Mikkel Serup starts filming the sequel to Kongekabale - the political thriller Kingmaker, starring Anders W. Berthelsen
Finally the sequel to the massively popular and award-winning Danish film Kongekabale from 2004 is coming. Today, director Mikkel Serup begins filming the political thriller Kingmaker (Danish original title: Mørkeland), based on Niels Krause-Kjær's crime series about journalist Ulrik Torp. The film stars Anders W. Berthelsen in the lead role as Ulrik Torp together with Nicolas Bro and Charlotte Munck returning in their roles. The script is written by Marie Østerbye. Kingmaker is produced by Meta Film and producers Sara Namer and Morten Kjems Hytten Juhl, as well as executive producer Meta Louise Foldager. SF Studios distributes the film in the Nordics and REinvent handles international sales.
Kingmaker is a film adaptation of Niels Krause-Kjær's second novel "Mørkeland" about journalist Ulrik Torp and the sequel to the blockbuster "Kongekabale", which was filmed in 2004 and seen by over 550,000 people in Danish theaters. But Kingmaker is only a sequel for those who want to see it that way. As a story, it stands alone as a topical and thrilling political thriller about the state of democracy.
"Much has changed since Kongekabale was released in 2004. The media, the political scene, and of course the audience have all evolved dramatically, and we must all navigate clickbait and the echo chambers of social media. Mørkeland is a new story about Ulrik Torp, set an entire generation after we left him as a young investigative journalist with his life and career ahead of him. Twenty years have passed since then, Torp is now middle-aged, and his career has been replaced by unemployment and a midlife crisis. From that perspective, he finds himself in the middle of a new political conspiracy, which raises the question of whether we can accept manipulation of democracy when the manipulation is intended to save it", says director Mikkel Serup.
Mikkel Serup has previously directed TV series such as Livvagterne (2009-2010), Pros and Cons (2018-2020) and The Chestnut Man (2021), which won a Robert for Best TV Series, as well as the box office hit The Reunion 2: The Funeral (2014) and Pound for Pound (2017), which earned Søren Malling a Bodil for Best Supporting Actor and two additional Bodil nominations for Mikkel Boe Følsgaard and Lene Maria Christensen.
In addition to Anders W. Berthelsen, Nicolas Bro, and Charlotte Munck, the cast also features many new young talents such as Patrick A. Hansen, Sofie Nolsøe, Mathilde Arcel Fock, Simon Kongsted, Mathilde Eusebius, Ellaha Lack, Mohamed Djeziri (The Day We Died, Darkland: The Return), and Sara Fanta (Empire, The Nurse). The cast also includes Lene Maria Christensen in the role as politician Anne-Grethe Hulsig, Tommy Kenter in the role as businessman Otto Brathenberg and Ina-Miriam Rosenbaum in the role as the editor's Best Bente.
”It’s such a joy to be able to bring back the universe of Danish political thriller to the Danish audience together with Meta film and their super talented creatives”, says Yaba Holst, Head of Nordic Acquisition at SF Studios.
About Kingmaker
After a round of layoffs and a long period on social welfare, Ulrik Torp ends up in an internship at his former workplace, Dagbladet, where his old colleague and now editor-in-chief, Henrik Moll, asks him to cover a murder of a young clerk at the Ministry of the Interior. Together with young interns, Emma and Simon, Torp follows a trail of a small circle of former politicians and top officials who are willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that power stays in the right hands. Once again, we are drawn into a political conspiracy with Torp, this time with the very foundation of our society at stake.
Kingmaker is produced by Meta Film in co-production with Meta Film Stockholm & Film i Väst in collaboration with SF, TV2, SVT & Yle and with the support from the Danish Film Institute and the Swedish Film Institute. The film is distributed by SF Studios in the Nordics and REinvent handles international sales.
For more information, please contact:
Yaba Holst, Head of Nordic Acquisition, SF Studios, yaba.holst@sfstudios.se, +46 73 411 95 35
Malin Strihagen, Vice President Brand & Communications, SF Studios, malin.strihagen@sfstudios.se, +46 70 780 39 35
Helene Aurø, Sales & Marketing Director, Reinvent International Sales, helene.auro@reinvent.dk, +45 23 42 00 07
About SF Studios
SF Studios, established in 1919, is one of the world’s oldest film companies. Today SF Studios is the leading film studio in the Nordic region with its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden and offices in Oslo, Copenhagen, Helsinki and London. The company is producing and distributing feature films and TV series as well as providing the streaming service SF Anytime. SF Studios is part of the leading Nordic media company Bonnier.
About REinvent
REinvent is a packaging, sales and financing studio all in one. REinvent has extensive knowledge of original trends and sales opportunities in both the Scandinavian and international markets and works with high profile European production companies.
Latest news
Kristofer Hivju and Frida Hallgren to star in Martina Haag and SF Studios’ new film True Love
Following the major success of her directorial debut, Martina Haag is back – with a romantic comedy about love, betrayal, money, and finding the courage to trust someone again.
