Icelandic film and TV production company Glassriver has announced a co-production with Germany’s Network Movie on Áróra, a new investigative TV drama series based on Lilja Sigurðardóttir’s bestselling An Áróra Investigation series. Network Movie, which has extensive experience in the crime and thriller genres, has optioned all five novels in the series and is developing the adaptation from the books: Cold as Hell (2019), Red as Blood (2020), White as Snow (2021), Dark as Night (2022) and Deep as Death (2023). Network Movie’s diverse slate includes TV series such as Murder Up North (Nord Nord Mord), In other Circumstances (Unter anderen Umständen) and The Trace (Neben der Spur), as well as films such as The German Lesson.

Set across London and Iceland, the series follows tough fraud investigator Áróra, who has Icelandic roots and returns to Iceland to search for her missing sister. What begins as a family quest quickly spirals into a dangerous investigation, with Áróra assisted by CID officer – and potential love interest – Daniel. This mismatched pair soon uncover dark undercurrents of betrayal, corruption and violence simmering beneath the surface of Iceland’s rugged beauty. Drawing on Sigurðardóttir’s signature blend of psychological depth and Nordic noir, the series explores themes of loss, family and justice.

Lilja Sigurðardóttir is an award-winning screenwriter and novelist. Her bestselling Reykjavík Noir trilogy is also being developed by Glassriver as a TV series, and she co-wrote episodes of the supernatural Netflix series Katla. The An Áróra Investigation novels have been sold internationally, with rights acquired in World English, World Arabic and World French, as well as in Germany, Sweden, Finland and Estonia. The books have sold more than 800,000 copies worldwide.

Andri Ómarsson, CEO of Glassriver, commented: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Network Movie to bring Áróra from the page to screen. This series is truly an international project, with a story that unfolds across Iceland and the UK while bringing together the best talent from across Europe. We’re excited to continue our collaboration with Lilja Sigurðardóttir, whose work has already captivated readers across the Nordics and is now gaining remarkable momentum in mainland Europe. Her ability to combine compelling characters, suspense and a strong sense of place gives Áróra unique international appeal. We believe the series is perfectly positioned to resonate with audiences around the world.”

The Áróra TV adaptation joins Glassriver’s slate of Icelandic scripted series, including the crime thriller series Manifesto, Reykjavik Noir, Elma by author Eva Björg Ægisdóttir and Konrad by author Arnaldur Indriðason.

Moritz Mihm, Executive Producer, and Bernd von Fehrn, Managing Director of Network Movie, added: “Áróra is the irresistible heroine of these gripping novels, which display great sophistication in interweaving intricate criminal cases with the protagonist’s complex private life and that of her family. The novels are ripe material for adaptation – and we are delighted to have found the ideal partner for this very special project in the Glassriver team.”