Viaplay Unveils YA Danish Original Boys

Boys, a young adult series created and directed by Jonas Risvig, is set to be Viaplay’s latest Danish original.

Based on Risvig’s own experiences of growing up in a small Danish town, Boys explores themes of friendship, transgression and what it means to be caught between opposing worlds. The eight-part series will premiere exclusively on Viaplay in 2022.

In Boys, ten young men in Silkeborg who gather to sing in a church choir every Sunday morning form a close bond over the years and meet up to push their limits and test the pleasures of adult life. When one of the boys drowns under mysterious circumstances, the group’s unity and loyalty are put to the test.

Boys, which has the Danish title Drenge, stars Viktor Hjelmsø, Sylvester Byder (Erna at War), Karoline Hamm (Equinox), Dar Salim (Face to Face) and Julie Christiansen (While We Live). The series is produced by REinvent Studios. It has received funding from Den Vestdanske Filmpulje.

Risvig said: “It’s exciting to create such a dramatic and relevant series in the town where I grew up. I think most people can identify with being part of a group where you go a little further than in other places, and which helps define the person you end up becoming—for better or worse.”

Filippa Wallestam, NENT Group’s chief content officer, said: “Our latest YA series plays on contrasts—guilt and innocence, light and darkness, and above all, childhood and maturity. Jonas is part of a new generation of talented Nordic filmmakers showing the complexity of growing up today. Viaplay’s YA shows are some of our most successful in any genre, and we support voices of all ages in telling stories that are both recognizable and challenging.”