Munich-based firm Beta Film has picked up international distribution rights to Cecilie Mars, a new six-part Danish crime drama produced by Zentropa and directed by Christoffer Boe (Warrior, Face to Face). The project, selected for the prestigious Co-Pro Pitching Sessions at this year’s Series Mania Forum (21-28 March), is based on the best-selling trilogy by acclaimed author Michael Katz Krefeld. The announcement was first reported by Variety.

Penned and helmed by Boe, Cecilie Mars offers a gripping and unconventional take on the Nordic noir genre. The series centres on a bold female protagonist who pushes the boundaries of justice while navigating the moral ambiguities of the law enforcement system. The show was presented to industry professionals at the Grand Théâtre in Lille yesterday.

The project is being brought to the screen by Karoline Leth, one of Zentropa’s most experienced producers, known for her work on DNA and The Dreamer – Becoming Karen Blixen [+leggi anche:
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scheda series]. “I was instantly captivated by Cecilie Mars when I read the book,” Leth states. “She’s wild, she’s a hero, and she stands up for the victim – no matter what it takes. We’re creating a compelling and relatable series that will resonate with audiences in Denmark, Europe, and beyond.”

For Boe, the show is an opportunity to deconstruct the genre: “Cecilie Mars is my chance to shake up the thriller formula by diving into the unseen sides of Copenhagen. It’s a story that not only subverts expectations but makes you question what your local police officer might be doing when the lights go out.”

Cecilie appears to be in control: she’s respected in her role as a police investigator, leads a secret affair with a prosecutor, and trains young girls in self-defence in her Bellahøj neighbourhood. But her façade begins to crack as darkness looms, both in her private life and in the investigations she handles.

The first season adapts the opening volume of Krefeld’s trilogy, Darkness Calls. Future seasons are already in development and will be based on Beast in the Night and Dawn of the Executioners. Krefeld, one of Denmark’s most widely read crime writers, has sold over 300,000 copies of the Cecilie Mars series domestically. The books have been translated into multiple languages, and the title recently launched on Amazon in the US.

Beta Film’s Anais de Neergaard, who boarded the project early on, praised its originality: “Cecilie Mars is unlike anything I’ve read – a police inspector constantly walking the fine line between right and wrong. We’re proud to bring this unique and thrilling series to the international market.”

The release date is yet to be disclosed.