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SkyShowtime, the European streaming joint venture of Comcast and Paramount Global has unveiled a teaser trailer for the six-part original crime drama series Codename: Annika at the open-air cinema of the Stockholm International Film Festival, Sommarbio.
The Finnish-Swedish production, which originally had the working title ID cardwas part of a deal the streamer struck with Warner Bros. early this year. Discovery for exclusive rights across Europe on 21 HBO Max European originals. Codename: Annika launches in September on SkyShowtime.
Created by Mia Ylönen and Aleksi Bardy from production company Helsinki-Filmi (Tove, Ladies of steel, Tom from Finland, Lionheart, Lapland Odyssey) and directed by Finnish director AJ Annila (Peacekeeper), the show promises to take audiences behind the scenes of the world of high-class art fraud, while also exploring “the realities of navigating a dual identity.”
The series stars Sannah Nedergård (Yellow Sulfur Sky) as Finnish art fraud investigator Emma/Annika. Other cast members include Ardalan Esmaili (Easy money) as Rasmus Ståhlgren, Eva Melander (Border) as Rina Olander and Helena Bergström (house of angels) as Agatha Torstensson, along with Pekka Strang (Tom from Finland) as Raimo Korpi, Clarisse Lhoni-Botte (Rolling to you) as Béatrice Joly and Charles Martins (Emily in Paris) as Denver Carpentier.
“As a streaming service made just for Europe, we’re excited to introduce Codename: Annika to SkyShowtime subscribers,” said Monty Sarhan, CEO of SkyShowtime. “This will be our first Swedish-Finnish original series and is a fantastic spin on the Nordic Noir genre, available exclusively on SkyShowtime in September. Starring the very talented Sannah Nedergård as our protagonist Emma, this is her first major role in a TV series, and we know viewers will be hooked.”
Nedergård said: “Recording this show was the most intensive work I’ve ever done, but I’ve never had so much fun. Playing Emma and Annika would never have been possible without the expertise and warm-heartedness of every person on our team, I think this is a show made with passion.
Ylönen added: “We interviewed an ex-undercover cop and fraud experts to root the story in the real world of exposed identities and art fraud, and we added a main character who is completely unaware of her dark side. Emma dives headlong into undercover work and is instantly hooked – not realizing that her cover identity will eventually reveal her deepest, darkest secrets.
The plot description for Codename: Annika reads as follows: “Finnish detective Emma Haka is still completing her undercover training when she is sent on a mission to the corrupt world of art dealing in Stockholm. The calm and composed Emma takes on the wild and fiery alias of Annika Stormare in order to get closer to gallery owner Rasmus Ståhlgren, the suspect in a case being mounted against the previously untouchable money launderer Blanko. As the investigation takes Emma deeper into the underworld, the lines begin to blur between her and Annika – who once lived and left a tangled web of mysteries in her wake. To stay on Blanko’s trail, Emma must make choices that could change her and her loved ones’ lives forever – while trying not to lose herself.”
SkyShowtime is available in 22 markets through the SkyShowtime app on Apple iOS, tvOS, Android devices, Android TV, Google Chromecast, LG TV, Samsung and through the streamer’s website. The service costs €6.99 ($7.63) per month.
Look the Codename: Annika teaser below.