“Game of Thrones” star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau wants to save the world from all manner of existential threats – including cynicism – in his new unscripted series for Bloomberg Originals.
Variety has an exclusive first look at the trailer for “An Optimist’s Guide to the Planet,” a six-episode series that chooses to focus not on problems but solutions to some of the biggest environmental challenges of our time.
The series follows Coster-Waldau and his team as they travel the globe in search of ideas that inspire optimism for the future. Sustainable food growth, carbon neutral jet fuel, tiny worms that can break down plastics and more are explored in countries including Greenland, Australia, United States, Japan, Vietnam and Kenya.
“I’ve always felt like sometimes the good stories get lost. The focus is often on the end of the world,” Coster-Waldau said. “This show inspires me and gives me a belief that there...
Variety has an exclusive first look at the trailer for “An Optimist’s Guide to the Planet,” a six-episode series that chooses to focus not on problems but solutions to some of the biggest environmental challenges of our time.
The series follows Coster-Waldau and his team as they travel the globe in search of ideas that inspire optimism for the future. Sustainable food growth, carbon neutral jet fuel, tiny worms that can break down plastics and more are explored in countries including Greenland, Australia, United States, Japan, Vietnam and Kenya.
“I’ve always felt like sometimes the good stories get lost. The focus is often on the end of the world,” Coster-Waldau said. “This show inspires me and gives me a belief that there...
- 12/8/2023
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Game Of Thrones star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau has signed up to host eco series An Optimist’s Guide To The Planet for Bloomberg Media.
The series will feature Coster-Waldau traveling the globe searching for the people, ideas, and traditions that will turn environmental angst into optimism.
He will meet electric aircraft engineers in Burlington, Vermont, Nashulai Conservancy elders in Kenya, and women leading sustainable Mezcal production in Mexico.
Described as Bloomberg’s most ambitious original to date, the series will be produced by Canada’s Cream Productions and Wildfire Television, the UK production outfit. It is made in association with Bell Media and Ill Kippers Aps, Coster-Waldau’s production company.
Executive producers are David Brady, Philip Clarke, Kate Harrison Karman, Coster-Waldau, Joe Derrick, Jennifer Baichwal, and Nicholas de Pencier. Patrick Cameron is the co-executive producer.
“The climate crisis impacts all of us, however what I hope this show demonstrates is that we are not doomed.
The series will feature Coster-Waldau traveling the globe searching for the people, ideas, and traditions that will turn environmental angst into optimism.
He will meet electric aircraft engineers in Burlington, Vermont, Nashulai Conservancy elders in Kenya, and women leading sustainable Mezcal production in Mexico.
Described as Bloomberg’s most ambitious original to date, the series will be produced by Canada’s Cream Productions and Wildfire Television, the UK production outfit. It is made in association with Bell Media and Ill Kippers Aps, Coster-Waldau’s production company.
Executive producers are David Brady, Philip Clarke, Kate Harrison Karman, Coster-Waldau, Joe Derrick, Jennifer Baichwal, and Nicholas de Pencier. Patrick Cameron is the co-executive producer.
“The climate crisis impacts all of us, however what I hope this show demonstrates is that we are not doomed.
- 3/10/2023
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
No stranger to playing not-so-upstanding knights in shining armor, Jaime Lannister himself, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, has boarded "Virtue," a medieval gothic horror movie that HanWay Films is taking to the European Film Market. Founded in 1999, HanWay is a British sales, distribution, and marketing company that's managed to get a pretty eclectic batch of films made over the years. Their output ranges from celebrated documentaries to Oscar-nominated period dramas to a bevy of auteur projects from the likes of David Cronenberg ("A Dangerous Method"), Takashi Miike ("13 Assassins"), Jim Jarmusch ("Only Lovers Left Alive"), and many more.
If that's not enough to get you sitting up and taking notice, know that "Virtue" further pairs Coster-Waldau with Romola Garai, the star of "Atonement," "Suffragette," and one of the best BBC series you've never seen, Abi Morgan's 1950s-set TV journalism drama "The Hour." In a statement (via The Hollywood Reporter), HanWay Films CEO Gabrielle Stewart notes that,...
If that's not enough to get you sitting up and taking notice, know that "Virtue" further pairs Coster-Waldau with Romola Garai, the star of "Atonement," "Suffragette," and one of the best BBC series you've never seen, Abi Morgan's 1950s-set TV journalism drama "The Hour." In a statement (via The Hollywood Reporter), HanWay Films CEO Gabrielle Stewart notes that,...
- 2/3/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Romola Garai are teaming for gothic horror Virtue, heading to the European Film Market with HanWay Films.
The feature is set to be directed by Joanna Coates, who in 2014 won the Michael Powell award for best British feature at the Edinburgh Film Festival for her film Hide & Seek, and was written by Sam Hoare (Having You, The English Game series, A Gentleman in Moscow series).
Alex Cook is producing for 10 08 Films Ltd. and Coster-Waldau, Steve Bakken and Joe Derrick for Ill Kippers. Executive producers include HanWay Films, James Brown and Matthew James Wilkinson.
Set in England in 1350, Virtue sees Coster-Waldau play Sir Peter, a heroic knight, who after years abroad returns from war accompanied by his teenage son and companions at arms. They find a plague-ravaged homeland ruled by social unrest, superstition and fear. After controversially preventing a witch from burning, Sir Peter vows to rescue...
The feature is set to be directed by Joanna Coates, who in 2014 won the Michael Powell award for best British feature at the Edinburgh Film Festival for her film Hide & Seek, and was written by Sam Hoare (Having You, The English Game series, A Gentleman in Moscow series).
Alex Cook is producing for 10 08 Films Ltd. and Coster-Waldau, Steve Bakken and Joe Derrick for Ill Kippers. Executive producers include HanWay Films, James Brown and Matthew James Wilkinson.
Set in England in 1350, Virtue sees Coster-Waldau play Sir Peter, a heroic knight, who after years abroad returns from war accompanied by his teenage son and companions at arms. They find a plague-ravaged homeland ruled by social unrest, superstition and fear. After controversially preventing a witch from burning, Sir Peter vows to rescue...
- 2/2/2023
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Game Of Thrones star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Romola Garai are set to star in Joanna Coates’s gothic horror Virtue, which Hanway Films will launch sales on at the EFM later this month.
Set in England in 1350, Coster Waldau will star as heroic knight St. Peter who returns from war with his teenage son to discover a plague-ravaged homeland riven by social unrest, superstition and fear.
After controversially preventing a woman from being burned to death on the superstition of being a witch, he attempts to re-establish his reputation by embarking on a quest to find a female villager who has vanished into the local forest, believed to be haunted by locals.
But when he and his men track down the woman and her “possessed” daughters, events take an unexpected turn, and it becomes clear they do not want to be rescued.
“The Middle Ages and classic...
Set in England in 1350, Coster Waldau will star as heroic knight St. Peter who returns from war with his teenage son to discover a plague-ravaged homeland riven by social unrest, superstition and fear.
After controversially preventing a woman from being burned to death on the superstition of being a witch, he attempts to re-establish his reputation by embarking on a quest to find a female villager who has vanished into the local forest, believed to be haunted by locals.
But when he and his men track down the woman and her “possessed” daughters, events take an unexpected turn, and it becomes clear they do not want to be rescued.
“The Middle Ages and classic...
- 2/2/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
HanWay Films is launching worldwide sales at the upcoming European Film Market (EFM) at Berlin on gothic horror film “Virtue.”
The film stars Emmy-winning actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (“Game of Thrones”) and BAFTA nominated Romola Garai (“Becoming Elizabeth”). It is directed by Joanna Coates, who won best British feature at the Edinburgh Film Festival for “Hide & Seek.”
Written by Sam Hoare (“Having You”), the film, set in 1350 England follows heroic knight Sir Peter (Coster-Waldau) who returns from war accompanied by his teenage son and companions at arms to find a plague-ravaged homeland ruled by social unrest, superstition and fear. After preventing a witch from burning, Sir Peter vows to rescue Fraya (Garai), the latest villager to vanish into a haunted forest that the locals are terrified by, and in the process is forced to confront his own humanity.
The film is produced by Alex Cook for 10 08 Films Ltd and Coster-Waldau,...
The film stars Emmy-winning actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (“Game of Thrones”) and BAFTA nominated Romola Garai (“Becoming Elizabeth”). It is directed by Joanna Coates, who won best British feature at the Edinburgh Film Festival for “Hide & Seek.”
Written by Sam Hoare (“Having You”), the film, set in 1350 England follows heroic knight Sir Peter (Coster-Waldau) who returns from war accompanied by his teenage son and companions at arms to find a plague-ravaged homeland ruled by social unrest, superstition and fear. After preventing a witch from burning, Sir Peter vows to rescue Fraya (Garai), the latest villager to vanish into a haunted forest that the locals are terrified by, and in the process is forced to confront his own humanity.
The film is produced by Alex Cook for 10 08 Films Ltd and Coster-Waldau,...
