The Viaplay April 2023 titles have been announced and kick off the spring season with a wide array of content launching on the streaming service. From intense Nordic noir series to award-winning films, Viaplay continues to bring premium Scandinavian programming to North America.
The Viaplay April 2023 lineup includes the North American premieres of the chilling English/Swedish crime series Cell 8, romantic comedy R.S.V.P., the Danish Film Award-winning drama As in Heaven, and Season 2 of DNA, a mystery starring Oscar nominee Charlotte Rampling (Dune, Dexter, 45 Years).
Viaplay is the leading producer of high-quality and psychologically penetrating series and films from the Nordic region — a genre known as Nordic Noir — whether that be atmospheric and suspenseful crime dramas, provocative and stylish young adult series, or dark comedies.
Subscribers have unparalleled access to high-quality Nordic film and television on Viaplay, all subtitled in English.
Viaplay is available to stream in the US via apps on iOS (Apple’s App Store) and Android (Google Play) mobile phones and tablets; Chromecast devices; Smart TVs, Android TV, Google TV, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV streaming devices; as well as on web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Safari).
The service is also available through Comcast’s Xfinity and Xumo platforms and as part of The Roku Channel’s Premium Subscriptions line-up.
VIAPLAY HIGHLIGHTS FOR APRIL
Cell 8 – Exclusive North American Premiere Thursday, April 13, 2023
Based on Roslund & Hellström’s best-selling novel, Cell 8 follows detectives Mariana Hermansson (award-winning actress Mimosa Willamo, Box 21, Deadwind) and Ewert Grens (Leonard Terfelt, Young Royals) as they get into a mysterious and increasingly dark series of events. In Sweden, John Schwarz (Freddie Wise, Poldark), a man presumed dead, is arrested for assault on a ferry to Finland.
The case soon reveals a personal connection not only to Hermansson herself, but to a Death Row prisoner in the U.S. and a grieving parent, Edward Finnigan (Richard Lintern, Silent Witness), consumed by the quest for revenge. Although many years have passed, Finnigan will not be able to find peace until he can avenge the murder of his daughter. Co-starring Will Thorp (All Creatures Great and Small). (6 episodes, binge)
R.S.V.P. – Exclusive North American Premiere Tuesday, April 25, 2023
R.S.V.P. (Tack för senast!) is a romantic comedy told in nine chapters, nine different parties and holidays, starring Lisa Carlehed (The Emigrants) and Christian Hillborg (Young Royals, Fleabag). Akin to Four Weddings and a Funeral, R.S.V.P. is an ensemble movie.
We meet a close group of friends, the chosen family, during approximately three years. They hang out, support each other, get in conflicts and handle relationships. They are all looking for happiness and love. But does the perfect relationship actually exist?
In the center is Klara (Carlehed), a 37-year-old nurse. She’s got humor, self-distance, and an ability to embrace life and acknowledge her sexuality, but she can also be a bit insecure and clumsy in her relationship with others. And even though the friends go way back they have all chosen different paths.
This gives us characters that stand out with different style, background, status, but the base is there, old solid friendships. We meet strong personalities that will bring lots of humor and identification to the audience. (Feature Film)
VIAPLAY APRIL 2023 SCHEDULE
AVAILABLE APRIL 3
Detective Maria Kallio (Maria Kallio) – Season 1
Detective Maria Kallio (Elena Leeve) is a drama series about a thirty-something cop, who dreams of becoming a lawyer but ends up heading the murder squad. (2021, 10 episodes)
AVAILABLE APRIL 10
Natascha Kampusch – A Lifetime in Prison – Viaplay Documentary, Season 1
Natascha Kampusch talks openly about living 8,5 years in captivity after she was kidnapped as a ten-year-old, and the far from cheerful reception she received from the public when she was released at the age of 18. (2022, 3 episodes)
AVAILABLE APRIL 12
As in Heaven (Du som er i himlen) – Film
(Winner, Best Adapted Screenplay, Danish Film Awards; Winner, Best Nordic Film, Göteborg Film Festival; Winner, Best Director, San Sebastián International Film Festival; Winner, Best Leading Performance, San Sebastián International Film Festival)
On a farm in the late 1800s, an intense waiting begins when a mother goes into a complicated labour, and 14-year-old Lise must prepare herself for a night that may change her life forever. (2021)
AVAILABLE APRIL 13
Cell 8 – Viaplay Original Series (North American Premiere)
Based on Roslund & Hellström’s best-selling novel, Cell 8 follows detectives Mariana Hermansson (award-winning actress Mimosa Willamo, Box 21, Deadwind) and Ewert Grens (Leonard Terfelt, Young Royals) as they get into a mysterious and increasingly dark series of events. In Sweden, John Schwarz (Freddie Wise, Poldark), a man presumed dead, is arrested for assault on a ferry to Finland.
The case soon reveals a personal connection not only to Hermansson herself, but to a Death Row prisoner in the U.S. and a grieving parent, Edward Finnigan (Richard Lintern, Silent Witness), consumed by the quest for revenge. Although many years have passed, Finnigan will not be able to find peace until he can avenge the murder of his daughter. Co-starring Will Thorp (All Creatures Great and Small). (6 episodes, binge) (2022, 6 episodes)
AVAILABLE APRIL 17
DNA – Season 2 (US Premiere)
Season 2 will tell a story set in a world ruled by criminal networks across Europe. The bodies of 19 young Vietnamese lead a police commissioner Rolf Larsen (Anders W. Berthelesen) on the trail of a case of modern slave trade and organs for sale on the black market.
