USA Adaptation Of Eyewitness Ordered Straight To Series

The USA Network has ordered a 10 part adaptation of Norwegian thriller Øyevitne (Eyewitness) straight to series. Adi Hasak, who wrote the adaptation, will serve as showrunner and executive producer, whilst creator of the original series Jarl Emsell Larsen will also be on board as an executive producer.

Dawn Olmstead, EVP Development at Universal Cable Productions, said: “Norway’s incredible show Eyewitness is a bone-chilling thrill ride that not only exposes the details of a crime but also the secrets of the witnesses who watched. When Adi brought this to UCP, we immediately knew we had to be involved.”

Øyevitne is a six part thriller written and directed by Jarl Emsell Larsen, and is available on DVD in the UK. It tells the story of two 15 year old boys who secretly meet up in the forest only to witness a blood bath. They are seen, but escape and vow to keep what they have seen a secret, out of fear of retribution and fear that their own secret might be revealed.

Norwegian actress Anneke von der Lippe won the International Emmy Award for her role as Sheriff Helen Sikkeland in Øyevitne, making her the first Norwegian actor to win an Emmy.