EXCLUSIVE: Unnur Birna Backman (Reykjavík Fusion, Black Sands) has landed the lead role in upcoming Icelandic crime thriller series Elma . She will play the title role in the Eva Björg Ægisdóttir book adaptation and be joined by Nikulás Hansen Daðason (Brjann, Skviz), who is also attached to producer Glassriver ’s original series Avalanche and Hot Stuff. He will play Saevar. Backman is known for the likes of Nordic noir Reykjavík Fusion and for voicing the character Raya in the Icelandic dub of the Disney animated feature Raya and the Last Dragon in 2020. Glassriver is currently working on the first book in the Elma series, The Creak on the Stairs, which is being adapted by screenwriter and series showrunner Karen Björg Eyfjörð Þorsteinsdóttir. Sharing directing duties are Katrín Björgvinsdóttir (Entrapped, As Long As We Live) and Thora Hilmarsdóttir (The Rising, Katla). Mediawan Rights has international distribution rights (excluding Iceland and Finland) and will be shopping them at next week’s MIPCOM Cannes. Other co-producers include Lunanime in Belgium and MTV Finland. Andri Ómarsson, co-owner and producer at Glassriver, said: “Unnur Birna is one of Iceland’s most dynamic screen talents and she’s absolutely the right actress to play Elma and to capture the quiet intensity of Eva Björg Ægisdóttir’s writing. We’re incredibly proud to be working with her and Nikulás as part of this talented team to adapt one of Iceland’s most compelling crime stories for global audiences”. The series will be set in the small port town of Akrane, Iceland, where police detective Elma has unxpectedly returned after fleeing a romantic affair that left her in pieces. When a woman’s body is found lying at the foot of a lighthouse, terrible secrets from the past threaten to resurface. Amid the town’s oppressive atmosphere, Elma’s colleague Saevar could provide salvation. Ægisdóttir’s books have been translated into 23 languages, and is particularly popular in France. The Creak on the Stairs was published in French in 2021 and quickly became a bestseller there, while second book Girls Who Lie (Les Filles Qui Mentent) reached over 100,000 readers in France. Elma joins Glassriver’s scripted slate including comedy-drama Hot Stuff, a coproduction with Romania’s IDEA Film, and Avalanche, a co-production with Whatevergroup. Also recently optioned is the crime drama Reykjavik Noir from author Lilja Sigurdardottir, which is being adapted for screen. The Elma deal was negotiated with David Headley at D H H Literary Agency in association with The Artists Partnership.
Iceland’s production powerhouse Glassriver (“Black Sands,” “As Long as We Live”) has inked a major international distribution deal with Mediawan Rights for the anticipated crime thriller series “Elma,” based on Eva BjörgÆgisdóttir’s best-selling book series. Besides Mediawan Rights, which holds rights outside of Iceland and Finland, the round of partners takes in co-producer Lunanime in Belgium, MTV Finland, private equity investors and other parties to be announced at a later stage, Glassriver CEO and producer Andri Ómarsson told Variety. “‘Elma’ is an Icelandic crime story, that’s ready to take on the world!” said Ómarsson who confirmed that Glassriver has optioned the rights to the five books in the “Elma” series. “We are proud to partner with the Mediawan team; their deep understanding of European markets and proven success with high-end drama make them the ideal partner to help us champion this story beyond Iceland.” Mediawan Rights CEO Valérie Vleeschhouwer added: “We are delighted to support “Elma.” This partnership with Glassriver reflects our commitment to bringing captivating and top-tier European shows to a global audience.” The inaugural season, “The Creak on the Stairs,” based on the first book in the “Elma” serie,s is due to roll from Oct. 7 in Iceland, under the direction of concept director Katrín Björgvinsdóttir (“The Minister,” “As Long as We Live) and Thora Hilmarsdóttir (“The Rising,” “Stella Blómkvist”). When first published in Iceland in 2018, Eva BjörgÆgisdóttir was hailed as one of the most talented non ew crime authors, along the lines of Arnaldur Indriðason, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, Ragnar Jónasson or Lilja Sigurdardottir, thanks to her ability to blend Nordic Noir with psychological depth. “The Creak on the Stairs” hit the top of the book charts in Iceland and won the CWA (Crime Writers Association) Debut Dagger-Blackbird Award, before opening up new markets for Ægisdóttir in the 20-plus territories where it was translated including in France and the UK. In the serialized TV adaptation from head-writer Karen Björg Eyfjörð Þorsteinsdóttir (“Ordinary People”), Elísabet Hall and rising talent Urður Egilsdóttir (Glassriver’s upcoming “Manifesto”), the story follows police detective Elma who returns to the picturesque port town of Akrane to work at her local police station after a disastrous romance. “When a woman’s body is found lying at the foot of a lighthouse, terrible secrets could well resurface from the past. In this small Icelandic town with its oppressive atmosphere, could salvation come to Elma from her colleague, Saevar?,” reads the logline. One of Iceland’s most active purveyors of quality scripted content, Glassriver’s current series slate takes in the climate disaster “Avalanche” starring Elin Hall; the comedy drama “Hot Stuff” toplined by Steinþór Hróar Steinþórsson, and Saga Garðarsdóttir; the recently optioned “Konrad” book series from crime king Arnaldur Indriðason and “Masquerade” to be co-produced with “Severance”’s Nicholas Weinstock and The Art of Coproduction’s Marc Lorber.
