SevenOne & Netflix Reach Exclusive U.S. Deal on Lilyhammer

MUNICH: Netflix has taken the exclusive streaming rights for Lilyhammer, a new series distributed by SevenOne International that star Stevie Van Zandt tells World Screen Newsflash is a natural fit for U.S. audiences even though it originates from Norway.

Van Zandt, known for his role as Silvio Dante in The Sopranos and from his work as guitarist in Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, plays a New York mobster who is relocated through the witness protection program to the sleepy Norwegian town of Lilyhammer, which hosted the 1994 Winter Olympics. "He’s really meant to be a boss. He’s quite good at his trade and he’s very open, he fixes peoples’ problems," Van Zandt told World Screen Newsflash. "He runs away to Lilyhammer and just continues his criminal lifestyle. He’s forced to try and fit into that society. This is real fish out of water. This is the ultimate fish out of water. He’s very American. That conflict is what makes it entertaining."

The show is billed as a dramedy, and Van Zandt is quick to point out that there’s more to it than just a fish-out-of-water humor. "It’s not a comedy. The humor comes from the characters. There’s humor in it, but the layers have to do with a certain depth of the culture itself. There’s going to be a discovery of Norway for almost everybody, with the depth of the Norwegian culture."

The show is for Norway’s NRK, and Van Zandt said it’s perfect for U.S. audiences and will travel internationally quite naturally. "Most foreign films or TV shows may fight their way into American society but it’s not just welcomed. I think we underestimate the intelligence of the audience. This innovation is having an American starring in a Norwegian show, which opens the door…you’ll accept the foreign part that comes with it. We maintain the integrity of the origins of the show and we’re coming to America and every other country, we hope."

Of the Netflix deal, Van Zandt said he believes this kind of digital pact is the way forward. "In the next five years you’re going to be seeing a lot of new broadcasters appearing, especially in the digital world…. There will be between one and ten shows that will be the identity of that company, and that’s where it gets interesting. In this case, Netflix is a little bit ahead of everyone else. Saying, yeah we’re the most successful company at doing this other thing, but we’re going to see a day when we’re going to need some strengthening of our identity, and what a wonderful way to do it…. It’s an exciting time for us content creators."