NENT Group has announced the making of a new Viaplay Original series. The crime drama, entitled Cell 8, is based on Swedish writers Anders Roslund and Börge Hellström’s international bestseller of the same name. Acclaimed for their high level of realism and meticulous research, the writing duo’s books have been translated into 36 languages.

Cell 8 is their second novel to become a Viaplay Original, after the hit Box 21. In it, a man presumed dead is arrested on a ferry between Sweden and Finland, throwing detectives Mariana Hermansson (portrayed by Mimosa Willamo) and Ewert Grens (Leonard Terfelt) into a mysterious and increasingly dark series of events. The case soon reveals a personal connection not only to Hermansson herself, but also to a death row prisoner in the USA and a grieving parent consumed by a quest for revenge. Moreover, Kristofer Kamiyasu will play a supporting role. Additional cast members will be announced in due course. The adaptation of the book into this six-episode series was penned by Dennis Magnusson (the TV series Box 21).

Johan Brisinger is attached to direct. The Stockholm-born helmer is best known for his work on the NENT series Thicker Than Water (2020), and his features I Love You – A Divorce Comedy [+leggi anche:
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Commenting on the project, NENT Group chief content officer Filippa Wallestam said: “Roslund and Hellström’s storytelling is renowned around the world, for good reason. They have an unerring knack for transforming social questions into unforgettable human faces, from the horrors of trafficking in Box 21 and now the moral complexities of the death penalty in Cell 8. Our latest adaptation is an ideal fit for Viaplay as we accelerate our international expansion.”

Roslund added: “The novel Cell 8 was always one of mine and Börge’s favourite children. It’s crime, thriller and social commentary all at the same time. An adaptation into a series, or a new interpretation by different eyes, is like seeing that child grow up.”

The Swedish-language series is being produced by Rachel Bodros Wolgers and Karl Fredrik Ulfung for Denmark’s Miso Film, with Jon Petterson serving as the executive producer for NENT Group.

The series is set to premiere exclusively on Viaplay in 2022. Fremantle International is in charge of its international distribution.