EXCLUSIVE: Kari Skogland will direct Vigilant, a vigilante crime thriller based on a Skúli Sigurðsson novel and adapted for TV by Severance star Ólafur Darri Ólafsson.
The project is a big-ticket European co-production and has been greenlit by Icelandic production company ACT4 alongside German broadcaster ZDF and its distribution division ZDF Studios. Iceland’s Siminn is also on board. ZDF Studios will sell the English-language show internationally. Zero Gravity is handling U.S. sales.
Vigilant follows a female journalist who is approached by a self-styled vigilante who is waging a violent campaign against sexual predators. The reporter initially sees him as a voice for the voiceless, but soon begins to suspect a darker truth. As her reporting fuels a nationwide debate, the series explores whether violence can ever be justified when the justice system fails.
Ólafur is a partner in ACT4 and starred in Severance. He has adapted Sigurðsson’s novel ‘Stóri bróðir’ (‘Big Brother’ in English) for TV. Víkingur Kristjánsson, Anita Briem, Teitur Magnússon and Anna Gunndís Guðmundsdóttir are co-writers, meaning a powerhouse Icelandic creative team.
“Skúli’s novel had a profound impact on me when I first read it,” Ólafur said. “Beneath the thriller, I found a story asking difficult questions about justice, anger and what happens when people lose faith in the systems meant to protect them.
“I’m incredibly proud of the scripts we’ve created, and I can’t wait to see Kari bring this world and these characters to life with her extraordinary vision, alongside the incredible cast and creative team we’ve assembled.”
Skogland’s many directing credits include The Handmaid’s Tale, The Walking Dead and Vikings. She will also executive produce the six-part series.
“Vigilant captivated me from the first page,” she said. “The characters walk their own lines of morality that continually makes the audience question their own moral position. Everyone’s damage is exposed at some point, their fragility and strength are tested in this fantastic landscape for thought-provoking performance opportunities, all while wrapped in a nail-biting thriller.”
“Vigilant is exactly the kind of premium international drama that resonates across borders: a compelling thriller rooted in a highly relevant societal dilemma,” said Rodrigo Herrera Ibarguengoytia, Director Drama, ZDF Studios. “The series combines Iceland’s distinctive storytelling tradition with universal themes that will connect with audiences worldwide.”
Production kicks off on October 29 in Iceland, where the drama is set. ZDF will have the show for Germany and Iceland’s Siminn, which has an IPTV and streaming service, has local rights.
Katharina Kremling, Commissioning Editor at ZDF, said: “As an international co-production partner, we are proud to collaborate with ACT4, ZDF Studios and Síminn in bringing this ambitious and distinctive project to the screen and to our German audience.”