vera Vitali (“Arne Dahl”), Ardalan Esmaili (“Greyzone”), and Eva Melander (“The Bridge”). It was created by Aleksi Salmenperä (“A Man’s Job”), Mikko Pöllä (“Easy Living”), and Roope Lehtinen (“Black Widows”).
The series follows events after a mysterious white wall is discovered at the site of the world’s largest nuclear waste depository. It becomes clear that the wall is not made of any material known to man, and the team at the nuclear waste center must decide how to deal with it.
Drg is...
It will feature a roster of well-known Scandi talent, including Aksel Hennie (“Headhunters”), Vera Vitali (“Arne Dahl”), Ardalan Esmaili (“Greyzone”), and Eva Melander (“The Bridge”). It was created by Aleksi Salmenperä (“A Man’s Job”), Mikko Pöllä (“Easy Living”), and Roope Lehtinen (“Black Widows”).
The series follows events after a mysterious white wall is discovered at the site of the world’s largest nuclear waste depository. It becomes clear that the wall is not made of any material known to man, and the team at the nuclear waste center must decide how to deal with it.
Drg is...
- 1/16/2019
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
ABC is developing a drama series based on a Finnish show with Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way Productions
Variety reports that the project is based on the original concept entitled Black Widows by Mikko Polla and Roope Lehtinen. The original series follows three best friends trapped in abusive marriages to husbands that all work for the same company. When all three husbands die in a mysterious explosion during a group vacation, the wives are pulled into a spiral of lies and crime.
Caroline Dries will write and executive produce. This project is officially the first broadcast series to be developed at DiCaprio's Appian Way. Before, DiCaprio’s company has set up projects like a mafia drama set in the 1980s at Showtime and The Right Stuff at NatGeo, which chronicles the lives of the original Mercury 7 astronauts.
No casting announcements or premiere date have been revealed yet, but that is...
Variety reports that the project is based on the original concept entitled Black Widows by Mikko Polla and Roope Lehtinen. The original series follows three best friends trapped in abusive marriages to husbands that all work for the same company. When all three husbands die in a mysterious explosion during a group vacation, the wives are pulled into a spiral of lies and crime.
Caroline Dries will write and executive produce. This project is officially the first broadcast series to be developed at DiCaprio's Appian Way. Before, DiCaprio’s company has set up projects like a mafia drama set in the 1980s at Showtime and The Right Stuff at NatGeo, which chronicles the lives of the original Mercury 7 astronauts.
No casting announcements or premiere date have been revealed yet, but that is...
- 10/13/2017
- by Kristian Odland
- GeekTyrant
ABC is looking to a Finnish TV series for its next drama.
The network is teaming with former Vampire Diaries showrunner Caroline Dries to adapt Black Widow. The project is based on Mikko Polla's and Roope Lehtinen's Scandinavian series Black Widows. Set in an idyllic mountain town, three women form an unlikely bond when a tragic boat accident results in the deaths of their significant others. Secrets are made, lives are taken and the truth might be hard to keep buried in this sexy, soapy thriller.
Dries will pen the script and executive produce Black Widow via her ...
The network is teaming with former Vampire Diaries showrunner Caroline Dries to adapt Black Widow. The project is based on Mikko Polla's and Roope Lehtinen's Scandinavian series Black Widows. Set in an idyllic mountain town, three women form an unlikely bond when a tragic boat accident results in the deaths of their significant others. Secrets are made, lives are taken and the truth might be hard to keep buried in this sexy, soapy thriller.
Dries will pen the script and executive produce Black Widow via her ...
- 10/10/2017
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
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