Norwegian creative powerhouse, Rubicon TV, part of Banijay Nordic, has landed the exclusive rights to Lars Mytting’s trilogy, commencing with The Bell in the Lake, a sweeping love story and supernatural thriller, set in a remote 19th-century mountain community. Development is now underway to adapt the title for screen.
The best-selling trilogy spans 65 years across Norway, Germany, and the UK, and has sold widely across North America and Europea. Mytting’s novels blend magical realism, historical detail, and emotional depth, with a tug-of-love triangle between a priest, an architect, and a striking contemporary woman. All three are torn apart by a terrifying supernatural force, which threatens to redeem, or destroy, not only their lives, but the fate of then whole community.
Ivar Køhn, CEO of Rubicon says: “Lars Mytting has created an extraordinary world, embraced by readers across the globe, and we see huge potential in bringing this to screen. With unforgettable characters, an epic love story, multiple international settings, and powerful supernatural intrigue, this is incredibly rich material for a gripping TV drama.”
Lars Mytting adds: “Partnering with Rubicon gives me great confidence. Ivar and the team are not just focused on the plot and characters, but the story’s deep origins of folklore, nature and all the quirky elements which give it atmosphere. The aim isn’t to directly replicate the books, but to create a distinct adaption with its own filmic qualities.”
Lars Mytting first achieved global reach with his cult hit, ‘Norwegian Wood’, a non-fiction modern classic that has won prizes both in and outside Scandinavia, and consistently topped the best-seller lists worldwide. He is also recognised for the novel The Sixteen Trees of the Somme.
Oslo-based Rubicon TV is behind a range of original comedy and drama for the local and international markets. The company is best known for Lilyhammer, the first-ever Netflix Original, and has continued collaboration with the platform through titles like Off Track and Billionaire’s Island. Other standout productions include Beforeigners (HBO), and The Countrymen (NRK). Rubicon is currently in pre-production on Still Breathing, an ambitious new long-form medical drama for NRK, backed by Banijay Entertainment’s Scripted Fund and distributed by DR Sales.