- 2/2/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Hanway Films to launch Joanna Coates’ gothic horror at the EFM.
Game Of Thrones star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Romola Garai are to star in gothic horror Virtue, on which HanWay Films is to launch sales at the upcoming EFM.
It will be directed by UK filmmaker Joanna Coates, who won best British feature at the Edinburgh Film Festival in 2014 for her romantic drama Hide & Seek, and is written by Sam Hoare, whose credits include feature Having You and Netflix miniseries The English Game.
The production aims to start shooting at the end of Q3 this year.
Set in 1350 England,...
Game Of Thrones star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Romola Garai are to star in gothic horror Virtue, on which HanWay Films is to launch sales at the upcoming EFM.
It will be directed by UK filmmaker Joanna Coates, who won best British feature at the Edinburgh Film Festival in 2014 for her romantic drama Hide & Seek, and is written by Sam Hoare, whose credits include feature Having You and Netflix miniseries The English Game.
The production aims to start shooting at the end of Q3 this year.
Set in 1350 England,...
- 2/2/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau heard "winter is coming" on "Game of Thrones" for years, but apparently decided that he hadn't had quite enough ice and snow. In his latest film, "Against the Ice," now streaming on Netflix, the actor faces off against the icy wastes of Greenland with only a single companion and a pack of sled dogs. "Against the Ice" was a passion project for Coster-Waldau, who co-wrote the screenplay with Joe Derrick, based on the memoir "Two Against the Ice" by explorer Captain Ejnar Mikkelsen.
In 1909, Mikkelsen and a crew of Danish explorers set out to prove that Greenland was one solid land mass. The United States...
The post Against The Ice Star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau on His Real-Life Survival Thriller [Interview] appeared first on /Film.
In 1909, Mikkelsen and a crew of Danish explorers set out to prove that Greenland was one solid land mass. The United States...
The post Against The Ice Star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau on His Real-Life Survival Thriller [Interview] appeared first on /Film.
- 3/3/2022
- by Danielle Ryan
- Slash Film
I must say I was excited entering Against the Ice. It has a captivating premise centered on an Arctic expedition at the northern end of Greenland circa 1909, is based on the autobiographical account of Captain Ejnar Mikkelsen, and deals with a nearly three-year survival opposite extreme weather conditions, isolation, and polar bears. Director Peter Flinth ratcheted my anticipation even higher during the opening scene, dropping us into the action as Mikkelsen is sledging back to camp with his second-in-command Jörgensen (Gísli Örn Garðarsson) in desperate need of medical attention for frostbitten toes. The filmmakers skip past all exposition to get right to the meat of their adventure. I buckled myself in.
For a time they make good on that promise. Its opening act is effectively structured, introducing characters, explaining the reasons for being in the ice (claiming the body and findings of Mikkelsen’s old friend who never returned home...
For a time they make good on that promise. Its opening act is effectively structured, introducing characters, explaining the reasons for being in the ice (claiming the body and findings of Mikkelsen’s old friend who never returned home...
- 3/3/2022
- by Jared Mobarak
- The Film Stage
Shooting mostly in Iceland and Greenland, the team behind Netflix’s upcoming release “Against the Ice” – now shown in Berlin – had to battle punishing weather conditions and freezing cold, as well as star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.
“It was quite challenging, working with Nikolaj. Apart from that, it was alright,” joked actor Joe Cole during the press conference. “My character is quite different from me. He is relentlessly positive, upbeat, excited to be around this ‘celebrity’. He is in awe of Nikolaj. Can’t say the same.”
Inspired by a 1909 exhibition led to disprove US claims to northeastern Greenland, the film sees Cole as Iver P. Iversen, an inexperienced mechanic who joins Danish explorer Ejnar Mikkelsen (Coster-Waldau) on his journey. Later, he becomes his only companion after their crew leaves them behind.
“We were sure we wanted to shoot on location,” added Coster-Waldau. “First of all, it looks much better, but also for selfish reasons.
“It was quite challenging, working with Nikolaj. Apart from that, it was alright,” joked actor Joe Cole during the press conference. “My character is quite different from me. He is relentlessly positive, upbeat, excited to be around this ‘celebrity’. He is in awe of Nikolaj. Can’t say the same.”
Inspired by a 1909 exhibition led to disprove US claims to northeastern Greenland, the film sees Cole as Iver P. Iversen, an inexperienced mechanic who joins Danish explorer Ejnar Mikkelsen (Coster-Waldau) on his journey. Later, he becomes his only companion after their crew leaves them behind.
