Elisa Viihde Orders AJ Annila Sphere of Shadows

Finnish streaming service Elisa Viihde has ordered Sphere of Shadows (Nyrkki), a ten-part international political thriller series to be directed by AJ Annila who dominated the 2018 Jussi Awards with six wins for The Eternal Road, including Best Film and Best Director.

Inspired by true historical events, Sphere of Shadows is set in Helsinki during the 1950s when global powers and their intelligence agencies gathered in the small neutral country that stood between the East and the West.

Written by Kristi Manninen (Kansan mies) and Katri Manninen (FC Venus), the series follows a secret intelligence team whose mission is to defend the independence of Finland no matter the cost. And with the upcoming presidential election in Finland, the stakes are higher than ever.

AJ Annila said: “I was immediately sold having read the first scripts from the Manninens. Their spy thriller, which is based on true historical events, was a puzzle that was boldly exciting, entertaining and cruelly beautiful. The concept felt right for me, and I haven’t seen anything like it as a viewer either”

Sphere of Shadows has a budget of €4 million and was granted €150,000 in production support by the Nordisk Film & TV Fond. It premieres on Elisa Viihde towards the end of 2019, and About Premium Content (APC) will handle international distribution.