Munich, April 4, 2012. A New York Mobster in Norway. Really? The French can soon enjoy Steven Van Zandt’s iconic performance as New York’s toughest mobster in idyllic Norway: AB Groupe secured the rights for the dramedy series “Lilyhammer”. “Lilyhammer” already aired on Netflix in the USA, Canada and Latin America and set historical ratings on Norway’s NRK.
“It is a great opportunity for AB Droits Audiovisuels to acquire the rights to one of today’s most original and creative series and to distribute the series on the French-speaking European market. It is a new step in our strategy to add premium programming to our portfolio” says Richard Maroko, AB Groupe’s executive vice president of programming.
Aline Avedikian, Regional Sales Manager France at SevenOne International comments “With sales to Netflix, the BBC and now AB Groupe, ’Lilyhammer’ once again proves its international appeal. I am absolutely thrilled to see Stevie hit the French screens!”.
About Lilyhammer
After Frank “The Fixer” Tagliano (Steven Van Zandt) testifies against his Mafia boss in New York, he enters the Witness Protection Program and makes an unusual demand: he wants to be set up with a new life in the Norwegian small town Lillehammer – or as he calls it “Lilyhammer”. Thrust into a town that never met crime, Frank is confronted with a colorful cast of characters totally unlike the New York variety.
“Lilyhammer” launched on Netflix who will also co-produce the second season. On Norway’s public broadcaster NRK1 the dramedy scored shares of up to 51,9 per cent in the commercial demographics, outperforming the channel average by 292 per cent. BBC 4 picked up the series for the UK. “Lilyhammer” is produced by Rubicon.
Known for his iconic performance as Silvio Dante, the consigliere to Tony Soprano in the award-winning series “The Sopranos,” and his work as guitarist in Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, Van Zandt created “Lilyhammer” with some of Norway’s top actors, writers and directors.