Iceland’s Glassriver and Italy’s True Colours Team on New Nordic Thriller Series ‘Brkn’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Iceland’s prominent production banner Glassriver has partnered with Italian sales company True Colours on a new Nordic psychological thriller series titled “Brkn,” about an investigation into the disappearance of a nonbinary teenager to be adapted from Jón Atli Jónasson’s novel “Brotin.”

Jón Atli Jónasson (pictured above) is a novelist, playwright and screenwriter known for co-writing 2013’s Oscar shortlisted “The Deep” and Finnish-German crime series “Arctic Circle,” among other titles. He is co-creating the high-profile “Brkn” show with theater director Thorleifur Örn Arnarsson and screenwriter, novelist and musician Margrét Örnólfsdóttir (“The Valhalla Murders,” “Trapped, Fanger”).

The Reykjavik-set psychological thriller turns on female and male police officers Dóra and Rado, who are investigating the disappearance of a nonbinary teenager named Morgan. Their search turns into a high-stakes case involving “a complex web of organized crime, corporate power and police corruption,” according to the synopsis. Dóra had recently returned to duty after “a traumatic incident” in which she got shot in the head while attempting to prevent her boyfriend’s suicide, the synopsis adds. Meanwhile, members of Rado’s family emerge as suspects.

Glassriver has sealed a global distribution deal on “Brkn” with True Colours, which will handle the international distribution of the series that is currently in development.

True Colours, which is is co-owned by Italy’s Indigo Film and Lucky Red, is branching out from feature films into the TV content space under the new management of Elliot Gustin-Hollman, formerly with Paris-based distribution powerhouse Newen Connect.

The “Brkn” series is the latest addition to Glassriver’s current slate comprising “Avalanche,” which is a co-production with Finland’s Whatevergroup; the recently optioned “Konráð” book series from popular Icelandic author Arnaldur Indriðason, which is being adapted for the screen; and the comedy drama “Hot Stuff,” which is a coproduction with Romania’s IDEA Film currently in production.

“‘Brkn’ pushes the boundaries of the Nordic crime genre and represents the distinctive and original storytelling that we champion at Glassriver,” said the company’s co-owner Andri Ómarsson in a statement. “We are delighted to be partnering with True Colours, as we continue to share bold and unique stories from Iceland with the world.”

Commented Gustin: “One year after launching our series distribution business, we are delighted to be partnering with Glassriver. This demonstrates our ability as an independent distributor to support bold, high-quality projects. ‘Brkn’ is a series with tremendous potential, and we firmly believe it will have international acclaim and success.”