Rights to Icelandic show The Minister, starring Ólafur Darri Ólafsson of Trapped fame, have been acquired by streaming platforms and television broadcasters across Europe, North America, and Australia, Variety reports. The show, which premiered in Iceland on September 20, has been nominated for the Venice TV Awards and is in the running for the Prix Europa.
The Minister (Ráðherrann in Icelandic) is an eight-part series that follows populist Prime Minister Benedikt Ríkarðsson (Ólafur Darri) as his mental illness grows and his colleagues try to keep it a secret from the nation. The show featured a cameo by Ben Stiller, who appeared in a video to express his opposition to whaling in Iceland.
Icelandic media outlet DV interviewed Iceland’s ministers about the show. “I found Ólafur Darri so sincere and convincing – that he could clearly go into politics!” stated Minister of Education and Culture Lilja Alfreðsdóttir.
