Viaplay has agreed to adapt the bestselling Swedish author Viveca Sten’s crime novels "The Åre Murders" as a drama series. The title is scheduled to begin filming in spring 2023, with on-screen talents to be announced in due course, and will premiere in autumn 2024.“Viveca Sten’s storytelling has proven local and international appeal, and we anticipate a broad audience for this ambitious adaptation," Filippa Wallestam, Viaplay Group Chief Content Officer, said. "‘The Åre Murders’ will deliver idyllic winter locations and ice-cold crime, all through the eyes of engaging characters familiar to Viveca’s millions of readers. High-quality shows such as this set Viaplay apart and underline once again that Nordic noir has a very bright future.”
Set in the mountain landscapes of northern Sweden, the six-part show is produced by SF Studios in partnership with Viaplay and is directed by Joakim Eliasson. The scriptwriters are Karin Gidfors and Jimmy Lindgren, with SF Studios’ Brita Lundqvist producing. Alongside Viveca Sten, the series’ executive producers are Susann Billberg at SF Studios and Helena Larand at Viaplay Group. Global sales are handled by Viaplay Content Distribution.
In "The Åre Murders," Stockholm police officer Hanna Ahlander takes refuge from her personal and professional problems in the scenic village of Åre. But when a young woman disappears one freezing St. Lucia’s Day, Hanna is rapidly drawn into the investigation. Local police officer Daniel Lindskog reluctantly accepts her help – but can they trust each other?
Sten’s books have been published in more than 40 countries and sold over 7.5 million copies, with the screen version of her ‘The Sandhamn Murders’ reaching nearly 100 million viewers worldwide since 2010. “It feels great that this story will now be a series on Viaplay! When I started writing the books in Åre during the coronavirus pandemic, I never imagined they would come to the screen so soon," Sten said."I hope and believe that ‘The Åre Murders’ will be just as successful as ‘The Sandhamn Murders’ and I’m particularly looking forward to participating as an executive producer.”