Tina Gharavi Acquires Rights to Icelandic Thriller

Tina Gharavi (I Am Nasrine, African Queens: Cleopatra), founder of Bridge + Tunnel Productions, has acquired the rights to produce an adaptation of Sólveig Pálsdóttir’s Icelandic thriller The Fox (Refurinn).

In the series adaptation, a Sri Lankan woman suddenly disappears in a small Icelandic outpost, arousing the suspicion of Guðgeir, a suspended detective from Reykjavik trying to win back his family, reputation and job. He enlists the help of Greer, a retired British Chief Superintendent, to find the missing “dark woman” and figure out how someone so conspicuous could vanish without a trace.

Gharavi bought the rights to the book from Pálsdóttir and spent time with her to learn the origins of each character. Gharavi then went about writing a pilot script for the six-part adaptation, introducing a new British character—Greer—loosely based on Fitz from Cracker and real-life feminist and activist Germaine Greer.

The Fox is being co-produced with Icelandic outfit Polarama (Thin Ice), helmed by Kidda Rokk and Steinarr Nesheim, who will oversee all production in Iceland. Gharavi is serving as showrunner.

“I’ve been keen to be a showrunner for some time now, marrying my producer chops, narrative capabilities and love of working with teams,” Gharavi said. “But when the right projects didn’t present themselves, I decided to build my own! I’m a big fan of Nordic noir and cop shows in general, but The Fox’s themes around refugees, loneliness and belonging, which are explored in this achingly remote landscape, really resonated with me. I am thrilled to have Sólveig Pálsdóttir’s trust and support for my vision for her wonderful novel.”

Rokk commented, “Tina has written an absorbing thriller about people and place that plays to all our strengths as storytellers. Her detective series is quirky, pacey and populated with captivating characters living and working in a rather unique and specific Icelandic setting that will look spectacular on screen. We are excited to now begin conversations with broadcasters and streamers, confident that the series will be very much in demand with buyers looking for stand-out international drama with universal themes.”