NENT Group launches ‘Close to Me’ as new international original series

• English-language series stars Connie Nielsen (‘Wonder Woman’) and Christopher Eccleston (‘Doctor Who’) and is based on Amanda Reynolds’ bestselling novel
• ‘Close to Me’ to premiere on Viaplay across the Nordic and Baltic regions in 2021 and on Channel 4 in the UK
• NENT Group to premiere at least 30 original productions in 2020

Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group), the Nordic region’s leading streaming company, has launched the English-language psychological drama series ‘Close to Me’ as its next original production. ‘Close to Me’ stars award-winning talents Connie Nielsen (‘Wonder Woman’) and Christopher Eccleston (‘Doctor Who’), and is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Amanda Reynolds. The six-part series will premiere exclusively on NENT Group’s Viaplay streaming service across the Nordic and Baltic regions in 2021.

‘Close to Me’ is the story of Jo Harding (Connie Nielsen), a woman who seems to have it all – a beautiful house in the country, a loving family and a devoted husband (Christopher Eccleston). But following a fall, an entire year suddenly vanishes from Jo’s memory. As she struggles to piece events together, Jo discovers that her life wasn’t quite as perfect as she imagined – and that someone will do all they can to keep a terrible secret from her.

The series has been developed by The Development Partnership (TDP) and Great Point Media under TDP’s first-look deal with NENT Studios UK to create high-profile drama projects for the international market. ‘Close to Me’ is co-produced by Dopamine and distributed internationally by NENT Studios UK, and has been acquired by Channel 4 in the UK.

Connie Nielsen’s credits include the blockbuster films ‘Gladiator’, ‘Mission to Mars’, ‘The Hunted’ and ‘Nymphomaniac’. She also appears as the DC Comics superhero Hippolyta in the films ‘Wonder Woman’, ‘Justice League’ and the forthcoming ‘Wonder Woman 1984’. Christopher Eccleston won an International Emmy Award for ‘Accused’, and has starred in the hit BBC dramas ‘Doctor Who’, ‘The A Word’ and ‘Our Friends in the North’ as part of an acclaimed 25-year film and TV career.

‘Close to Me’ is written by Angela Pell (‘Snow Cake’; ‘Gifted’) and will be directed by Michael Samuels (‘The Missing’; ‘Any Human Heart’). Gina Carter (‘24 Hour Party People’; ‘Kingdom’) and Connie Nielsen are the executive producers, alongside Robert Taylor and Ed Clarke of TDP and Dave Clarke from NENT Studios UK. The series will go into production in the UK later this month.

Filippa Wallestam, NENT Group Chief Content Officer: “This inventive, unsettling and fascinating drama uncovers the deception that can lie below the surface of a seemingly perfect family life. The constantly twisting plot, straight to camera dialogue and great indie soundtrack will draw in viewers, while also exploring a subject rarely highlighted on screen – the female mid-life crisis. Connie Nielsen and Christopher Eccleston are hugely charismatic talents and this series asks a question that everyone can relate to – what do we really know about ourselves and those closest to us?”

About NENT Group’s original productions

NENT Group is set to premiere at least 30 original productions in 2020. In the past six months, ‘Valley Girl’; ‘First Responders’; season one of ‘The American Runestone’; ‘The Machinery’; season two of ‘The Lawyer’; ‘Cold Courage’; ‘Big Lars’; ‘The Last Journey of the Vikings’; season two of ‘Saga’s Stories’; ‘Thicker than Water’; ‘The Children’s Queen’; season two of ‘Rig 45’; ‘Mia’s Magic Playground’; and season two of ‘Couple Trouble’ have premiered on Viaplay across the Nordic region.

Recently announced originals include ‘Catwalk’; ‘Try Hard’; ‘Max Anger’; ‘Dystopia’; ‘The Head’; ‘Suck It Up’; ‘Orca’; ‘The Swarm’; ‘Delete Me’; season two of ‘The Truth Will Out’; ‘Harmonica’; season two of ‘Pros and Cons’; ‘Perfect People’; season two of ‘Face to Face’; ‘Huss’; season two of ‘Those Who Kill’; seasons two and three of ‘Fixi in Playland’; season two of ‘Honour’; ‘Hammarvik’; season two of ‘Love Me’; ‘Partisan’; season two of ‘The American Runestone’; ‘Home Invasion’; ‘The Professionals’; ‘Shadowplay’; ‘The Ambassador’; ‘Margeaux’; ‘Cryptid’; and ‘Commando’.

NENT Group’s ‘ALEX’ has been sold in Europe, Asia and the US; ‘Veni Vidi Vici’ has premiered on Hulu and is set for a US remake with Lionsgate; ‘Pros and Cons’ has been picked up by Canal+ and Topic; ‘Honour’ has been sold to RTL and VRT; ‘Those Who Kill’ is available on the BBC and ARTE; and ‘Mia’s Magic Playground’ has launched on Sky Kids.

During 2019, NENT Group announced 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) is the Nordic region’s leading entertainment provider. We entertain millions of people every day with our streaming services, TV channels and radio stations, and our production companies create content that is experienced around the world. We make life more entertaining by telling stories, touching lives and expanding worlds – from live sports, movies and series to music and original shows. Headquartered in Stockholm, NENT Group is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm (‘NENT A’ and ‘NENT B’).

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