Viaplay, the leading producer of original content in the Nordic region, has launched in the Canadian market with a direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service that costs $7/mo. for access to thousands of hours of popular Nordic Noir series and movies.
Some of the most popular shows on Viaplay, which sources like Variety refer to as “Netflix’s biggest European competitor,” include both new and established shows returning with new seasons, as well as movies. The content ranges from drama to thrillers, comedies to provocative young adult dramas. The first original Canadian production on Maple Leaf’s hockey legend Börje Salming will also debut later this year with Valter Skarsgård and Jason Priestley.
Shows feature actors Canadians will recognize from North American series, like the Danish crime drama Trom starring Ulrich Thomsen (The Blacklist, Banshee); Swedish young adult drama Threesome, co-starring Lucien Laviscount (Emily in Paris); historical drama The Emigrants starring Gustaf Skarsgard (Vikings, Westworld); A Man Called Ove (recently remade with Tom Hanks); award-winning psychological thriller Partisan, documentary Operation Cannabis; comedy-drama series Love Me; and as well as all three films from the Millennium/The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy.
With the exclusive Canadian premieres of more than 50 premium series and films on Viaplay set for 2023, upcoming premieres include provocative drama Cell 8 set in the U.S. and Sweden; biopic series The Dreamer – Becoming Karen Blixen starring Connie Nielsen (Gladiator, Close To Me); satire The Architect, recently selected for the official competition and a Special Mention award at the Berlinale; interrogation drama Face to Face, Season 3 starring Lars Mikkelsen (The Witcher, House of Cards); action thriller Max Anger – With One Eye Open set in St Peterburg and based on the best-selling crime trilogy by Martin Österdahl; WWII feature film Gold Run starring Sven Nordin (Wisting) and based on a thrilling true story; gritty crime series Fenris; and the streaming premiere of Hilma af Klint biopic Hilma directed by Academy Award-nominee Lasse Hallström (Chocolat, The Cider House Rules) and co-starring Academy Award- and Emmy-nominated actress Lena Olin (Hunters, Alias); as well as the second seasons of Norwegian thriller Furia, award-winning comedy Pernille, and provocative young adult dramas Threesome and Delete Me, which Viaplay compares to Euphoria.
Viaplay’s biopic of the late legendary NHL hall of famer Börje Salming, created and directed by Amir Chamdin (the Canneseries 2020 winner Partisan), is set in Canada in the ‘70s. The series stars Valter Skarsgård (Arn) as Salming, Jason Priestley (Beverly Hills, 90210) as the legendary Maple Leaf’s talent scout Gerry McNamara, and AC Peterson (Tulsa King) as Harold Ballard, the controversial business man and owner of Toronto Maple Leafs. The six-part English-language series will premiere on Viaplay later this year.
“As the global leader in original Nordic content and creator of award-winning international series, we are excited to offer a broad content line-up from thrilling and gripping dramas to fascinating true stories and edgy coming of age series,” says Vanda Rapti, Viaplay Group Chief Commercial Officer, North America & Viaplay Select. “Since Nordic storytelling continues to resonate with Canadian audiences and their affinity for crime dramas set in beautiful landscapes, we’re eager for them to discover their new favourite series in Partisan, Trom, Furia, and the upcoming premiere of Cell 8, and many more.”
Viaplay already has millions of customers across the Nordic and Baltic countries, Poland, the Netherlands, and the UK, and launched its direct-to-consumer offering of premium Nordic content in the U.S. on February 22.
Viaplay is available to stream in Canada on iOS and Android devices, Chromecast, smart TVs, Android TV, Google TV, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV streaming devices, and all the most popular web browsers. You can sign up for Viaplay online and receive a seven-day trial.