It is a journey into dark mysteries, secrets and exploitation, and the main characters struggle to shed light on the crimes but are “faced with big, personal dilemmas.” Co-starring Oscar-nominated actress Charlotte Rampling (Dune, Dexter, 45 Years). (2022, 6 episodes)
AVAILABLE APRIL 25
R.S.V.P. – Film (North American Premiere)
(Nominee, Guldbaggens publikpris, Guldbagge Awards; Nominee, Best Supporting Actress, Guldbagge Awards)
R.S.V.P. (Tack för senast!) is a romantic comedy told in nine chapters, nine different parties and holidays, starring Lisa Carlehed (The Emigrants) and Christian Hillborg (Young Royals, Fleabag). Akin to Four Weddings and a Funeral, R.S.V.P. is an ensemble movie.
We meet a close group of friends, the chosen family, during approximately three years. They hang out, support each other, get in conflicts and handle relationships. They are all looking for happiness and love. But does the perfect relationship actually exist?
In the center is Klara (Carlehed), a 37-year-old nurse. She´s got humor, self-distance, and an ability to embrace life and acknowledge her sexuality, but she can also be a bit insecure and clumsy in her relationship with others. And even though the friends go way back they have all chosen different paths.
This gives us characters that stand out with different style, background, status, but the base is there, old solid friendships. We meet strong personalities that will bring lots of humor and identification to the audience. (2022)
ON YOUR RADAR – AVAILABLE TO BINGE
In addition to the new Viaplay April 2023 titles, check out the following programming on the streaming service.
The Dreamer – Becoming Karen Blixen – Viaplay Original Series (North American Premiere)
The Dreamer – Becoming Karen Blixen is the story of one woman’s struggle to find her place in life while freeing herself from the expectations of family and society. The series takes place in the 1930s and follows Karen Blixen’s return to Denmark after many years in East Africa.
Penniless, sick, divorced, and with her dreams in ruins, The Dreamer – Becoming Karen Blixen shows Blixen’s journey from her lowest point to becoming a renowned writer, including visualizations of her interior life and the magical universe of her stories, including her bestselling memoir “Out of Africa.” Starring Connie Nielsen (Gladiator, Wonder Woman).
a-ha: The Movie – English-Language Documentary Feature Film (Streaming Premiere)
(Nominee, Audience Award, Tribeca Film Festival; Nominee, Best Music Documentary Feature, Nashville Film Festival)
Exclusive to Viaplay. Follows the popular band on tour, telling the full story of how three young men followed their impossible dream of becoming Norwegian pop stars. When “Take On Me” reached number 1 on Billboard in the US in 1985 the dream came true. Or did it?
Margrete: Queen of the North (Margrete den første) – Film (U.S. Premiere)
1402. Queen Margrete is ruling Sweden, Norway and Denmark through her adopted son, Erik. But a conspiracy is in the making and Margrete finds herself in an impossible dilemma that could shatter her life’s work: the Kalmar Union.
Starring highly celebrated Danish actress Trine Dyrholm, who has been nominated 15 times for both the Bodil Awards and Robert Awards, including both nominations for her portrayal as Queen Margrete.
Trom – Viaplay Original
The atmospheric Nordic Noir series follows journalist Hannis Martinsson (Ulrich Thomsen, The Blacklist, Banshee), who risks his life to solve the murder of a missing animal rights activist discovered amid a local whale hunt.
Furia, Season 1 – Viaplay Original
A shocking killing in an idyllic Norwegian town leads police investigator Asgeir (Pål Sverre Hagen) to undercover cop Ragna (Ine Marie Willmann) as she infiltrates a nationalist group in this dark, high-stakes thriller.
Threesome, Season 1 – Viaplay Original
Stylish and provocative young adult drama about a Swedish couple living in London, David (Simon Lööf) and Siri (Matilda Källström), meet French art student Camille (Alma Jodorowsky, Blue is the Warmest Colour) during a night out, leading to a threesome that irrevocably changes their relationship. Co-stars Lucien Laviscount (Emily in Paris).
Face to Face, Season 1 – Viaplay Original
A gripping interrogation drama series that follows police officer Bjørn as he investigates the murder of his daughter. The story takes place in one day where Bjørn tries to track down the killer, and where each episode introduces a new suspect in a new location.
The interrogations take Bjørn and the viewer one step closer to the truth, and one step closer to the looming question: what will Bjørn do when he’s facing the killer of his daughter, and what part did he have to play himself in her death. One interrogation – one location – two minds battling. Starring Ulrich Thomsen (Trom, The Blacklist)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium Trilogy)
The Girl Who Played with Fire
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest
All three critically acclaimed films from the BAFTA-award winning Millennium Trilogy based on the novels of Swedish writer Stieg Larsson and starring Noomi Rapace as computer hacker Lisbeth Salander.
Mirko Parlevliet has been reporting on the entertainment industry since 1998 and founded Vital Thrills to cover the latest streaming, movie, TV, and game news.