The Series is Currently in Production in Four Countries and is Directed by Ingrid Wevang
October 12, 2018 – New York, NY — DRG announced today a deal for The Oslo Killing, a gripping, six-hour true crime series, to be co-produced between Discovery Networks Norway and Sundance Now, in association with Monster, Norway’s largest production company. The Oslo Killing will premiere in 2019 in North America, UK, Ireland, and German-speaking Europe on Sundance Now, AMC Networks’ direct-to-consumer SVOD service curated with high-quality dramas and true crime series. The Oslo Killing is currently in production with Monster.
The Oslo Killing examines an unsolved crime that spans four decades and crosses several countries: Norway, Spain, Argentina and the U.S. In April 1974, Anni Nielsen Iranzo was found brutally murdered at her home in Oslo, Norway. She was beaten and strangled with a rope, while two months pregnant. Initially, the brutality of the act led the police to focus their investigation solely on male suspects. Anni’s husband, a Spanish diplomat with shady connections, was number one on their list. The police also considered intruders and people with political motives, such as the Basque separatist movement, but the only witness to the murder told an entirely different story.
Anni’s four-year-old daughter, Maria, said she saw a woman sitting on her mother’s legs. This led the police to a wealthy American woman, Minna Treadwell Thompson, who was having an affair with Anni’s husband. Minna was in Oslo at the time of the murder, but safely home in the U.S. when the police sent out an international warrant for her arrest. To this day, the Norwegian police have never been able to extradite Minna Treadwell Thompson.
This extraordinary real life Scandinavian crime series follows Maria’s emotional journey across the world, from her home in Argentina, to reveal the truth and find justice for her mother once and for all. It tells the never-before-told story about Anni’s violent murder and how it stirred up international relations between three countries.
Elin Thomas, DRG’s EVP of sales comments: “The Oslo Killing is a mesmerizing and sensational series from Monster, Norway’s biggest production company. Monster excels within this genre and in terms of story arc, dramatic revelations and production values this series will sit right up there with the very best and most compelling true crime documentaries of recent years. It’s a big and important story so we are delighted that Sundance has come onboard as co-producer. Not only does this deal give the series a perfect premiere platform in key territories, but the Sundance involvement will further endorse this series as ‘one to watch’.”
Jan Diedrichsen, general manager, SundanceTV and Sundance Now adds: “Sundance Now prides itself in offering a wide-range of top-quality docu-series so we are delighted to extend our relationship with DRG, as well as enter a new partnership with Monster, to become a co-production partner for The Oslo Killing. This extraordinary true story is packed with fascinating characters, political intrigue, jealousy, revenge and at its core, the heartbreaking story of a woman trying to seek justice for her mother’s murder more than 40 years later.”
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About DRG
DRG is an innovative, creative and fast-moving business with content at its core. Starting life as a conventional programme distributor in 2007, the company has evolved into a 360-degree content business that today is involved with programme origination and development, financing, talent, production, production services and distribution. DRG also wholly owns Atrium TV, the new international drama ‘commissioning club’, focused on the development of blue chip scripted projects.
Covering scripted and unscripted content, as well as formats, DRG has built its reputation by working closely with, and investing in, a wide range of internationally recognised production companies, as well as by using its expertise in the domestic and international markets to help incubate promising start-ups. DRG has an extensive catalogue of more than 13,000 hours and 150 formats: the business has taken Doc Martin to more than 100 territories, including 7 international remakes, was a driving force in bringing Scandi Noir to the world and has nurtured The Farm to become one of the world’s most established competitive reality formats, with versions airing in more 50 territories over a 10-year period.
DRG is part of Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group). Headquartered in Stockholm, NENT Group is part of Modern Times Group MTG AB (publ), a leading international digital entertainment group listed on Nasdaq Stockholm (‘MTGA’ and ‘MTGB’).
About Sundance Now
Sundance Now is AMC Networks’ premium streaming service, offering original and exclusive dramas and true crime series, in addition to award-winning movies from every genre, including foreign-language and documentary features – all streaming commercial-free. Built on the Sundance legacy and curated by acclaimed filmmakers and cultural icons, Sundance Now is proud to present an extensive array of entertainment for a passionate and intellectually curious audience.
To stream all Sundance Now content via web, iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, and Chromecast, visit SundanceNow.com
About Monster
Monster is the leading production company in Norway, and a key provider of content in both scripted and non-scripted entertainment. Monster has produced top formats like “Strictly Come Dancing”, “Idol” and “Got Talent”, as well as big factual formats like “Who Do You Think You Are”. In recent years Monster has focused mainly on developing new factual formats such as “Born on”, “The Stream” and “The Ultimate Entertainer”. Monster is also the creator of high-end dramas such as “Nobel” and “Borderliner”. Monster is part of Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT).