April 29, 2013 - 15:33 AMT
Yellow Bird to produce bestselling author’s “Occupied” political thriller

Millennium Trilogy producer Yellow Bird is embarking on a 10-part original series based on an idea by bestselling Norwegian crime novelist Jo Nesbo. International drama Occupied is a political thriller set in a not so distant future where Russia has staged a “silk-glove” invasion of Norway to officially secure the oil import for the rest of the world. The series looks at what happens to a nation under such an invasion, Deadline said.

Developed by Yellow Bird and Nesbo, Occupied will be co-produced with Zodiak Media’s French drama outfit GTV for Norway’s NRK and French/German channel Arte. Erik Skoldbjaerg, writer/director of the original Insomnia and director of Prozac Nation, will helm the first two episodes. Norwegian writer Harald Rosenloew Eeg is also on the the English, Norwegian and Russian language project.

Shooting is expected to begin in early 2014 for a 2015 transmission on NRK, Arte and other Nordic channels to be announced shortly. Marianne Gray produces for Yellow Bird. Zodiak Rights will handle international sales.