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Iceland ’s prominent production banner Glassriver has partnered with Italian sales company True Colours on a new Nordic psychological thriller series titled “Brkn,” about an investigation into the disappearance of a nonbinary teenager to be adapted from Jón Atli Jónasson’s novel “Brotin.” Jón Atli Jónasson (pictured above) is a novelist, playwright and screenwriter known for co-writing 2013’s Oscar shortlisted “The Deep” and Finnish-German crime series “Arctic Circle,” among other titles. He is co-creating the high-profile “Brkn” show with theater director Thorleifur Örn Arnarsson and screenwriter, novelist and musician Margrét Örnólfsdóttir (“The Valhalla Murders,” “Trapped, Fanger”). The Reykjavik-set psychological thriller turns on female and male police officers Dóra and Rado, who are investigating the disappearance of a nonbinary teenager named Morgan. Their search turns into a high-stakes case involving “a complex web of organized crime, corporate power and police corruption,” according to the synopsis. Dóra had recently returned to duty after “a traumatic incident” in which she got shot in the head while attempting to prevent her boyfriend’s suicide, the synopsis adds. Meanwhile, members of Rado’s family emerge as suspects. Glassriver has sealed a global distribution deal on “Brkn” with True Colours, which will handle the international distribution of the series that is currently in development. True Colours, which is is co-owned by Italy’s Indigo Film and Lucky Red, is branching out from feature films into the TV content space under the new management of Elliot Gustin-Hollman, formerly with Paris-based distribution powerhouse Newen Connect. The “Brkn” series is the latest addition to Glassriver’s current slate comprising “Avalanche,” which is a co-production with Finland’s Whatevergroup; the recently optioned “Konráð” book series from popular Icelandic author Arnaldur Indriðason, which is being adapted for the screen; and the comedy drama “Hot Stuff,” which is a coproduction with Romania’s IDEA Film currently in production. “‘Brkn’ pushes the boundaries of the Nordic crime genre and represents the distinctive and original storytelling that we champion at Glassriver,” said the company’s co-owner Andri Ómarsson in a statement. “We are delighted to be partnering with True Colours, as we continue to share bold and unique stories from Iceland with the world.” Commented Gustin: “One year after launching our series distribution business, we are delighted to be partnering with Glassriver. This demonstrates our ability as an independent distributor to support bold, high-quality projects. ‘Brkn’ is a series with tremendous potential, and we firmly believe it will have international acclaim and success.”
EXCLUSIVE: Unnur Birna Backman (Reykjavík Fusion, Black Sands) has landed the lead role in upcoming Icelandic crime thriller series Elma . She will play the title role in the Eva Björg Ægisdóttir book adaptation and be joined by Nikulás Hansen Daðason (Brjann, Skviz), who is also attached to producer Glassriver ’s original series Avalanche and Hot Stuff. He will play Saevar. Backman is known for the likes of Nordic noir Reykjavík Fusion and for voicing the character Raya in the Icelandic dub of the Disney animated feature Raya and the Last Dragon in 2020. Glassriver is currently working on the first book in the Elma series, The Creak on the Stairs, which is being adapted by screenwriter and series showrunner Karen Björg Eyfjörð Þorsteinsdóttir. Sharing directing duties are Katrín Björgvinsdóttir (Entrapped, As Long As We Live) and Thora Hilmarsdóttir (The Rising, Katla). Mediawan Rights has international distribution rights (excluding Iceland and Finland) and will be shopping them at next week’s MIPCOM Cannes. Other co-producers include Lunanime in Belgium and MTV Finland. Andri Ómarsson, co-owner and producer at Glassriver, said: “Unnur Birna is one of Iceland’s most dynamic screen talents and she’s absolutely the right actress to play Elma and to capture the quiet intensity of Eva Björg Ægisdóttir’s writing. We’re incredibly proud to be working with her and Nikulás as part of this talented team to adapt one of Iceland’s most compelling crime stories for global audiences”. The series will be set in the small port town of Akrane, Iceland, where police detective Elma has unxpectedly returned after fleeing a romantic affair that left her in pieces. When a woman’s body is found lying at the foot of a lighthouse, terrible secrets from the past threaten to resurface. Amid the town’s oppressive atmosphere, Elma’s colleague Saevar could provide salvation. Ægisdóttir’s books have been translated into 23 languages, and is particularly popular in France. The Creak on the Stairs was published in French in 2021 and quickly became a bestseller there, while second book Girls Who Lie (Les Filles Qui Mentent) reached over 100,000 readers in France. Elma joins Glassriver’s scripted slate including comedy-drama Hot Stuff, a coproduction with Romania’s IDEA Film, and Avalanche, a co-production with Whatevergroup. Also recently optioned is the crime drama Reykjavik Noir from author Lilja Sigurdardottir, which is being adapted for screen. The Elma deal was negotiated with David Headley at D H H Literary Agency in association with The Artists Partnership.
