DRG acquires rights for NRK Breivik drama series
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Editor
| 31 January 2019

UK content distributor and originator DRG has acquired the rights to 22 July, a new 6 x 60’ scripted series that explores how ordinary people responded to the atrocities committed by Anders Breivik on 22 July 2011.

The series, produced by NRK Drama for the broadcaster, tell the story of when on 22 July 2011, a 2,000-pound homemade fertiliser bomb planted in a car exploded in Oslo’s executive government quarter, killing eight and wounding dozens more. As emergency services raced to the scene, a 32-year-old Anders Breivik was making his way to small island hosting youth members of the Norwegian Labour Party. Here, he opened fire and killed 69 young adults.

This series was created by Sara Johnsen (Framing Mom, All That Matters) and Pål Sletaune (Junk Mail, Babycall) and was written by Sara Johnsen, with Pål Sletaune, Kjersti W. Håland (Debut) and Gjyljeta Berisha (Occupied). Pål Sletaune directs, while Elisabeth Tangen (Monster, Eyewitness) produces. The series will receive its premiere in early 2020.

“22 July was one of Norway’s darkest days; it had a massive impact on our country and the events shocked the world,” commented Ivar Køhn, head of drama at NRK and executive producer of the series. “But during this terrible time, we witnessed acts both large and small that help define us as individuals and as a nation. This is a story about those acts and about the systems that surround us and shape our daily lives. Systems we both act because of, or in spite of. It’s not a story about a terrorist and his inhumane acts. It’s a story about the rest of us.”

DRG EVP of content Dave Clarke worked with NRK to secure the rights. He added: “While 22 July is a uniquely Norwegian story, its worldwide impact and universal themes – all sympathetically realised and beautifully filmed by a talented team – will undoubtedly resonate on the international stage. Ivar and his team have an excellent reputation for producing top quality, internationally-appealing drama, with titles such as Eyewitness travelling the globe, both as a finished series and format.