Sonet launches TV production arm

Sonet Films CEO Peter Possne, who will manage the new division, gave details of the first TV projects which include a new Henning Mankell drama and a TV version of Lars Kepler’s The Hypnotist. Susanne Bier is in advanced talks to direct one of the new dramas.

Possne has raised the possibility that many of these dramas may spawn films further down the line.

Daniel Alfredson (The Girl Who Played With Fire) is poised to direct one of the episodes of Welcome To Nesserland, adapted from the bestselling novels by Hakan Nesser.

Oscar winner Bier is in the frame to direct three-part drama Blackwater, based on Kerstin Ekman’s 1993 classic crime novel.

“She (Bier) is very, very interested. She loves the books,” Possne commented.

Wallander author Mankell is already busy writing his new TV drama The Embassy (working title), about a female politician who falls foul of her leaders and is sent as ambassador to a remote and dangerous country as punishment.

“The Prime Minister wants to get rid of her and so he gives her an Embassy,” explains Sonet producer Ingrid Dahlberg.

Meanwhile, Sonet is also adapting Norwegian author Anne Holt’s Vik’s novels. This will be the first Scandinavian adaptation of Holt’s work. In the US, Graham King TV is already making a version of Holt’s Hanne Wilhelmsen books. Sandra Harms will be producing for Sonet.

Alexander and Alexandra Ahndoril, who write crime novels under the pseudonym Lars Kepler, have written original TV episodes based around The Hypnotist, their novel which has already spawned a Lasse Hallström film.

Another new 12-part crime drama being brought to market by Sonet is The Infiltrator, written by novelist Leif GW Persson and set in modern-day Sweden’s criminal underworld.

Sonet is also hatching a new TV series based on feature film hits Jagarna (The Hunters) and Jagarna 2 (The Hunters 2).

The new production division will focus on the production of television drama series for the local and international markets.