Glassriver, the leading Icelandic film and TV production company behind “ Reykjavik Noir ,” has optioned the bestselling “Konrad” book series from Arnaldur Indriðason , the successful author of “ Operation Napoleon ” and “Jar City.” The banner will be making a TV series based on the seven-book collection “Konrad,” whose story follows a retired Reykjavík detective haunted by his own troubled past while solving cold cases. Though no longer working for the police, Konrad finds himself unable to ignore the unresolved crimes that continue to haunt both victims and their families. This marks the first TV series adaptation of Indriðason’s work, which comprises the “Detective Erlendur” series that have been translated into multiple languages, as well as “Operation Napoleon” and “Jar City.” The latter two have been turned into films. “Jar City” became Balthasar Kormakur’s breakout film and swept five Edda Awards, Iceland’s equivalent to the Oscars. Set in Reykjavík, “Konrad” is expected to feature Indriðason’s signature blend of psychological thriller and Nordic noir. Andri Ómarsson, Glassriver’s CEO and executive producer, says “Arnaldur Indriðason’s legacy in crime fiction is revered around the world.” “The ‘Konrad’ series delves into intricate cold cases whilst reflecting the rich tapestry of Icelandic culture and unpacking significant social issues that resonate with global audiences – making it the perfect fit for Glassriver’s growing slate,” continues Ómarsson. The “Konrad” series joins Glassriver’s slate of upscale Icelandic scripted shows, notably the thriller series “Manifesto” and the optioned book trilogy “Reykjavik Noir” from bestselling author Lilja Sigurðardottir. Arnaldur Indriðason said he’s “confident that Glassriver will bring the stories of Inspector Konrad to the screen with the utmost care, highlighting not only their narrative appeal but also the broader social value of these works.”
Steinþórsson will play Halli and Garðarsdóttir plays Karen in the series, which is set in 1979 and follows a group of Icelanders on holiday in Spain. We broke the news on the show, which is from Iceland’s Glassriver and Romania’s Idea Film , back in April. Further members of the ensemble cast will be announced in coming months. Ragnar Bragason, who made the likes of The Shift TV trilogy and the widely-sold Prisoners, is the creator and co-writer of the series, with screenwriter and stand-up comedian Snjolaug Ludviksdottir his co-writer. SÝN was the commissioner and France’s Oble has international distribution rights. Hot Stuff will blend morality-driven drama with satire to play with the genre and provide a more thought-provoking watch. Per the producers, the show blends “humor, romance, and sharp social commentary” to tackle themes of gender inequality, consumerism, and xenophobia. “Through playful ridicule and authentic storytelling, it explores the pitfalls of insular thinking, toxic masculinity, and performative activism and the ongoing struggle for identity, equality, and purpose across age groups and cultures,” they add. “We are delighted to introduce audiences to our Hot Stuff leads Halli and Karen, brought to life by wonderful local Icelandic talents Steinþór Hróar Steinþórsson and Saga Garðarsdóttir,” said Andri Ómarsson, co-owner and producer at Glassriver. Hot Stuff is exactly the kind of bold, character-driven storytelling we champion at Glassriver, for audiences around the world. We look forward to sharing more Hot Stuff news soon.”
