Dystopian drama `The Fortress' is Viaplay's next Norwegian Original

• Ambitious eight-part series stars Tobias Santelmann (`Exit') and all-star Nordic and international cast
• `The Fortress' directed by Cecilie Mosli (`Mammon'; `Grey's Anatomy') and Mikkel Brænne Sandemose (`State of Happiness')
• Viaplay set to premiere at least 70 Originals in 2022

The latest Viaplay Original from Norway is `The Fortress', an ambitious dystopian drama that depicts the fateful consequences of Norway's decision to isolate itself and its citizens from the rest of the world. Tobias Santelmann (`Exit'; `Kon-Tiki'), Selome Emnetu (`Luka and the Magical Theater') and UK star Russell Tovey (`The Picture of Dorian Gray'; `Quantico') lead a talented Nordic and international cast in the eight-part show, which will premiere on Viaplay in 2023.

In the year 2037, an enormous wall surrounds Norway, where its people enjoy privileged and sheltered lives in a self-sufficient Nordic paradise. But when a deadly pandemic breaks out, the inhabitants soon realise that the wall intended to protect, is instead holding them prisoner.

`The Fortress' (Norwegian title: `Festning Norge') is written by Linn-Jeanethe Kyed (`Bø') and author John Kåre Råke (`The Quake'), and directed by Cecilie Mosli (`Mammon'; `Grey's Anatomy') and Mikkel Brænne Sandemose (`State of Happiness').

Tobias Santelmann: "Cecilie has directed most of the scenes involving my character, and she is talented, generous and committed. My experience is that both Mikkel and Cecilie have great respect for each other, and collaborate and complement each other well. The situation in the world today means that `The Fortress' feels uncomfortably close to home."

Filippa Wallestam, NENT Group Chief Content Officer: "Our next Norwegian Viaplay Original might be set 15 years in the future, but is relevant to audiences everywhere today. History repeatedly shows us that what starts as a wall, ends as a prison. This unique and compelling production is the latest example of Viaplay's commitment to Nordic storytelling that goes beyond borders - in this case, literally."

The series is produced by Synnøve Hørsdal and Ales Ree for Maipo Film and executive produced by Kari Moen Kristiansen for Viaplay. Filming is currently taking place in Bergen. `The Fortress' is distributed globally by TrustNordisk.

About Viaplay Originals

At least 70 Viaplay Originals are set to premiere in 2022. In the past three months, `Partisan' season two; `Made in Oslo'; `Sisterhood'; `Wozniacki & Lee'; `The Holiday'; and `Pørni' season two have premiered on Viaplay.

Upcoming Originals include `The Hunt for Jasper S.'; `Liv Ullmann: The Road Less Travelled'; `Those Who Kill' season three; `Face to Face' season three; `The Meaning of Life'; `Something Stupid' and `The Guilty'; `Stockholm Bloodbath'; `Delete Me' season two; `Boys'; `The Dreamer - Becoming Karen Blixen'; `Fenris'; `Gold Run'; `Billy the Kid'; `Last Light'; `Cell 8'; `Elvira'; `North Sea Connection'; `Limbo'; `Litvinenko'; `Karma and Jonar'; `Ronja'; `The Machinery' season two; `The Uninhabitable Earth'; `Polish Murderesses', `Black Dog' and `Freedom of the Swallow'; `Honour' season three; `Hammarvik' season four; `Pørni' season three; `Hilma'; `Who Shot Otto Mueller?'; a biopic of Börje Salming; `Fadime'; `Taylor's Island'; `What about Monica'; `THE KINGDOM EXODUS'; `Estonia: The Last Wave'; `Stella Blómkvist' season two; `The Swarm'; `Perfect People'; and `Margeaux'.

Two major English-language films will be produced for Viaplay every year. NENT Group has also established a UK-based joint venture with FilmNation Entertainment and invested in US studio Picturestart.

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NOTES TO EDITORS

Nordic Entertainment Group AB (publ) (NENT Group)'s Viaplay streaming service is available in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the US and the Netherlands. Viaplay will launch in the UK in 2022, followed by Canada, Germany, Austria and Switzerland by the end of 2023. We operate streaming services, TV channels, radio stations and production companies, and our purpose is to tell stories, touch lives and expand worlds. Headquartered in Stockholm with a global perspective, NENT Group is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm (`NENT B').

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https://news.cision.com/nordic-entertainment-group/i/the-fortress-photo-lukas-saln-maipo-film-viaplay,c3046043

https://news.cision.com/nordic-entertainment-group/i/the-fortress-russell-tovey-photo-lukas-salna-maipo-film-viaplay,c3046041

https://news.cision.com/nordic-entertainment-group/i/the-fortress-selome-emnetu-photo-lukas-salna-maipo-film-viaplay,c3046040

https://news.cision.com/nordic-entertainment-group/i/the-fortress-tobias-santelmann-photo-lukas-salna-maipo-film-viaplay,c3046042

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