Camilla Läckberg, the Swedish Queen of Crime whose novels have sold more than 40 million copies across 60 countries, has shared exclusively with Variety a few ingredients of her anticipated SVT series “Shadow of Guilt,” based on her popular “Fjällbacka Murders” characters and universe.
Produced by Jenny Grewdahl for Läckberg’s co-owned Creative Society, most recently behind Netflix’s hit “The Glass Dome,” is scheduled to start filming Aug. 18 in the picturesque fishing village of Fjällbacka, western Sweden.
“It’s a new story, but still a very classical Fjällbacka mystery,” Läckberg explained, while revealing that for the first time, her literary double and main character, author Erica Falck, will appear in the backstory as a teenager. Also, the tone and feel will be ‘amber sky,’ a term coined by Läckberg and Creative Society, to portray “a familiar yet uncanny world.”
The storyline, co-penned by Jessika Jankert (“Hammarvik,” “The Beach Hotel”) and Jimmy Nivrén Olsson (“The Hunters”), turns on Erica’s search for the truth, when the remains of her childhood-best friend who disappeared more than 20 years earlier, are finally discovered.
Her husband Patrik reopens the cold case, but Erica – unhappy with the inquiry original conducted by Patrik’s mentor Gösta, starts her own investigation. “This is not just a murder mystery: it is a story about guilt, memory, and the lifelong consequences of silence,” reads the logline.
Unpacking her vision for “Shadow of Guilt,” director Liza Farzaneh (“Glass Dome,” “Young Royals”) said “I would like for our show to keep the audience mildly confused, but always curious, in the way ‘Big Little Lies’ or ‘Sharp Objects’ does. Leaning into the love of every human being, and the collective mind of a small town, that is always present in, for example, the British series ‘Broadchurch.’ We will strive visually for a slightly curated normality, a Nordic ‘just before sunset’ instead of noir.”
The six-part series, backed by Film i Väst, Nordisk Film & TV Fond and Creative Europe, has just been picked up for global distribution by Reinvent Yellow, outside the European territories that are part of the New8 pubcasters alliance: Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.
“We are so extremely proud to be on board, to represent Camilla Läckberg, and to work with Creative Society,” said Reinvent Yellow’s Helene Aurø, in charge of sales, marketing and acquisitions. “We have a big focus on crime from the Nordics, and this is one of the best coming up, with quality, stamped all over. We can’t wait for filming to start.”
Läckberg unpacked for us her vision for the show and TV projects lined-up.
Could you tell us more about Creative Society Production Stockholm? I believe this is the second film and TV production banner in which you’re involved, next to Bad Flamingo Studios, run by Alexander Karim and Baker Karim…
Camilla Läckberg: Yes, setting up the company next to Bad Flamingo was part of an organic process. I had worked earlier with Kristofffer Graci, Creative Society CEO, when he was at Nordisk Film TV where we made the soap “Hammarvik” (“Lyckoviken”). When he left Nordisk Film TV and wanted to start Creative Society, he asked me if I wanted to come in as a co-founder and co-owner of the company. I checked with Alex and Baker and they were like oh-go ahead! We do different projects and the two companies don’t really compete, so that’s worked out really well.
Now it’s been a few years – since 2021 – that I’ve worked with Creative Society. We’ve done several projects such as the soap “The Beach Hotel” for Viaplay, most recently Netflix’s “The Glass Dome,” and now this project. It’s so exciting.
There’s been various adaptations of your “Fjällbacka” books in Sweden. Who came up with the idea of “Shadow of Guilt”?
Läckberg: Well this show is not based on any specific book, but on the Fjällbacka universe. Kristoffer [Graci] had nurtured the idea of making a new series for a couple of years and I trust him a lot. We talked a lot about our vision, our creative goal. One series that we referenced for the quality level was “The Mare of Easttown.” We’ll see if we succeed, but we’ve put a lot of work into the script, together with SVT, raising a level of excellence that we feel comfortable with.
Why didn’t you contribute to the script with Jimmy Nivrén and Jessika Jakert?
Läckberg: It’s a lot about time management, as I’m still writing my books and work on several TV and film projects at the same time. among other things That said, I sat in the writers’ room, read the drafts and gave notes. With every project, I learn a lot by working with the brilliant scriptwriters. But one day I will have a go at a script!
What stage are you in with this project?
Läckberg: We have the final drafts of the script. The production team is spending a lot of time on location scouting in Fjällbacka and we’re in the middle of casting which is very exciting. We have to nail down the two main actors for Erica and Patrik and make sure there is chemistry between them. Lisa [Farzaneh] calls me a lot to ask for my opinion, which I love.
Without revealing too much, what can you say about the story? Can you unlock new twists that your fans can look forward to?
Läckberg: Well my goalis for the readers to recognise Erica and Patrik and to be very very true to the universe in the books. Even if it’s a new story, it’s still a very classical Fjällbacka mystery, with a backstory going back in time. What is really beautiful is that this is the first time that we’ll be able to see Erica as a teenager – aged 15 – to meet her parents and her sister Anna as a child. So that will be a little ‘nugget’ for the readers.
The producers mentioned that the tone and feel would be ‘amber sky’. Could you comment
Läckberg: Yes that’s the term we coined when we were trying to pitch it to SVT. I would say the books have the same tone; you absolutely have the darkness, horrible murders, true grief from the parents. You should feel all that. But there is also a bit of comic relief. One of my favourite characters from my books who will also be in the series is Kristina, Erica’s mother-in-law who has a good heart but meddles too much. She’s quite funny. So, yes, we’ll have a combination of dark and light.
It seems to be what viewers want, lighter shades of noir, cosy crime, considering the stressful times…
Läckberg: Yes it’s a sign of times. I mean- the world is a shit fest at this point. I hardly want to open up the news in the morning because I’m like, what has Trump done now? What country has been bombed? How many kids have died in Gaza? What the hell is going on? Not to mention the environment. So I do think there’s a need for relaxation and getting a little break from everything horrible going on. It’s natural trend.
“Shadow of Guilt” has secured distribution in eight territories via the New8 public broadcasters alliance and now Reinvent Yellow will boost its international potential. You must be pleased
Läckberg: This is amazing. It might not be a very Swedish thing to say, and I’ll be a little bit American here. But I’m actually very proud that I’ve built a brand over the years that attracts this level of support and attention.
The French-language series “Erica” based on your Fjällbacka books “The Ice Princess,” “The Preacher” and ”The Stonecutter,” has been a huge hit on TF1 and was launched by MHz Choice in the U.S. in January. Are there other versions in the making?
Läckberg: Yes, we are working on several international adaptations but I can’t say more.
Erik Barmack of Wild Sheep Content, behind “Erica,” is attached to the U.S. adaptation of your book “The Golden Cage” in the “Faye’s Revenge” series, with Legendary Entertainment. What’s the latest?
Läckberg: I’m always nagging them for updates. The latest I heard is that they are working on a script to be submitted to streamers and broadcasters. It would be great if it became a series so I’m crossing my fingers at this point.
The U.S. and Hollywood have always been my Holy grail and I would love to have a success project there. When we released the book “The Golden Cage” in the U.S. [in 2020], I had rented a house in Hollywood Hills and wanted to spent four months with my family there because in the U.S., you have to be there to do the PR, tour the cities, go to the radio stations etc. But then the pandemic hit. We couldn’t go. So, yes. This is a second chance!
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