TV4 / Cmore invests heavily in epic drama series about Carl XVI Gustaf

Stockholm Royal Palace, September 18, 1973. Crown Prince Carl Gustaf, 27, has just returned home from Helsingborg, where he was guarding the deathbed of his grandfather, King Gustav VI Adolf. He is now home alone with his three-year-old sister Christina. The Crown Prince is taken by the seriousness of the moment and must overcome his fear of speaking before tomorrow, when he will take over the Swedish crown. The brothers meet at each end of a seemingly infinitely long corridor where Carl Gustaf tries to speak so loudly that Christina can perceive every word despite the distance.

This is one of the scenes that will be included in TV4 / Cmore’s biggest investment in a television series about the Swedish royal family. The series is in development and behind production is Filmlance, which has previously created hits such as “Bron”, “Beck”, “Björnstad”, “Kalifat” and “Top dog”. Author Åsa Lantz is responsible for the idea and script:

– There is something very moving in these two young people who are left alone in the castle. His grandfather just died, his parents are gone too, and the older siblings have married and moved away. The prince only has ancient advisers around him who are not in tune with the times at all. And tomorrow he will be king, says Åsa Lantz, who has previously written scripts for SVT series such as Selma Lagerlöf (“Selma”, 2008) and Kerstin Thorvall (“The most forbidden”, 2016).

The series will begin shortly before Carl Gustaf loses his father, Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf, in a plane crash in 1947, continues his education and journey from heir to the throne to life as king. At the same time, the Swede is portrayed Folkhemmet from the point of view of the court, similarly to “The Crown” depicts postwar British history from the windows of Buckingham Palace.

– Although my approach is rather the opposite of “The crown”, or for that matter “Crossing the Atlantic”. Both series are about how royalty affects world events in different ways. In Sweden, it’s the opposite, society has changed to the royal family, says Åsa Lantz.

His interest in the history of the Swedish royal family has more to do with a fascination with human destiny than with the monarchy itself.

– My family and friends think that I have gone crazy because I have not shown a minimum interest in royalty before, she says funny and continues:

– I was left first with this boy who had to take on the difficult role too early. Unlike “The Crown,” our series will focus even more on relationships. When you start sniffing, you discover that the modern history of the Bernadotte family is an incomparably fascinating family chronicle that contains it all, she says.

When you start sniffing, you discover that the modern history of the Bernadotte family is an incomparably fascinating family chronicle that contains it all.

It all started as a novel project ten years ago. when Lantz wanted to write a fictional story loosely based on the Swedish royal family. After 150 pages, he lost interest and put the script in the drawer.

– It all came loose a couple of years ago when I realized that the story would fit better as a TV series and would be a “true story”. We will represent turning points where power shifts and moves towards a point that changes the entire writing of history, says Åsa Lantz a bit in secret.

A main theme in “The Crown” is about being trapped in a sweltering cage of luxury and how heavy the crown can be.

– Like his father, Carl Gustaf would have liked to avoid the crown. But Grandpa’s motto “Duty Above All” is not something that can be easily undone. Even when he was a year old, Carl Gustaf was “a theme” that would begin to be rigged by many. And up to a point in his life, the crown was very heavy, then things happen. Find a force, Lantz says.

Recently, debate has erupted over the content of historical truth in both “The Crown” and the current SVT “Crossing the Atlantic” which premiered on Monday. Åsa Lantz is aware that the balancing act is difficult in the gray area between reality and fiction.

– In some situations, of course, you have to take some artistic liberties, but my goal is to make the story as true as possible. The ambition is for it to feel entirely likely that something like this happened, Lantz says.

The court was informed that the series is in development, but Åsa Lantz has not booked any individual talks with members of the royal family.

– Of course, I have had contact and interviewed people in the vicinity of the king and have received visits to Stockholm Castle. On the other hand, I think it is good to have a certain distance from family members to be completely free and not start considering individuals.

When asked how he will handle sensitive issues, such as information about the cafe girls and “Tjabo’s” alleged relationship with Camilla Henemark, which was revealed in the controversial book “The Reluctant Monarch” (2010), he responds diplomatically:

– I don’t know yet because I haven’t gotten that far in history. Although I want to portray the truth, I do not have a journalistic mission to critically examine, demand accountability, and hold people accountable. As a screenwriter, I focus on trying to understand my characters, says Åsa Lantz.

Josefine Tengblad, drama director for TV4 / Cmore, is also concerned that the series is as true to life as possible. She was sitting on a plane when she read Åsa Lantz’s script release a couple of years ago.

– To be honest, I was pretty much zero when I started reading, but I was so upset that tears fell down my cheeks when I finished reading. It’s an incredibly moving story that, among other things, made me think of “The King’s Speech,” says Tengblad.

Filmlance’s ambition is to create “a very attractive, high-quality modern drama for a large audience.” If everything goes according to plan, the recording will begin in a couple of years.

– We don’t want the script to have time to collect dust, but the project must take time to be really good. We have high ambitions and we are also trying to find co-financiers because we believe the series can work abroad as well, says Tengblad.

While there is still a long way to go before the cast work has Åsa Lantz, she has already found the prince of her dreams.

– One actor whose retina I can’t get rid of is Joel Kinnaman. I see it a little crooked from behind with that way of keeping the neck straight and taut. It would be amazing as the adult king, but that’s, like I said, in my dreams, haha ​​…