- Produced by Sagafilm, principle photography for Season Two starts on location in Iceland
- Distributed internationally by Red Arrow Studios International
The stylish neo-noir crime drama Stella Blómkvist has scored a Season Two commission from Icelandic broadcaster Síminn TV and the Nordic region’s leading streaming company Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group), and has begun principal photography on location in Iceland. Red Arrow Studios International has also picked up worldwide distribution rights to the second season of the drama.
Based on the best-selling crime novels of the same name, Stella Blómkvist (Season 2: 3×90’ / 6×45’) is directed by Óskar Thór Axelsson (Trapped, Black’s Game) and Thora Hilmarsdóttir (The Valhalla Murders) and stars Heida Reed (Poldark) as a quick-witted lawyer. Smart and ruthless, with a dark past, a fluid sexuality and a taste for whiskey and easy money, Stella takes on cases that always lead to danger; and the only thing she likes about rules is breaking them, or using them to break her opponents.
Stella Blómkvist is produced by acclaimed Icelandic producer Sagafilm with support from the Icelandic Film Centre, the Ministry of Industries and Innovation and distributed by Lumière in the Benelux.
Stella Blómkvist’s debut season attracted record audiences on Síminn TV in Iceland, more than doubling the channel’s average rating, and received eight nominations for Eddan Icelandic Film and TV Academy Awards. The drama also premiered in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland on NENT Group’s Viaplay streaming service as a Viaplay Original. Season One was picked up by AMC Networks’ Sundance Now SVOD platform for North America, the UK, and NBCUniversal Global networks for Spain and French-speaking territories.
Tim Gerhartz, SVP Global Sales at Red Arrow Studios International, said: “The first season of Stella Blómkvist introduced the world to its irresistible lead character – part femme-fatale, part hardboiled detective – who plays by her own rules at all costs, and looks at the Noir genre through a new lens. We are delighted to be partnering with Sagafilm, NENT Group and Síminn TV to offer global audiences more of this original and stylishly executed show.”
Kjartan Thor Thordarson, Executive Producer at Sagafilm, added: “We’re thrilled to be able to bring Stella Blómkvist’s global following a second installation of this unique neo noir series. Stella paved the way for a new kind of Nordic TV hero, we will continue in this season to break the mould of traditional Scandinavian television. There will be plenty of surprises in the second season and I’m looking forward to hearing the response from the show’s well established fanbase.”
Filippa Wallestam, NENT Group Chief Content Officer, said: “Stella means ‘star’ and this edgy and unconventional show is one of the brightest lights in Icelandic drama today. Investing in unique local storytelling is a priority for NENT Group in every market. Viaplay has reshaped Iceland’s streaming landscape since launching this spring and we’re just getting started.”
Pálmi Guðmundsson, EVP Programming at Síminn, adds: “We are delighted to bring Stella Blómkvist back for a second season. Stella was our first venture into drama back in 2017 and it’s still the most watched series on our platform. Síminn is fully commited to local drama and we continue to grow our investment in original content serving our ever growing customer base.”
Set two years after the events in the Ministry that changed the political landscape of Iceland, Season Two of Stella Blómkvist finds our eponymous character back to her old tricks – defending criminals and hustling her way through the court system. Meanwhile, Stella’s ex-lover/current Prime Minister Dagbjört is causing massive social upheaval with her war chest full of money from China. This is a changed world, and not to everyone’s liking. But when a series of new cases demand Stella’s attention, she will have her wits, her sense of justice, and even her belief in herself, truly tested. And of course – there will be diabolical murders to solve.
Red Arrow Studios International also distribute Sagafilm’s acclaimed drama series ‘Case’ and ‘The Court’.
– Press release ends –
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
About Red Arrow Studios International
Red Arrow Studios International is a world-leading TV distributor of scripted, formats and factual shows from a global network of in-house production companies, outstanding third-party producers and digital-content partners.
With offices in Munich, London and Los Angeles, Red Arrow Studios International co-produces and finances global entertainment, and distributes acclaimed content to over 200 territories worldwide.
Red Arrow Studios International is part of Red Arrow Studios, which is comprised of an acclaimed network of international production companies and labels in seven territories; digital studio, Studio71; and film distributor Gravitas Ventures. Red Arrow Studios is a ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE company, one of Europe’s leading media groups.
For more information, please visit: sevenonestudios.com/international
About Siminn
Síminn is the oldest and largest telecommunications company in Iceland, founded in 1906 and has since then connected the island of Iceland with the outside world. Síminn is not only a telecommunications company but also runs Iceland´s largest IPTV service which boasts Síminn´s flagship product offering, Sjónvarp Símans Premium.
Sjónvarp Símans Premium SVOD service has enjoyed immense success and Síminn offers diverse content for all ages through great partnerships with e.g. Disney, CBS, Showtime, NBC and Paramount along with local Icelandic content which has helped the service thrive.
About NENT Group
Nordic Entertainment Group AB (publ) (NENT Group) is the Nordic region’s leading entertainment provider. We entertain millions of people every day with our streaming services, TV channels and radio stations, and our production companies create content that is experienced around the world. We make life more entertaining by telling stories, touching lives and expanding worlds – from live sports, movies and series to music and original shows. Headquartered in Stockholm, NENT Group is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm (‘NENT A’ and ‘NENT B’).
About Sagafilm
Sagafilm is the leading independent production company in Iceland for TV, Commercials and Feature Films with over 40 years of experience. Recent projects include the upcoming crime drama Sisterhood (Sky Studios), the political drama The Minister (Cineflix Rights) and the environmental thriller Thin Ice (in co-production with Yellow Bird (SWE)), drama series The Flatey Enigma (Sky Vision) Stella Blómkvist (Viaplay Original Series), CASE (Netflix Original Series), Pressa (Cover Story), Svartir Englar (Black Angels), Rettur (Court), and cult comedy series Næturvaktin, Dagvaktin and Fangavaktin (The Night Shift, Day Shift and Prison Shift). Sagafilm has also produced the feature films, the upcoming Icelandic/Polish feature Wolka (2021), The Falcons (2018), Mr. Bjarnfredarson, Cold Trail, Fish Out of Water and co-produced Dead Snow: Red vs. Dead and Nova Zembla. Sagafilm’s factual and documentary department works regularly for SVT, NRK, YLE, ARTE and BBC, the most recent projects include The Vasulka Effect and Out of Thin Air that was made for BBC Storyville, RUV and Netflix. TV series by Sagafilm have won the Icelandic Academy Awards “Eddan” for Best Scripted Series for a record of 10 consecutive times.