Netflix to adapt Quicksand with The Bridge writer

Netflix will be venturing into Scandi-noir television by creating its first Swedish original series, Quicksand, to be written by Camilla Ahlgren, best known for her work on The Bridge.

According to a report by Variety, Quicksand (Störst av Allt in Swedish) will be based on the bestselling novel of the same name written by Malin Persson Giolito. The book has been published in 26 countries and also won the award for 2016 Nordic Crime Novel of the year. The story revolves around Maja Norbberg, a high school student put on trial for murder after a mass shooting at a prep school in Stockholm’s wealthiest suburb. As more details about the tragic event are uncovered, more is revealed about Maja’s complicated relationship with a boy named Sebastian Fagerman and his dysfunctional family.

Giolito said:

“We have taken our time to build a team that we can trust to create a great adaptation. I’ve subscribed to Netflix since the second week it was possible to do so in Sweden, so it’s incredibly exciting that Störst av Allt (Quicksand) is becoming an original Netflix series.”

Erik Barmack, VP of International Original Series of Netflix, expressed his enthusiasm about the project:

“Sweden has a tradition of great crime literature and series, and we’ve been looking for something special in this area. We are excited to bring Malin’s great novel to life and to work with Camilla, one of the best TV writers globally.”

The series is set to begin filming next year and it is being produced by Pontus Edgren at FLX (The Bonus Family, The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared).

Edgren said this about the series:

“Malin Persson Giolito’s novel…is an original, fresh, suspenseful drama that we believe will make a fantastic Netflix series.”

Discussing the project, Ahlgren said:

“It is both a great honor and challenge to work with FLX and Netflix on Störst av Allt (Quicksand). I want to tell this story from a the main character Maja’s perspective; her story raises questions about guilt, responsibility, punishment, and redemption. It holds a mirror up to our time whilst also serving as both a suspenseful thriller and a moving love story.”

Watch this space for more news about Quicksand.