Stockholm-born actress-writer-director Pernilla August will direct the six episodes of a brand-new crime-drama series entitled Blackwater, commissioned by Sweden’s pubcaster SVT. August debuted as a director in 2005, with the short Time Bomb, which was followed by her successful first feature as a writer-director, Beyond [+lee también:
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Blackwater is based upon Kerstin Ekman’s 1993 best-selling crime novel of the same name. The story, adapted by Maren Louise Käehn (Queen of Hearts [+lee también:
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Speaking about the production, SVT’s head of drama, Anna Croneman, said: “Developing a novel as iconic as Blackwater into a series inevitably means taking a huge risk. But with a beautiful script by Maren Louise Käehne, Piv Bernth producing and Pernilla August as director, I’m certain we’re about to make something quite extraordinary. I’m also thrilled about the collaboration with ARD Degeto.” Meanwhile, ARD Degeto’s head of acquisitions and co-productions, Sebastian Lückel, added: “With the pedigree of the team behind this project and an outstanding plot, we simply could not say no to this collaboration with SVT.”

Blackwater is being produced by Denmark’s Apple Tree Productions, in co-production with Germany’s ARD Degeto and Sweden’s Filmpool Nord. The project is also being backed by pubcasters DR, NRK, YLE and RÚV, as well as Creative Europe - MEDIA. Britain’s ITV Studios is in charge of its global distribution. Principal photography will commence later this spring, and an official release date is yet to be confirmed.