“We were sure we wanted to shoot on location,” added Coster-Waldau. “First of all, it looks much better, but also for selfish reasons.
- 2/16/2022
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Heroism, obsession, sheet ice and huskies. It’s a winning combination, the stuff of stories that show men – because these were stories about men – reaching beyond themselves to survive the elements. Sometimes, even in stories, they didn’t survive because they sacrificed themselves for their comrades, finding their best selves in tough situations. Before imaginary superheroes took over, these tall tales and true of derring-do used to fill children’s annuals.
Against the Ice is exactly that kind of story. In 1909, a Danish expedition led by Captain Einar Mikkelsen headed for the northwest of Greenland. Its mission was to try to recover information collected by a previous expedition and buried in a cairn at a point when the members of that team knew they wouldn’t make it back. The cairn’s location is marked on a hand-drawn map recovered from one of their bodies. This is the reality of a life of adventure: life,...
Against the Ice is exactly that kind of story. In 1909, a Danish expedition led by Captain Einar Mikkelsen headed for the northwest of Greenland. Its mission was to try to recover information collected by a previous expedition and buried in a cairn at a point when the members of that team knew they wouldn’t make it back. The cairn’s location is marked on a hand-drawn map recovered from one of their bodies. This is the reality of a life of adventure: life,...
- 2/16/2022
- by Stephanie Bunbury
- Deadline Film + TV
Take one glance at the spectacular landscapes of Greenland and you understand why in Inuit the word for snow has so many variations and derivations. The aerial establishing shot that opens Peter Flinth’s “Against the Ice” alone challenges the descriptive powers of the English language; inhabiting such an environment continually, you would have to find new exotic coinages to communicate the sheer variety of textures that freezing water can exhibit. Such creative imagination, however is sorely lacking from Flinth’s handsome but plodding adventure movie. To reduce a titanic struggle for survival in one of the most inhospitable climes on earth to such by-the-numbers drama is in many ways akin to standing on a jagged frozen peak, gazing across blizzard-assailed permafrost plains to crumbling white cliffs and ice shelfs beyond and thinking “Snow.”
This Netflix movie — and it feels oddly precision-tooled as a “Netflix movie” — is adapted by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau...
This Netflix movie — and it feels oddly precision-tooled as a “Netflix movie” — is adapted by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau...
- 2/15/2022
- by Jessica Kiang
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Shooting upcoming Netflix pic Against The Ice was no straightforward task, as its stars and director reveal to Deadline in a first interview as a trio.
The movie, which premieres at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 15, stars Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game Of Thrones) and Joe Cole (Peaky Blinders) as two members of a real Danish expedition (the Alabama Expedition) between 1906 and 1908 that sought to prove that Greenland was only one island (which was disputed by the U.S.) by crossing it on foot and sledge.
Coster-Waldau plays Ejnar Mikkelsen, an experienced captain, while Cole plays Iver Iversen, an engineer who volunteers for the perilous trek despite his lack of experience.
To capture the essence of the dangerous and at times seemingly suicidal mission, the film team, led by director Peter Flinth, opted to utilize minimal green screen, relying instead on shooting in the real ice and snow (with...
The movie, which premieres at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 15, stars Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game Of Thrones) and Joe Cole (Peaky Blinders) as two members of a real Danish expedition (the Alabama Expedition) between 1906 and 1908 that sought to prove that Greenland was only one island (which was disputed by the U.S.) by crossing it on foot and sledge.
Coster-Waldau plays Ejnar Mikkelsen, an experienced captain, while Cole plays Iver Iversen, an engineer who volunteers for the perilous trek despite his lack of experience.
To capture the essence of the dangerous and at times seemingly suicidal mission, the film team, led by director Peter Flinth, opted to utilize minimal green screen, relying instead on shooting in the real ice and snow (with...
- 2/14/2022
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Amazon’s Audible, The Man in the High Castle producer Big Light Productions and Vespucci have teamed up to develop a slate of podcasts with a scripted series starring Game of Thrones’ Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as one of its first projects.
Coster-Waldau will star in Mask of Sanity, a serial killer story based on a true story from Bulgarian journalist, Dimiter Kenarov.
Mask of Sanity, which Coster-Waldau will co-produce via his Ill Kippers Productions banner, with producing partner and series writer Joe Derrick, follows the story of a journalist reporting on a serial killer, but with a secret of his own. Ill Kippers’ Vice President Jeffrey Chassen will also serve as co-producer.
The series will be joined by Killer Book Club, a documentary true crime thriller exploring the much-covered case of British private school teacher and novelist Peter Farquhar who was murdered by church warden Benjamin Field, his much younger lover and former student.
