BritBox orders shows with Finnish talents

The international crime drama Cold Courage will premiere exclusively September 3^rd on the newly launched UK VOD service BritBox.

The 8 part series first launched in the Nordic region May 3^rd, via NENT Group’s streaming service Viaplay. The series is based on the best-selling books by Pekka Hiltunen, adapted for the screen by BAFTA-nominated David Joss Buckley and Brendan Foley (The Riddle).

Pihla Viitala, Sofia Pekkari topline the show as two young Finnish women, Mari and Lia, drawn together through the “Studio”, a clandestine group of like-minded people operating off the grid, dedicated to righting the wrongs of the powerful, influential and corrupt. 

Doctor Who’s John Simm plays populist politician Athur Fried. The series was produced by Markku Flink and Pauli Pentti for Finland’s Luminoir, in co-production with Iceland’s Sagafilm, Belgium’s Potemkino and Ireland’s Vico Films. Lionsgate handles global distribution. 

Meanwhile Finnish star director Dome Karukoski’s second English language production after Fox Searchlight’s Tolkien, is The Beast Must Die, the first TV drama to shoot for BritBox.

The five-part revenge thriller is produced by New Regency Television International and Ridley Scott’s Scott Free. It is based on a script by Gaby Chiappe (Lone Scherfig’s Their Finest).

Surrounded by a stellar cast including Jared Harris (Chernobyl), Geraldine James (Back to Life), Maeve Dermody (Marcella), Cush Jumbo OBE (The Good Wife) and Billy Howle (MotherFatherSon), the director of Tom of Finland has started filming in and around the Isle of Wight.

Karukoski said in a statement: “Gaby tricked me. I never anticipated to get so engaged with this evocative vendetta from a grieving mother, but that happened! And suddenly The Beast Must Die became an obsession for me. Pain and loss cause anger and the need to find revenge; to find a target. I find the story intriguing as to whether the beast is the person we want to take revenge upon or if the beast is within us - one who wants to replace grief with hate”.

He adds: “The production has given us the tools to portray this story safely and with great respect during these [Covid-19] troubling times. I can’t wait to be back at work and do what directors love the most. Seeing actors like Cush, Jared, Billy and the iconic Geraldine James bring their heart and soul into these characters.”

The Beast Must Die will be available exclusively in the UK on BritBox in 2021.

Karukoski is attached to numerous award-winning and commercially successful Finnish films including the Nordic Council Film Prize nominated The Home of Dark Butterflies, The Grump, and Lapland Odyssey. Through his jointly-owned company Helsinki Filmi, he has produced Finland’s biggest local film of 2020 Ladies of Steel and executive produced Dogs Don’t Wear Pants and the upcoming biopic Tove.