HBO Acquires North American Television And Streaming Rights To Limited Drama Series THE INVESTIGATION, From Fremantle’s Miso Film, Debuting February 1
Limited Series ls Written, Directed And Executive Produced By Oscar-Nominated Tobias Lindholm And Produced By Fremantle’s Scandinavian Production Company, Miso Film, Helmed By Jonas Allen And Peter Bose
HBO has acquired the North American television and streaming rights to the six-part Scandinavian limited drama series THE INVESTIGATION from Oscar-nominated writer and director of “A War” and acclaimed director of “Mindhunter,” Tobias Lindholm. Exploring the complex real-life investigation surrounding the 2017 murder of Swedish journalist Kim Wall, making international headlines around the world as one of the most notorious criminal cases in Danish media history, the limited series debuts MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1 at 10:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max.
Søren Malling (“A Hijacking”) leads the cast as Jens Møller, the Head of Homicide for the Copenhagen Police, alongside Pilou Asbæk (HBO’s “Game of Thrones”) as the prosecutor Jakob Buch-Jepsen. Pernilla August (“Star Wars”) and Rolf Lassgård (“The Hunters”) star as Kim Wall’s parents, Ingrid and Joachim Wall. Further cast includes Laura Christensen (“Crying for Love”), Anders Juul (“A Horrible Woman”), Henrik Birch (“Norskov”), Hans Henrik Clemensen (“Love and Rage”), Dulfi Al-Jabouri (“Darkland”) and Charlotte Munck (“A War”).
Based on the internationally followed “submarine case,” THE INVESTIGATION closely follows Jens Møller (Søren Malling), the Head of Homicide, and his team in the pursuit of the truth. With the hope of being able to provide the prosecutor (Pilou Asbæk) solid evidence in order to create a convincing case and give the relatives the certainty they deserve, the team enlists the use of methodical, unusual and technical work tactics. The series was made in close cooperation with the real-life Jens Møller and Kim Wall’s parents, Ingrid and Joachim Wall.
“It is with great humility that I created THE INVESTIGATION,” says writer and director Tobias Lindholm. “There is a great deal of responsibility in choosing to tell stories about events from the real world. Therefore, I am more than grateful for all the support I’ve received, including some of Denmark's and Sweden's most talented and acclaimed actors.”
Episodes include:
Chapter 1: “Day 1”
Debut date: Monday, February 1 (10:00pm ET/PT)
When Head of Homicide for Copenhagen Police Jens Møller (Søren Malling) arrives for the morning briefing, an investigator reports on a strange case. A homemade submarine carrying Swedish journalist Kim Wall and the submarine’s inventor have gone missing. When the submarine is located later in the day, only the inventor is rescued before it suddenly sinks. Now Jens and his team of investigators must quickly decide how to approach the case, as Kim is still missing, and the submarine is at the bottom of the sea.
Written and directed by Tobias Lindholm.
Chapter 2: “What We Know and What We Assume”
Debut date: Monday, February 8 (10:00pm ET/PT)
Jens (Søren Malling) is under constant pressure from reporters who are chasing news of the case. Meanwhile, rumors and theories abound. Were Kim and the accused previously acquainted? Did they stage it all as part of a “happening”? Kim’s parents (Pernilla August and Rolf Lassgård) are cooperating with the police to help find out what happened to their daughter, and the forensics team is working hard to find important clues in the capsized submarine – without any luck. Then, the case takes a sudden, dramatic turn.
Written and directed by Tobias Lindholm.
Chapter 3: “The Hunt”
Debut date: Monday, February 15 (10:00pm ET/PT)
While the forensic team works, Jens (Søren Malling) and his team of investigators wait for answers. Have they found conclusive evidence that Kim is dead, and if so, has a crime been committed? Later, Jens goes to Sweden to confirm Kim’s death for her grieving parents (Pernilla August and Rolf Lassgård), while Navy divers search the Sound’s seabed for more clues. Jens then has a radical idea that might help the investigation.
Written and directed by Tobias Lindholm.
Chapter 4: “1280 Metres”
Debut date: Monday, February 21 (10:00pm ET/PT)
Jens (Søren Malling) gets assistance with the search from Swedish cadaver dogs that can locate bodies more than 20 meters below sea level. Although the dogs mark the areas quite accurately, the divers don’t find anything, and there’s a question as to whether the dogs can be used at all. Then, Jens hears from an oceanographer who offers new insight.
Written and directed by Tobias Lindholm.
Chapter 5: “A Whole Person”
Debut date: Monday, March 1 (10:00pm ET/PT)
The case is slowly coming together, but Jens (Søren Malling) and his team still lack conclusive evidence. Chief Prosecutor Jakob Buch-Jepsen (Pilou Asbæk) emphasizes that they must determine the motive and cause of death in order to bring charges against the accused – and if they’re unable to dispel any reasonable doubt, there’s no case. Jens calls a surprise press conference in hopes of encouraging the accused or his acquaintances to talk, while a more thorough search of the suspect’s computer reveals some gruesome secrets.
Written and directed by Tobias Lindholm.
Chapter 6: “In Dubio Pro Reo”
Debut date: Monday, March 8 (10:00pm ET/PT)
Jakob (Pilou Asbæk) makes it clear to Jens (Søren Malling) that they need more firm evidence to bring charges against the accused – otherwise, they risk letting him walk free. Meanwhile, Maibritt (Laura Christensen) refuses to drop the case, and after nearly six months of hard work, she finds a potential key to dispelling any reasonable doubt. While Jens appears to have solved an impossible case, he realizes that his time as Head of Homicide is coming to an end.
Written and directed by Tobias Lindholm.
THE INVESTIGATION is written, directed and executive produced by Oscar-nominated Tobias Lindholm and produced by Jonas Allen, Caroline Blanco, Peter Bose and René Ezra. The series is distributed by Fremantle and produced by Fremantle’s Scandinavian drama label, Miso Film in cooperation with Outline Film, TV 2 Denmark, SVT and Nordic Entertainment Group with support from The Danish Film Institute’s Public Service Fund, Copenhagen Film Fund and Creative Europe - Media Programme.
THE INVESTIGATION will be featured on HBO Max and can be found on its new International Genre page alongside a curated selection of programming from around the world. It is the latest international program made available to HBO’s U.S. subscribers and joins HBO Europe’s “30 Coins,” “Beartown,” and “Patria”; Max Originals “Valley of Tears” and “Gomorrah”; and classics from the HBO Max library including “City of God,” “Cinema Paradiso,” and “Life is Beautiful.” HBO Europe’s “Beartown,” a five-episode drama series from Sweden, will debut on HBO and HBO Max later this winter.
PUBLICITY CONTACTS:
HBO: Alyssa.Michnevitz@hbo.com and Angela.Tarantino@hbo.com
Fremantle: Kate.Brackenborough@fremantle.com and jamesrickard@tpf-london.com