AB Takes Lilyhammer

MUNICH: SevenOne International has sold the dramedy Lilyhammer, which stars American musician and actor Steven Van Zandt, to AB Groupe in France.

Lilyhammer features Van Zandt as a New York mobster who enters the Witness Protection Program and hides out in Norway. The series has already aired on Netflix in the U.S., Canada, Latin America and on Norway’s NRK. Netflix will also co-produce the second season.

"It is a great opportunity for AB Droits Audiovisuels to acquire the rights to one of today’s most original and creative series and to distribute the series in the French-speaking European market,” said Richard Maroko, AB Groupe’s executive VP of programming. “It is a new step in our strategy to add premium programming to our portfolio.”

Aline Avedikian, the regional sales manager for France at SevenOne International, commented, "With sales to Netflix, the BBC and now AB Groupe, Lilyhammer once again proves its international appeal. I am absolutely thrilled to see Stevie hit the French screens!”