NRK prepares for big-budget Atlantic Crossing with Beta & Cinenord

Norwegian producer Cinenord and Germany’s Beta Films will partner to produce World War II drama Atlantic Crossing for Norwegian broadcaster NRK.

The eight-hour drama is set in the US, UK and Norway. Production will start this summer in Europe and various other territories.

The series is set to be one of the biggest Scandinavian productions to date, and will receive US$3.5 million in subsidies through the Norwegian Film Institute’s incentive programme. It is one of the biggest instances of Norwegian funding granted, topping Universal’s movie The Snowman, which starred Michael Fassbender.

Atlantic Crossing centers on Norwegian Crown Princess Martha, who fled from the Nazi occupation to become an influential figure in world politics. During this time the Crown Princess lived in the White House while trying to persuade President Roosevelt to enter the war.

Silije Eik will executive produce and Alexander Eik will be showrunner and director.

Eik said: “The Crown Princess’ flight from Norway brought her to the epicentre of world power, the White House, while the rest of the world was on fire.

“Here she realizes, for the first time, that she has real political influence, and becomes an informal, but central figure in Washington’s political scene. Her close relationship to President Franklin D. Roosevelt will take centre stage in the series.

“Until now, the history of war has always been the history of men: the heroics, the sabotage, the battles. It is high time to show a different perspective, which is why we’ll see these world events through women’s eyes.”