Disney+ Slates Nordic Original

Disney+ has given the greenlight to its first Nordic commission, ordering an adaptation of award-winning Swedish author Mikael Niemi’s To Cook a Bear.

Set in the summer of 1852 in the northern Swedish village of Kengis, it is centered on a pastor and a runaway Sami boy, who develop a deep relationship while investigating an unexpected murder mystery.

“To Cook a Bear has everything we want to offer our adult audience; a deep, rich story set in a truly grand Nordic Noir scenery,” said Vibeke Lia, director of programming and production at The Walt Disney Company Nordic and Baltic. “I am confident it will find its way to the hearts of audiences in and well beyond the Nordics, and we can’t wait to bring it to them.”

Vibeke continues, “In EMEA, we will be creating 60 local productions for Disney+ by 2024 as we continue to work with outstanding creators and premium producers as part of the company’s commitment to source, develop and produce original productions. We are thrilled to start bringing our local Nordic productions into that mix.”

Swedish screenwriter Jesper Harrie has penned the script. “My ambition with the series hasn’t just been to create a crime in a historical setting but also a drama. Especially for the key character Jussi, who is searching for his identity, home and future.”