Norwegian Drama Valkyrien Being Adapted as a Sky Original

Mark Strong (Kingsman) headlines the cast of the new darkly comic thriller Temple, an eight-part Sky original production set in a secret world beneath London.

Temple is written by playwright Mark O’Rowe (Boy A) and will start production in September for Sky and NOW TV. Adapted from the Norwegian drama series Valkyrien, Temple will be produced by Hera Pictures.

Below the streets of London, an illegal clinic has been set up in an abandoned subterranean network of tunnels. Strong will play Daniel, a surgeon driven by personal tragedy to treat anyone who is willing to pay for medical help outside the system. Joining Strong in the cast are Carice van Houten (Game of Thrones) and Daniel Mays (Line of Duty).

Strong said: “Mark O’Rowe has created a complex and multi-faceted character in Daniel—a man pushed to the extreme as his world is radically destabilized. Temple is a gripping and humane morality tale for our time.”

Liza Marshall, head of Hera Pictures, said: “After the success of Riviera, I am thrilled to be working with Sky again on my first production for Hera. I think the audience will love the world of Temple and it’s darkly funny take on life.”

Gabriel Silver, executive producer for Sky, said: “When Hera Pictures delivered the scripts for Temple, we at Sky fell in love with its blackly comic streak and the morally compromised characters working in their own secret realm beneath London. I’ve been an ardent fan of Mark O’Rowe’s work, from his adaptation of Boy A to Intermission, and having Mark, Carice and Daniel cast, I know that the audience will be treated to an unflinching, hilarious and very human story.”