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See what you’ve been missing as Viaplay continues to feature the best under-the-radar international series and films in streaming. Following May’s hit Nordic Noir Jana, Marked for Life (Today, Trailer) and the Danish, more romantic and fun version of The Morning Show with Chaos (Thurs., May 22, Trailer), Viaplay’s June U.S. slate features the exclusive Stateside premieres of must-see European TV series and docs:

·         Mafia (Thurs., June 19) – Sweeping Nordic noir/crime thriller following the violent and epic rise of a visionary crime boss and the lone cop facing the looming Mafia menace; inspired by true events as Sweden goes from peaceful to perilous in the 1990s

·         Max Verstappen – Simply Lovely (Thurs., June 5) – Max discusses his road to a fourth straight F1 title, filled with struggle, both on and off the track.

·         In the Mind of a Criminal, Season 2 (Thurs., June 12) – In-depth look at the criminals behind some of the most notorious crime cases in modern Danish criminal history, including a cop killer, Nordic’s most famous con woman, a swindler and teenage murder

 SPOTLIGHT: CRIME DRAMA

Mafia – Riveting Swedish crime drama

Thursday, June 19 – Exclusive US Premiere (new episodes premiere Thursdays through July 24)

Interview Opps: Cast/Writer

Starring Swedish powerhouses Peshang Rad (Before We Die, Jana, Gåsmamman, Bäckström) and Katia Winter (The Boys, Granite Harbour, Sleepy Hollow, Dexter)

In this sweeping six-episode crime series drawing inspiration from actual events, Mafia charts the transformation of Sweden in the 1990s, evolving from a relatively tranquil nation untouched by organized crime into a land marked by intense gang conflicts and violent shootouts. The series follows the life of the notorious gangster and criminal visionary Radovan "Jakov" Jakovic (Peshang Rad), chronicling his journey from poverty to wealth.

Against Jakov is police officer Gunn Thörngren (Katia Winter), the lone cop who sees the looming Mafia menace, hidden in the shadow of cigarette smuggling.

As the story begins, both Gunn and Jakov are underdogs, forced to play a daring game to circumvent their superiors. It's not long before they develop a connection with each other. Each is convinced they are using the other for their own benefit, but their connection will have devastating consequences for both of them.

Mafia touches on a critical time in Swedish history, the consequences of which echo today. The series takes viewers back to a time when acts of violence such as shootings were unusual, almost unthinkable, but where cigarette smuggling, in particular, became the prelude to a new type of organized crime.

Directed by Mani Maserrat (Young Wallander, Modus) and Tomas Jonsgården (Game of Thrones: Aftermath), with Axel Stjärne (Top Dog, Partisan) serving as the lead writer with renowned Scandi screenwriters Stefan Thunberg (End of Summer, Hunters, Wallander) and Dennis Magnusson (Bäckström, Lords of Chaos) as co-writers. (Viaplay Original, 6x45’ episodes, Swedish w/English subtitles)

SPOTLIGHT: TRUE CRIME

In the Mind of a Criminal, Season 2

Thursday, June 12 - Exclusive US Premiere

Police investigator Sebastian Richelsen dives into some of the most notorious crime cases in modern Danish criminal history.

This gritty documentary series investigates some of the worst and most spectacular crime cases in Danish history to try and gain insight into the minds, thoughts and behavior of a criminal. Journalist and former police officer Sebastian Richelsen selects a criminal in each episode and delves into childhood, youth life and adult behavior with the help of sources, relationships, journalists and psychologists. With the help of these, he tries to determine when things went wrong and when evil took over the mind.

Season 2 Episodes: “The Police Killer,” “The Woman Behind the Mask,” “The Brutal Brothers from Bornholm,” “The Big Swindler,” and “The Charming Murder”

(Viaplay Documentary, 5 x 42' episodes, Danish with English subtitles)

SPOTLIGHT: SPORTS DOCUMENTARY

Max Verstappen – Simply Lovely

Thursday, June 5 - Exclusive US Premiere

Simply Lovely takes you behind the scenes of Max Verstappen’s unforgettable journey to his fourth Formula 1 world title in 2024. From the high-octane drama on the track to the personal challenges off it, this is the inside story of a season filled with grit, determination, and triumph. Join the newly crowned champion as he reflects on the year that tested his limits and cemented his legacy as one of the greatest drivers in F1 history. (2024, Dutch with English subtitles, 1x50’)

AVAILABLE TO BINGE

·         Chaos – Akin to a more romantic Danish The Morning Show, the series follows the chaotic life and modern love story of a host of a popular morning program (Trailer)

·         10 Years of Max Verstappen – An exclusive interview with Max looking back at his legendary, record-breaking first decade in redefining Formula 1 (Trailer)

·         Jana, Marked for Life - A Swedish psychological thriller and hit Nordic Noir based on a bestselling novel and aired on BBC4 (Trailer)

·         Like Tears in Rain - A star-studded, intimate portrait of iconic Dutch actor Rutger Hauer captured through private, never-before-seen footage and directed by his goddaughter (Trailer)

·         The Hunt - Called "a milestone in Dutch television history," this award-winning, spine-chilling crime drama is inspired by the real-life murder of Marianne Vaatstra, a case that gripped the Netherlands for more than a decade (Trailer)

·         Bullshit - The powerful, award-winning story of a group of lost and rebellious youths in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. The drama series delves into the darkly exciting, but dangerous world of bikers as a passionate love story unfolds. (Trailer)

·         The Bunker - A chilling and shocking new true-crime docuseries about a woman who survived a torturous abduction and confronts her past trauma. (Trailer)

·         Rebus - Sir Ian Rankin’s iconic detective series starring Richard Rankin (Outlander) and recently aired on BBC to rave reviews and ratings. Edgar®-nominated for ‘Best Television Teleplay Episode’ (Intl BBC Trailer)

·         All and Eva - Following its rave reviews, Swedish ‘Emmy’ nominations, and a record-breaking Swedish debut, the hilariously fresh take on the comedy-drama genre stars award-winning actress Tuva Novotny (#1 Netflix movie The Abyss, Annihilation). Trailer. (The New York Times ‘Best International Shows’ of 2024 selection)

Check Out Viaplay’s Best of 2024 selections, including the binge titles above as well as ‘Best Thriller’ The Fortress, ‘Best Nordic Noir’ End of Summer, ‘Best Fantasy’ Ronja the Robber’s Daughter, ‘Best Feature Film’ Listen Up!, and ‘Best Sports Doc’ Max Verstappen: Anatomy of a Champion’

About Viaplay:

The Viaplay streaming service features thousands of hours of premium Nordic and European series and films from Scandinavia's largest and most recognized television/streaming platform. 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. On par with the best on television, Viaplay series feature first-rate production values, incredible scenery, award-worthy acting, and edge-of-your-seat storylines. Viaplay is available as an add-on subscription on Prime Video Channels, The Roku Channel, Comcast Xfinity, and more for only $5.99 a month. All titles are available in their original language with English subtitles. Link: http://amazon.com/video/viaplayus

Press Contacts:

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

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