DR Preps New Drama Rides Upon the Storm

COPENHAGEN: Principal photography is about to begin on DR’s new drama series Rides Upon the Storm, which comes from Borgen creator Adam Price.

The series, which will be shot in Denmark and Spain, stars Lars Mikkelsen (House of Cards), Ann Eleonora Jørgensen (The Killing), Simon Sears (Follow the Money) and Morten Hee Andersen. Series producer is Camilla Hammerich (Borgen). DR is producing Rides Upon the Storm as a co-production with French-German channel ARTE and SAM le Français, in association with STUDIOCANAL, which also handles worldwide distribution.

Rides Upon the Storm will begin broadcasting its first ten episodes on DR1 in fall 2017. Season two is scheduled for fall 2018. The drama centers on a family of priests in the Church of Denmark. The story is inspired by the myth of Cain and Abel, and the leads will be played by Mikkelsen and Jørgensen, in the roles of the parents, while Sears and Andersen will play their two adult sons.

Price, head writer, commented, “Despite the fact that the Danes may not consider themselves a particularly religious nation, we are surrounded by faith throughout our everyday lives. And faith plays an enormous role in the public debate; both when atheists encourage people to leave the church and as part of our discussions on integration, the refugee crisis, terror or the U.S. Presidential election. But faith also comes into play when we turn inwards—to things like mindfulness, hipster-Buddhism or the familiar blend of superstition and spirituality—and agree that ‘there is more between heaven and Earth…’.”

Hammerich added, “The series deals with the concept of faith in a broader context, namely as that which leads us through life. The awakening—when faith seizes us—and perdition—when faith abandons us—are the dramatic counterpoints of the series, and the extremes between which our protagonists must navigate on their journeys throughout Rides Upon the Storm.”