Other Icelandic stars lined up so far include Ólafur Darri Ólafsson (“Severance,” “Trapped,” “True Detective”), Þorsteinn Backmann (“True Detective,” “Katla”), and Thorvaldur Kristjansson (“The Minister,” “The Darkness”). The first cast members and plot of the Icelandic/English-language project are set to be announced today by Baldvin Z, writer Matthías Tryggvi Haraldsson and Glassriver producer Gudgeir “Gucci” Arngrimsson at the Nordic Co-Production Market in Haugesund, Norway. Best-known internationally as the helmer of both Hollywood (“2 Guns,” “Beast”), U.S/U.K. (“Everest”) and Icelandic pics such as “Touch” for which he received a Nordic Council Film Prize nomination last year at Haugesund, Kormákur’s initial training came as an actor from Iceland’s National Academy of Fine Arts. After his first steps in theatre, he starred in multiple pics including his own breakout film “101 Reykjavík.” His last screen appearance was in his 2016 thriller “The Oath.” “Baltasar is an amazing actor and I’ve tried to get him onscreen for quite some time, but he’s always very, very busy!” quipped Baldvin Z. “In Dark Ocean,” penned by rising screenwriter Tryggvi Haraldsson, Kormákur will play the charismatic captain of a fishing trawler in the North Atlantic, just boarded by young deckhand Hákon (19). The latter takes on the job to provide for his pregnant girlfriend, but the sea soon turns into a nightmare after a crewmate commits suicide and the captain refuses to return to shore. As Hákon fights seasickness, and the crew’s bullying, he starts to lose it, until a life-threatening accident triggers a shift. “Dark Ocean is a claustrophobic and visceral film about the cost of survival in a hyper-masculine world, and the emotional toll of a culture that teaches boys never to cry, even when the sea takes one of their own,” reads the synopsis. “This will be the most intense film I’ve ever made. I want to throw you on the vessel and only after an hour and a half will you be able to breath,” says Baldvin Z, credited for the realistic hard-hitting dramas “Life in a Fishbowl” (Iceland’s entry for the 2015 Oscars) and 2018 Toronto-selected “Let Me Fall.” The helmer says two things triggered his original idea. First a news article, read in 2015. “20 years earlier, a group of fishermen had gone ashore to dig out people buried alive by an avalanche. After this traumatic experience, they went straight back at sea, and stayed for a month. They were forbidden to talk about it, nor express their feelings. It’s only two decades later that they were able to openly discuss this, asking for mental support.” “I started thinking of my film ‘Let Me Fall’ which deals with trauma inflicted to women by men. I thought why do men do these things?”
Icelandic production company Glassriver is launching a dedicated film division. The new division will be led by director Baldvin Z, best known for features like Life in a Fishbowl, Let Me Fall, Jitters, and the Netflix original series Case. The company said its film slate will feature original feature films and international co-productions. The first title in development is Dark Ocean from Matthías Tryggvi Haraldsson. The film is described as a claustrophobic drama set on a fishing trawler in the North Atlantic. The synopsis reads: Exploring masculinity, grief, and the corrosive cost of survival, Dark Ocean tells the story of a young deckhand on his first voyage as he and a team of fishermen battle the brutal forces of nature and face the ruthless demands of survival at sea. The project was announced earlier this year as part of the New Nordic Films project slate at the Haugesund Film Festival. The company has said a second project from Black Sands and Cold Haven writer Elias Kofoed Hansen is in development. “With the launch of Glassriver’s film division, we have the opportunity to tell bold, emotionally raw stories that resonate far beyond Iceland ’s borders,” Baldvin Z said in a statement. “Our goal is to create cinematic experiences that are as intimate as they are epic, grounded in truth, but made for the world stage with global partners.” Guðgeir “Gucci” Arngrímsson, Producer at Glassriver, added: “We’re building a slate of films that reflect the soul of Iceland but are relevant wherever you are: extremes, humanity, dark humour with emotion. We’re collaborating with exceptional talent both locally and internationally, and are ready to meet more partners to expand this. It’s time international cinema took up more space on the screen.” The wider Glassriver slate includes Cold Haven, an 8-episode crime thriller in co-production with Portugal’s SPi SA, currently in post-production. Glassriver’s latest releases include the international 8-episode drama As Long as We Live, medical drama Fractures, and Black Sands, which debuted at the 2025 Berlinale. [ Read full article ]
