Based on Ragnar Jónasson's bestselling thriller series, The Darkness follows Inspector Hulda Hermannsdóttir as she investigates a shocking murder case and comes to terms with her own personal traumas. She faces early retirement and is forced to take on a new partner. She is determined to find the killer, even if it means putting her own life in danger.
First filming for CBS Studios and Stampede Ventures' six-part English-language drama co-production for Icelandic telecom and streaming company Síminn is underway in the country's capital Reykjavík, and the cast is now complete.
Jack Bannon (Pennyworth: The Origin of Batman's Butler), Douglas Henshall (Shetland), Tora Hallström, Þorsteinn Bachmann (Katla), Björn Hlynur Haraldsson (Ófærd/Trapped), Ahd Tamimi (clockwise in photos above), Þorvaldur Davíð Kristjánsson (Ráðherrann/Minister), and Árni Þór Lárusson have been added to the cast, which is led by Lena Olin (Hunters (2020)).
Suzanne Crowley and Gilly Poole are the casting directors for the UK, Tinna Aðalbjörndottir and Andrea Brabin in Reykavík are responsible for the casting for Iceland.
The series is the first to emerge from the international first-look deal between CBS Studios and Stampede Ventures. Both aspects of the collaboration were first reported in September 2020. In the first-look agreement, they will work together to acquire, acquire and develop premium scripted content for the international market that is creatively anchored outside the US.
CBS Studios is co-producing with Iceland's Truenorth, which was behind Netflix's first Icelandic co-production, Brot/The Valhalla Murders, and the Danish feature Margrete the First. Paramount Global Content Distribution distributes outside Iceland.
Sam Shore (Mystic) was announced as writer last October, with Hallström's father, Oscar nominee Lasse Hallström, as director. Greg Silverman and John-Paul Sarni are the executive producers for Stampede Ventures, alongside writer Jónasson. Kristinn Thordarson and Leifur B. Dagfinnsson are the executive producers for Truenorth.
For CBS Studios, the series is the latest in its international drama campaign. Other titles on the schedule include Colin from Accounts, the Australian comedy series in production for season two, Munich Games, NCIS: Sydney, King & Conqueror and The Gold Diggers, which is produced with Stampede and Kojo Studios joint venture The Alliance for the ABC in Australia.