Norwegian showrunner Henriette Steenstrup’s latest TV drama “Nepobaby” which won best screenplay and ensemble cast at April’s Canneseries, has lured a new round of buyers ahead of October’s global content market Mipcom in Cannes.
Nordisk Film Distribution, in charge of Nordic rights, has closed with TV2 Denmark and SVT Sweden, while global distributor Oble which handles the rest of the world has inked fresh deals with public broadcaster CBC – for CGC Gem – in Canada and state-funded SBS in Australia, an avid buyer of top international fare. Earlier deals were sealed with Be-tv in Belgium and RÚV in Iceland. Main commissioner TV2 Norway will launch the show domestically in October.
Jes Brandhoj, director of sales & series acquisitions at Nordisk Film, said the early commitment from the Nordic broadcasters is “a fantastic vote of confidence.” “With its mix of humour, heart, and relatable family drama, “Nepobaby” is exactly the kind of feel‑good storytelling that connects people and we can’t wait to see it come to life on their platforms.”
Created by Henriette Steenstrup with “Pørni” actor Vivild Falk Berg in mind, “Nepobaby” was co-written by Steenstrup with “Young & Promising”’s Siri Seljeseth, in collaboration with Tina Rygh. Gunnar Vikene and Hallvar Witzø are co-directing.
The first season centres on Emma, a newly graduated physiotherapist who has just bought her first apartment with her fiancé, Niko (Deniz Kaya of “The Worst Person in the World”). Her world is turned upside down when she discovers she is the secret daughter of shipping magnate Ludvig “Doddo” Bullmann and one of his heirs.
Her newfound wealthy siblings are played by Steenstrup, Nicolai Cleve Broch (“The Sandhamn Murders”), Kristin Grue (“Power Play”) and Helle Ryg Eia (“Peak TV”).
“It’s ‘Succession’ meets ‘Veep’ made in a fun way,” Canneseries artistic director Albin Lewi said last April when the series world premiered in Cannes. The Norwegian six-parter will be showcased at the Panorama section of Barcelona’s Serielizados festival in November.
A second season is waiting for a greenlight. “Nepobaby” was produced by Ida Håndlykken Kvernstrøm and Bård Ljones Fjulsrud for Oslo-based Eldorado Content Club.
At Mipcom, Oble’s co-founder Katia Sol will continue negotiating rights on the show, next to other premium shows including “Winter Palace,” co-produced by Oble and Point Prod for RTS and Netflix, the Canneseries-selected “Jailbreak” (“Zonz”) from France and “Noob” from New Zealand.