Munich, June 4th, 2012. “Lilyhammer” goes down under as SBS has picked up the mobster series “Lilyhammer” starring Steven Van Zandt. The fish-out-of-water-story will premiere in August on SBS TWO.  “Lilyhammer” tells the story of Frank ‘The Fixer’ who needs a hideout after ratting out his boss. So sports fan Frank chooses the Norwegian town of Lillehammer, scene of the 1994 Winter Olympics.

 “I’m very happy to have ‘Lilyhammer’ on SBS. SBS is the home of top Scandinavian drama in Australia, and this quirky show will offer our viewers something a bit different: an amusing fish-out-of-water migrant story, a portrait of small town life and a thoroughly Norwegian take on the gangster genre. I expect it will be as successful with SBS viewers as it has been in other territories” says Jane Roscoe, SBS Network Programmer.

Yan He Regional Sales Director Australia at SevenOne International: “After North America and the UK Frank ‘The Fixer’ now conquers the next English speaking territory. With his outstanding portrayal of a New Yorker stranded in Norway, I am sure Steven Van Zandt will capture the Australian audience’s hearts in no time.”

About Lilyhammer

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.

After Frank “The Fixer” Tagliano 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.

In January “Lilyhammer“ launched on Norway’s public broadcaster NRK1, scoring record shares. Viewers in the U.S., UK, Canada and Latin America are able to watch the dramedy on Netflix who will also co-produce the second season. “Lilyhammer” will also air on BBC4 in the UK and was sold to Groupe AB in France.

“Lilyhammer“ is produced by Norwegian production company Rubicon.