Midnight Sun marks French-Swedish copro first

Canal+ and SVT are joining forces for Midnight Sun, a high-concept thriller that marks the first France-Sweden drama copro.

Atlantique Productions, Nice Drama and Filmpool Nord are the production partners on the 8x52mins series.

The crime show will follow a French cop who joins forces with her Swedish counterpart to investigate the murder of a French citizen in Sweden.

The cast includes French actress Leïla Bekhti (The Prophet) and Gustaf Hammarsten (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) in the lead roles. Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein are set to direct all 8 episodes of the series.

French pay TV operator Canal+ has previously coproduced with partners including Sky the UK, but has never partnered with a Swedish broadcaster before.

Fabrice De La Patellière, director of French fiction for Canal+ said: “Canal+ is particularly proud to launch, for the first time ever, a major international series with Swedish broadcaster SVT. Written and directed by the very talented Mans Marlind and Bjorn Stein and featuring French actress Leïla Bekhti and Sweden’s Gustaf Hammersten, this Nordic thriller is a prestigious addition to the channel’s collection of original productions.”

SVT’s drama chief Christian Wikander, said “Midnight Sun/Jour Polaire is the result of several years’ collaboration between SVT and Canal+, Nice Drama and Atlantique. Midnight Sun is a universal tale of fighting through the darkness to reach the light, in a world with a strong sense of local connection.”