Glassriver's Abby Hafliðadóttir explains how the role of producer means carrying the logistics, solving problems, and keeping things on course when chaos inevitably knocks
Hot Stuff is a comedy-drama set in 1979, following a group of Icelanders who go on holiday in Spain. Blending humor, romance, and sharp social commentary, the series cleverly tackles themes of gender inequality, consumerism, and xenophobia. Through playful ridicule and authentic storytelling, it explores the pitfalls of insular thinking, toxic masculinity, and performative activism. With a unique blend of morality-driven drama and comedy, Hot Stuff offers fresh perspectives that appeal not just to traditional genre fans but to anyone looking for engaging and thought-provoking entertainment. Ragnar Bragason is the creator and co-writer of the series. Bragason is Iceland’s most successful drama and comedy creator of the award winning and audience acclaimed TV series like The Shift trilogy (The Night Shift, The Day Shift, The Prison Shift) remade in Norway, Germany and US. The Drama series PRISONERS is also an international hit and can be seen on BBC, Netflix, AMC, The Sundance Channel and more. Co-writer Snjolaug Ludviksdottir is a screenwriter writing for TV & film, she is currently adapting the bestselling Icelandic novel Konur (Women) for the screen and wrote the second season of the crime series Stella Blomquist.The series will be directed by Magnús Leifsson. Magnús released his debut short film, Dovetail which won Short Film of The Year at the annual Icelandic Film & TV Awards in 2019. Hot Stuff joins Glassriver’s extensive scripted slate including Avalanche, a co-production with Whatevergroup and the recently optioned titles Elma from Eva Björg Ægisdottir and Reykjavik Noir from author Lilja Sigurdardottir which are being adapted for screen. Glassriver has also wrapped production on its coproduction with Portugal’s SPi titled Cold Haven and has had the season 2 of Black Sands release at the end of 2024. Andri Ómarsson, co-owner and producer at Glassriver says “We are taking it back to the 70’s! We are excited to introduce Hot Stuff – a unique story that crosses into several genres and topics, set against the backdrop of sunny Spain in 1979. With our partners and friends at IDEA Film, we are looking forward to this series hotting up”. Kristjana Thors Brynjolfsdottir, Director of Media at SÝN says “Hot Stuff is exactly the kind of bold, character-driven storytelling we champion at SÝN. It’s smart, stylish, and socially relevant—blending humour with razor-sharp insight in a way that feels both nostalgic and strikingly modern. We’re thrilled to bring this ambitious series to Icelandic audiences and proud to support original stories with global resonance”
Hot Stuff to be co-produced with Romania’s Idea Film for Iceland’s Channel 2 Cold Haven producer Glassriver has unveiled its latest project: a comedy drama co-produced with Romania’s Idea Film for SÝN’s Channel 2 in Iceland. Hot Stuff is set in 1979 and follows a group of Icelanders who go on holiday in Spain. It explores “the pitfalls of insular thinking, toxic masculinity and performative activism,” according to the logline. Ragnar Bragason, creator of The Shift trilogy and the well-travelled Prisoners, is creator and co-writer of the series alongside Snjolaug Ludviksdottir, who is adapting Icelandic novel Konur (Women) for screen, and also wrote the second season of crime drama Stella Blomquist. Hot Stuff, which will be directed by Magnús Leifsson (Dovetail), is being distributed by Oble.
Icelandic film and TV studio Glassriver will co-produce scripted series Masquerade with Nicholas Weinstock , executive producer of Apple TV+ hit show Severance , and his Hollywood-based Invention Studios, as well as The Art of Coproduction’s Marc Lorber . Masquerade is about a young American reporter who arrives in a small Icelandic village, “investigating the old, unsolved abduction case of a four-year-old girl, the granddaughter of the town’s most wealthy and powerful man, who vanished while on vacation in Florida 25 years ago,” according to a synopsis. “As she digs deeper, she begins to unravel the village’s darkest secrets, only to realize that those responsible for the abduction are probably still living in the village.”
