Jack Bannon, Douglas Henshall, Björn Hlynur Haraldsson & More Join CBS Studios & Stampede Ventures Icelandic Drama ‘The Darkness’

Jesse Whittock
·2 min read
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The Darkness is descending in Iceland.

Principal photography on the CBS Studios and Stampede Ventures’ six-part, English-language drama co-production for Icelandic telecoms and streaming company Síminn is underway in the country’s capital Reykjavík, and the cast has now rounded out.

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Jack Bannon (Pennyworth), Douglas Henshall (Shetland, Who is Erin Carter?), Björn Hlynur Haraldsson (A Gentleman in Moscow), Thorsteinn Bachmann (Katla), Þorvaldur Davíð Kristjánsson (The Minister), Tora Hallström (Hilma), Ahd Tamimi (River City) and Árni Þór Lárusson have joined the cast, which Lena Olin is leading.

Suzanne Crowley and Gilly Poole are UK casting directors, with Tinna Aðalbjörndottir and Andrea Brabin in Reykavík covering casting for Iceland.

Based on the best-selling thriller series by Ragnar Jónasson, The Darkness follows Detective Inspector Hulda Hermannsdóttir as she investigates a shocking murder case whilst coming to terms with her own personal traumas. Facing early retirement and forced to take on a new partner, she is determined to find the killer, even if it means putting her own life in danger.

The series is the first to come from the international first-look deal between CBS Studios and Stampede Ventures. We first told you about both aspects of the partnership in September 2020. The first-look agreement sees them work together to source, acquire and develop premium scripted content for the international market that is creatively anchored outside the U.S.

CBS Studios is co-producing with Iceland’s Truenorth, which was behind Netflix’s first Icelandic co-production, The Valhalla Murders, and Danish feature Margrete the First. Paramount Global Content Distribution is distributing outside Iceland.

Sam Shore (Mystic) was announced as writer in October last year, with Hallström’s father, Oscar nominee Lasse Hallström, the director. Greg Silverman and John-Paul Sarni serve as executive producers for Stampede Ventures, alongside writer Jónasson. Kristinn Thordarson and Leifur B. Dagfinnsson serve as executive producers for Truenorth.

For CBS Studios, the series is the latest in its international drama drive. Other titles on its slate include Colin From Accounts, the Australian sitcom that’s in production on Season 2; Munich Games, NCIS: Sydney, King & Conqueror and The Gold Diggers, which is produced with Stampede and Kojo Studios joint venture The Alliance for the ABC in Australia.

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