SkyShowtime, the European streaming three way partnership of Paramount and Sky owner Comcast, has began production on its latest original series. The eight-part Swedish crime drama with the working title National Homicide Unit (Riksmord) is inspired by real investigations and stars Pernilla August (Blackwater, Star Wars: Episode I, Star Wars: Episode II), Jonas Karlsson (Riding in Darkness, Beck), Nina Zanjani (Hamilton, Beck), and Alexander Abdallah (Easy Money, Paradise City).
“Throughout the Swedish police force, there may be a small but elite group consisting of the best homicide investigators within the country, ready in any respect times to deploy nationwide every time and wherever their expertise is required,” reads a synopsis of the series. And yes, the members of this group assisting local police forces within the country’s most complex murder cases are often known as Riksmord, or the National Homicide Unit.
“Set against Sweden’s vast and striking landscapes, each [two-episode] investigation offers a window into the various layers of Swedish society, revealing its beauty, contradictions, and darkest secrets,” said SkyShowtime. Shooting on the show has began within the Helsingborg area of Sweden. The show will showcase different “visually wealthy” regions of the country, “starting from Sweden’s mighty forests to its picturesque coastline, with shooting to happen in several locations, including Helsingborg, Höganäs, Luleå and Borlänge.”
August stars as Ing-Britt “Ib” Larsson, Karlsson as Ulf Lindholm, Zanjani as Franka Durand, and Abdallah as Vincent Kisel. The series s produced by Warner Bros. International Television Production Sweden, in co-production with SkyShowtime, TV4, Film i Skåne, Film i Dalarna and Filmpool Nord.
The series, produced by Warner Bros. International Television Production Sweden, in co-production with SkyShowtime, TV4, Film i Skåne, Film i Dalarna and Filmpool Nord, was created by Gunnar A.K. Järvstad (Garden Lane, Orca), who has also written six of the eight episodes. The 2 other episodes are written by Axel Stjärne. Conceptual director Olof Spaak (Those Who Kill, The Thin Blue Line) directs six episodes, with Caroline Ingvarsson (Unmoored) directing two. The series is produced by Sofie Palage and Niklas C. Siöström, with Johan Hedman as executive producer.
National Homicide Unit (Riksmord) is “an exciting addition to our growing slate of SkyShowtime originals,” said Kai Finke, SkyShowtime’s chief content officer. “The series combines gripping suspense with stunning, familiar Swedish locations and authentic police work to deliver against the law drama that’s as charming because it is believable.”
He added: “Joining our existing Swedish original titles resembling the crime thriller Veronika, the comedy drama Where the Sun All the time Shines (Där solen alltid skiner), and the upcoming The Trio (Trion), we’re thrilled to proceed our collaborative approach, working closely with local creatives to bring powerful, original storytelling to life.”
Said Palage: “Similar to the series follows a traveling police unit, the team and forged behind the series will likely be travelling to Skåne, Norrbotten and Dalarna to film the assorted cases, and it feels so exciting that we’re now underway with our first leg! Our vision is to create against the law drama that’s thrilling, visually wealthy and credible – while also moving the audience.”