The sales company has confirmed that the BBC has ordered another eight episodes for the UK and Ireland, as well as the streamers Topic for North America and Filmin for Spain.

Created by Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize nominee Mette M. Bølstad, based on a concept by Siw Rajendram Eliassen, after an idea by producer Synnøve Hørsdal, season 2 picks up the saga of Norway’s oil industry in 1977 and ends in 1980.

“While the opening season centred on the burgeoning years of the oil industry, this season tackles the transforming years where business is picking up and growing out of control, with accidents happening and people making mistakes,” said Hørsdal in an earlier interview with nordicfilmandtvnews.com.

Due to a more complex shoot, seasoned special effects director Mikkel B. Sandemose (Ragnarok) has been added to the show, next to concept director Petter Næss and episodic director Pål Jackman.

Most of the cast from season 1 are back including Anne Regine Ellingsæter as Anna Hellevik, Bart Edwards as Jonathan Kay, Malene Wadel as Toril Torstensen, Pia Tjelta as Ingrid Nyman and Per Kjerstad as Fredrik Nyman, while newcomer Paal Herman Ims (Oslo Zoo) is the new face for Christian Nyman.

Sue Deeks, BBC Head of Programme Acquisitions said: “We are so looking forward to catching up with Anna, Jonathan, Christian and Toril as the risks and rewards of the Stavanger oil boom continue to dramatically impact all their lives.”

“The first season of State of Happiness was very well received by our audience and we are excited to continue the story with season two,” added Topic’s General Manager Ryan Chanatry.

Season 2 was partly shot in Vilnius and surroundings, from March to end of April, with the local production house Artbox supervising filming under tight Covid-19 safety measures.

The NOK120 million series was produced by Hørsdal and Ales Ree for NRK, in co-production with Belgium’s Lunanime Group, in association with DR, SVT, RÚV, Yle as part of Nordic 12.

The premiere on the Norwegian public broadcaster NRK is set for early 2022.