SF Studios to distribute Elling – Echo of a Friend, starring Per Christian Ellefsen and Sven Nordin in a new film by Daniel Fahre
Production has begun on Elling – Echo of a Friend, the fourth feature film based on Ingvar Ambjørnsen's novels. Per Christian Ellefsen and Sven Nordin return as Elling and Kjell Bjarne, directed by Daniel Fahre from a screenplay by Melike Leblebicioğlu Kaveh. The film is produced by Fenomen and 4 ½, distributed by SF Studios, with a planned premiere in cinemas in fall 2027.
SF Studios brings Life on Seacrow Island to the big screen as a feature film
Following the success of the 2025 television series Life on Seacrow Island (Vi på Saltkråkan), SF Studios is bringing Astrid Lindgren's beloved archipelago world to cinemas. The feature film is now in production, directed by Fredrik Edfeldt, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Karin Arrhenius. It is produced by SF Studios in collaboration with Astrid Lindgren AB, Sveriges Television, Film Stockholm and Film i Väst, with support from the Swedish Film Institute and the Nordic Film & TV Fond.
SF Studios and Paradox's Beloved Selected as Opening Film of the Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund
SF Studios' Norwegian production company Paradox announces that Beloved, written by Nobel Prize laureate Jon Fosse and directed by Erik Poppe, will premiere on 23 August 2026 as the opening film of the 54th Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund.
Ville Gideon Sörman wins this year's Ingmar Bergman Script Award
At the closing ceremony of Bergman Week, Ville Gideon Sörman was announced as the recipient of the Ingmar Bergman Script Award for his feature film screenplay Lange Lyse Nætter (Long Lasting Nights). The award is a collaboration between SF Studios and Bergman Center, established to encourage promising filmmakers and screenwriters to develop feature-length scripts that unite artistic ambition with broad audience appeal.
Pretty Young Thing, Pretty Young Love and Pretty Young Summer: SF Studios begins production on the final film in the Pretty Young trilogy
Three films. Three years of high school. One last summer. SF Studios has started principal photography on Pretty Young Summer (Smukkest), the final film in the popular Danish Pretty Young trilogy. Produced by Marcella Dichmann, the film will premiere in cinemas in autumn 2027. SF Studios handles Nordic distribution, with LevelK managing international sales.
Production underway on Rocky The Troll with lead cast revealed for new Norwegian family film
A new Norwegian family adventure is taking place in the dramatic landscape between Dovre and Trollheimen. From Motion Blur, part of SF Studios, and the team behind Troll and Troll 2, Rocky The Troll brings a fresh take on Nordic troll mythology. Filming is currently underway in the capitol of trolls, Oppdal, Norway.
SF Studios unveils first teaser for the Norwegian comedy The Pension Heist
The first teaser for SF Studios’ upcoming distribution title The Pension Heist has been released, giving audiences a first look at the Norwegian comedy starring Hege Schøyen, Anne Marie Ottersen and Anette Hoff. The film will premiere in cinemas across Norway on October 16.
SF Studios begins production on The Closed Book starring Alba August and Gustav Lindh in a new film by Charlotte Sieling
The feature film adaptation of The Closed Book is now in production. Director Charlotte Sieling has begun principal photography, based on the bestselling novel by Jette A. Kaarsbøl, with Alba August (Becoming Astrid, Bullshit) and Gustav Lindh (The Northman, A Prayer For the Dying) starring as Frederikke and Frederik. The Closed Book is produced by SF Studios, with Lars Bredo Rahbek and Mette Marie Munch-Petersen as producers, with planned premiere in cinemas in summer 2027.
No Rest for the Wicked selected for Fantasia International Film Festival
SF Studios’ feature film No Rest for the Wicked has been selected for the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, where it will have its world premiere this summer. The film will compete for the coveted Cheval Noir top prize in the festival’s main selection.
The official teaser for the feature film Beloved is now released
The official teaser for the film Beloved has now been released, offering a first look at the upcoming Norwegian feature film written by Nobel Prize laureate Jon Fosse and directed by Erik Poppe.
SF Studios secures film adaptation rights to Sara Blædel’s popular children’s crime series
SF Studios has acquired the film adaptation rights to Sara Blædel’s popular children’s crime series De Berygtede (The Notorious), including the first book The Notorious: The Mystery of the Blue Lady. Already a major success among young readers, the series will now be developed into a Danish family film produced by SF Studios, with Sara Blædel closely involved in the creative process.
SF Studios strengthens SF Anytime with Katarina Werner as new EVP & General Manager
SF Studios today announces that Katarina Werner has been appointed EVP & General Manager SF Anytime, effective June. With more than 15 years of experience scaling digital, subscription, and content-driven businesses across media and streaming, she will lead the continued development and growth of SF Anytime.
Greenland is suddenly everyone’s business - now it’s Blockbuster’s too
And yes, Greenland 2: Migration premieres at the same time. Greenland has recently found itself at the centre of global headlines and geopolitical conversations. Now, it’s getting another kind of attention: The streaming service Blockbuster is officially launching on the island.
Eagles of the Republic by Tarik Saleh Wins Six Guldbagge Awards
Tarik Saleh’s political thriller Eagles of the Republic enjoyed a major triumph at the Guldbagge Awards, Sweden’s national film awards, held this evening at Cirkus in Stockholm. The film won six Guldbagge Awards, including Best Film, Best Screenplay, and Best Male Actor in a Leading Role for Fares Fares.
