ZDF On Board Scandi Spy Thriller Hamilton

German pubcaster ZDF has come on board the spy thriller Hamilton, based on Swedish author Jan Guillou’s best-selling books.

Produced by Dramacorp-Pampas Studios, the series has been given the production green light and will start filming in the second quarter of 2018 in Sweden as well as other European locations. Hamilton will premiere exclusively on the Swedish streaming service C More next year, with a later linear airing on TV4 and ZDF in Germany.

ZDF is serving as a co-producer, with ZDF Enterprises representing rights in German-speaking territories. Beta Film is co-producing and will handle international sales to the rest of the world. The main commissioning broadcaster is TV4 and C More, which has committed to two seasons of 10×44 minutes.

Jakob Oftebro will lead the cast in the titular role of Swedish intelligence officer Carl Hamilton. The Norwegian star’s credits include Kon-Tiki, STUDIOCANAL’s thriller Below the Surface and NRK’s crime drama Monster. Hamilton will be directed by Kasper Barfoed (Below the Surface), with a writers’ room led by Petter S. Rosenlund (The Heavy Water War/Saboteurs). Zoula Pitsiava (Blue Eyes) is producing the series.

“We have had our eyes on Jakob for a long time, and finally we found the right project for him,” said Josefine Tengblad, the head of drama at C More and TV4. “He is one of Scandinavia’s most talented actors and perfect for the part as he will give us the young Hamilton. With the reboot of Hamilton and its international setting we have the potential of taking a well-renowned and loved Scandinavian brand to a new level.”

Guillou added: “It is always exciting to see one’s creation live so many lives. Field operator Carl Hamilton has been part of my life for the last 30 years, there have been several film adaptations. But I’ve always thought that a longer TV-series format would be a great way to dig even deeper into the character and his universe. This is happening now, with a new, young Hamilton, in a contemporary setting, and I’m confident that the series will appeal to an international audience and a new generation of viewers.”

Patrick Nebout, executive producer at Dramacorp-Pampas Studios and CEO of Dramacorp, said: “The word ‘iconic’ is used far too freely in our industry, but Hamilton genuinely qualifies for the label. Jan Guillou’s complex, charismatic anti-hero is deeply embedded in Scandinavian souls and psyches, and has the potential to appeal as strongly and viscerally to international audiences. That makes Hamilton the perfect launch project for our operation, whose mission is to produce high-concept drama with global traction, but it also adds to the pressure to do both Hamilton and his millions of fans justice. We believe, with Jakob Oftebro as field operative Carl Hamilton, Kasper Barfoed in the director’s chair, and Petter S. Rosenlund as head writer, we have found the perfect team for the job.”

Jens Alex, CEO of Dramacorp-Pampas Studios, commented: “This is the first time Hamilton is to be adapted into a long-form serialized format, and we are already planning for further seasons. We’re thrilled to have Patrick Nebout, with his strong track-record of international high-end projects drive this massive spy-thriller property.”