Ulrika Bengts (Hotel Swan Helsinki) is directing Theatre of War, a Nordic limited series adapted from Kjell Westö’s novel Dusk 41, as a multilingual production.
Golden Globe nominee Alma Pöysti (Fallen Leaves) leads the series, starring alongside Tyra Wingren (To Cook a Bear), Jakob Öhrman (Raptures), Saga Sarkola (Memory of Water), and Merlin Rose (Das Boot)
Filming will take place in Tampere, Finland, and Sweden, with principal photography set to begin in late summer. The limited series will blend Swedish, English, Finnish, and German on screen.
This is the story in brief: As Finland steels itself against Soviet aggression, Molly Timm and Henry Gunnars live in a fragile cocoon of love and ambition. When bombs strike Helsinki, Henry is sent to the front, while Molly joins a theater troupe bound for Sweden.
With raids escalating and propaganda spreading, both must choose their path—witnesses or performers—while Finland faces its darkest dilemma: ally with Nazi Germany or risk Soviet annexation.
Westö’s novel—published as ‘Dusk 41’ internationally, ‘Henry & Molly’ in Finland, and ‘Skymning 41’ in Sweden—is set against the backdrop of World War II, with Erna Aalto as the series producer. Magnus Bimberg and Arvet founder and CEO Grace Maharaj are the exec producers.
Arvet’s Maharaj said. “This is a premium Nordic-international series based on internationally renowned author Kjell Westö, and which has attracted the pedigree of talent we are very proud to have on the series.”