Netflix will be co-producing its first Icelandic TV series, The Valhalla Murders, RÚV reports. Variety confirms that the streaming giant will be investing €5.5 million [$6.3 million] in the eight-part series, which is set to premier Christmas 2019 on RÚV.
The story will center around Arnar, a Copenhagen-based police profiler who returns to Iceland to investigate his home country’s first serial killer case. At first, the murders don’t seem to be related, but then Arnar and local cop Kata discover that they are all connected to a now-closed home for boys called Valhalla, and the horrendous crimes that took place there 35 years before.
The series—which will be in Icelandic, despite its English title—has been coauthored by a talented group of writers: Margrét Örnólfsdóttir (Trapped 2 and Prisoners), Ottó Geir Borg (I Remember You), Mikael Torfason (Made in Iceland) and crime author Óttar M. Norðfjörð. Björn Thors (Prisoners; Paris of the North) will star as Arnar and Nína Dögg Filippusdóttir (Prisoners; Trapped) as Kata.
“This is a historic contract with Netflix” said Magnús Geir Þórðarson, RÚV’s director general. “This fascinating project in general is a big result for our more ambitious and focused work at RÚV aimed at massively increasing the selection, distribution, and above all else, the quality of Icelandic TV material.”
