Written by creator of Scandinavian hit series The Bridge and based on classic fantasy novel by beloved Swedish author Astrid Lindgren

Netflix’s #1 series in Sweden and in top 10 in 15 countries in spring 2024

European Reviews

“Stylish and exciting, well-made and suitably scary…well-cast” - Göteborgs-Posten

“A well-acted adventure…breathless, visual Nordic magic” - Dagens Nyheter

“Mixes magnificent nature lyricism with just the right amount of dark and frightening family fantasy.

The acting and visuals are top notch”– Aftonbladet

Official Viaplay trailer

From the creator of iconic Nordic TV series The Bridge and Marcella, Hans Rosenfeldt, and based on the classic fantasy adventure book by beloved, bestselling Swedish author Astrid Lindgren (the “Pippi Longstocking” series), Ronja, the Robber's Daughter, Season 1 debuts in the US on Thursday, November 21 with all six episodes available to binge on the Viaplay US streaming service, both subtitled and dubbed in English.

Considered one of the Nordic’s most ambitious series ever and updated for fans of the fascinating fantasy worlds of Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings, this enchanting, coming-of-age story follows the adventures of a spirited, rebellious girl (Kerstin Linden, The Emigrants) born into a band of robbers set in and around a fortress in medieval Scandinavia, surrounded by a mystical forest teeming with magical and fearsome creatures, and untold dangers. When Ronja befriends young boy Birk from a rival gang of robbers, it triggers the start of a dark family feud as a notorious bailiff arrives to rid the area of thieves once and for all. Ronja, the Robber's Daughter was a hit when it premiered on Netflix in Europe in spring 2024. The first season was on Netflix's Top 10 in 15 countries, including France, the Nordics, Poland and the Netherlands and was the #1 TV series in Sweden.

In episode 1, Ronja is born into a band of robbers during a thunderstorm in a medieval Scandinavian fortress on a mountain – that night, lightning strikes and divides the fortress into two parts, creating a deep ravine between the two halves called Hell’s Gap.  The gang members are split about Ronja’s arrival, but chief robber Mattis (Christopher Wagelin, Snabba Cash, The Truth Will Out) only feels joy, since he now has a precious daughter and heir.  As the spirited girl grows up behind the fortress walls, she longs for the outside world, so when she turns 12, Mattis allows her to venture into the magical yet dangerous forest. She explores every path and lake and learns how to hide from the bloodthirsty harpies and grey dwarfs, and soon feels more at home in the forest than in the fort.

As winter approaches and the local village begins to starve because the crops have failed yet again, Mattis and his gang of robbers continue to pillage passersby, including merchants.  The village Mayor, Valdir (Pernilla August, Star Wars Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace), hires a notorious bailiff, Cappa (Vera Vitali, Bonus Family, Brimstone), to rid the area of thieves. Before Cappa can get to Mattis, she drives Mattis’ arch enemy Borka (Sverrir Gudnason, Borg vs McEnroe) and his family out of their home, and into Mattis’ forest, where they settle down in the abandoned half of his fortress.  

While wandering around Hell’s Gap, Ronja meets Borka’s only son, Birk (Jack Bergenholtz Henriksson) –the first boy she has ever seen.  They strike up a secret friendship that ends up igniting a vicious family feud between the two rival robber clans.

The creator of “Ronja, The Robber’s Daughter,” Astrid Lindgren is one of the world’s most translated and bestselling authors - her books have been translated into over 100 languages and sold more than 165 million copies. In addition to more than 70 feature films and TV productions, her works have also been adapted for stage and musicals all around the globe. Alongside “Ronja the Robber's Daughter,” Lindgren's characters include “Pippi Longstocking,” “Emil in Lönneberga” and “The Children of Noisy Village.”

Produced by Filmlance for Viaplay, the six-part Season 1 of Ronja, The Robber’s Daughter is written by the award-winning screenwriter Hans Rosenfeldt and directed by Lisa James Larsson (Britannia).

In addition to the above, the cast includes Krista Kosonen (Blade Runner 2049, The Swarm) as Ronja’s mother Lovis, Maria Nohra (Honour, Beck, Before We Die) as Birk’s mother Undis, Johan Ulveson (Love Me) as Mattis’ close friend Skalle, Agnes Westerlund Rase (Midsommar, Guds Tre Flickor) as Cappa’s sister Smavis, Kim Kold (6 Underground, Fast and Furious 6) as Labbas, Per Lasson (Eagles) as Sturkas, Björn Elgerd (The Gambling Scandal) as Tjorm, and Isa Aouifia (Taelgia) as Turre.

(6 episodes, Swedish with English subtitles, dubbed in English)

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COMING UP ON VIAPLAY US: 

·         Mon., Oct 14, 21, 28: ‘Max Verstappen Races into the US’ – Five documentaries in English with F1’s record-breaking, superstar racing driver make their US debut (10/14 Max Verstappen: Off the Beaten Track, Verstappen: Master of the Track; 10/21 Max’s Machine, F1 Talks with Max Verstappen; and 10/28 F1 2023: Champion Becoming a Legend)

·         Thurs., Oct 24: Secrets – Award-winning director Kaspar Munk’s contemporary family drama series starring Pilou Asbæk (Game of Thrones, Uncharted), Iben Hjejle (High Fidelity), and Evin Ahmad (Who Is Erin Carter?) Trailer (Pilou Asbæk and Kaspar Munk Interviews Available)

·         Thurs., Oct 31: The Box – A gripping, English-language psychological thriller starring Anna Friel (Marcella) and Peter Stormare (John Wick 2, Fargo) Trailer

·         Thurs., Nov. 7: Rebus - Sir Ian Rankin’s iconic detective series starring Richard Rankin (Outlander) and recently aired on BBC to rave reviews and ratings. Intl BBC Trailer. Interview Opportunities: Lead Richard Rankin (Outlander)

·         Thurs., Nov. 14: Verstappen – Lion Unleashed 1-3 - Featuring exclusive interviews with Max, his father Jos, and manager Raymond looking back at each of Max’s record-breaking seasons (2021-2023).

·         Thurs., Nov. 21: RONJA, the Robber’s Daughter, Season 1 - One of the most ambitious Nordic series ever, this fantasy adventure series aired outside the US on Netflix and was a Top 10 series in 15 countries and was adapted by the creator of the iconic Nordic series The Bridge

·         Thurs., Nov. 28: Max Verstappen – Anatomy of a Champion – With unprecedented access, this behind-the-scenes portrait examines the relationships that shaped Max into the driver he is today. (Trailer) Also added: Max Verstappen Picture Perfect and Verstappen Near Perfect

About Viaplay:

The Viaplay add-on streaming service features thousands of hours of premium Nordic and European series and films. Viaplay’s US content offering focuses on the Nordic region’s high-quality and psychologically penetrating titles: from atmospheric and suspenseful crime dramas and provocative and stylish young adult series to award-winning dramas and riveting documentaries.

Press Contacts:

Chad Campbell, Head of PR, Viaplay SVOD – chad.campbell@viaplaygroup.com

Eddie Ward, On behalf of Nordic streamer Viaplay - 917-864-6446 / eddie@eddiewardPR.com