Coster-Waldau will star in Mask of Sanity, a serial killer story based on a true story from Bulgarian journalist, Dimiter Kenarov.
Mask of Sanity, which Coster-Waldau will co-produce via his Ill Kippers Productions banner, with producing partner and series writer Joe Derrick, follows the story of a journalist reporting on a serial killer, but with a secret of his own. Ill Kippers’ Vice President Jeffrey Chassen will also serve as co-producer.
The series will be joined by Killer Book Club, a documentary true crime thriller exploring the much-covered case of British private school teacher and novelist Peter Farquhar who was murdered by church warden Benjamin Field, his much younger lover and former student.
- 4/15/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Game of Thrones‘ erstwhile Jaime Lannister has set his return to series TV.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau will star in and executive produce and adaptation of The Second Home, our sister site Variety reports. The project, which does not yet have a writer or network attached, will be based on Christina Clancy’s 2020 novel.
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The Second Home is the story of two families...
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau will star in and executive produce and adaptation of The Second Home, our sister site Variety reports. The project, which does not yet have a writer or network attached, will be based on Christina Clancy’s 2020 novel.
More from TVLineEmmys 2019 Poll: Who Should Win for Supporting Actor in a Drama Series?Game of Thrones' Nikolaj Coster-Waldau to Star in 1980s Showbiz Drama Pilot From Terriers CreatorEmmys 2019: Supporting Actor in a Drama -- Our 6 Dream Nominees!
The Second Home is the story of two families...
- 4/9/2021
- by Kimberly Roots
- TVLine.com
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau will star in and executive produce a series adaptation of the Christina Clancy novel “The Second Home” currently in the works at Sony’s TriStar TV, Variety has learned.
The story follows the Gordon and Shaw families beyond a fateful summer on Cape Cod. Told through two generations, the story explores how a devastating secret can derail young love, tear apart families, and change the fate of countless individuals forever if they let it. “The Second Home” was Clancy’s debut novel. It was published by St. Martin’s Press in June 2020.
No network or writer is currently attached to the series, but Coster-Waldau will executive produce along with his producing partners Joe Derrick and Jeffrey Chassen under their Ill Kippers banner.
Should the series move forward, it would mark Coster-Waldau’s first television role since “Game of Thrones” ended in 2019. He famously played Jaime Lannister throughout the megahit HBO show’s eight-season run.
The story follows the Gordon and Shaw families beyond a fateful summer on Cape Cod. Told through two generations, the story explores how a devastating secret can derail young love, tear apart families, and change the fate of countless individuals forever if they let it. “The Second Home” was Clancy’s debut novel. It was published by St. Martin’s Press in June 2020.
No network or writer is currently attached to the series, but Coster-Waldau will executive produce along with his producing partners Joe Derrick and Jeffrey Chassen under their Ill Kippers banner.
Should the series move forward, it would mark Coster-Waldau’s first television role since “Game of Thrones” ended in 2019. He famously played Jaime Lannister throughout the megahit HBO show’s eight-season run.
- 4/9/2021
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Coming up on 10 years since his turn as Jaime Lannister in Game Of Thrones, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau has found another TV starring vehicle. Sony’s TriStar Television has made a miniseries deal for the Christina Clancy novel The Second Home, and Coster-Waldau will star. Coster-Waldau will be exec producer along with Joe Derrick & Jeffrey Chassen through their Ill Kippers banner.
The drama follows the Gordon and Shaw families beyond a fateful summer on Cape Cod. Told through two generations, the story explores how a devastating secret can derail young love, tear apart families, and change the fate of countless individuals forever if they let it. The novel was published by St. Martin’s Press last June.
Ill Kippers releases its first project later this year, Against The Ice, an environmental thriller feature, written by Coster-Waldau and Derrick, and starring Coster-Waldau, for Netflix. Coster-Waldau is repped by WME, Lindberg Management (Denmark) and Sloane Offer Weber Stern.
The drama follows the Gordon and Shaw families beyond a fateful summer on Cape Cod. Told through two generations, the story explores how a devastating secret can derail young love, tear apart families, and change the fate of countless individuals forever if they let it. The novel was published by St. Martin’s Press last June.
Ill Kippers releases its first project later this year, Against The Ice, an environmental thriller feature, written by Coster-Waldau and Derrick, and starring Coster-Waldau, for Netflix. Coster-Waldau is repped by WME, Lindberg Management (Denmark) and Sloane Offer Weber Stern.
- 4/9/2021
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
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