To Cook a Bear announced to be the first Disney+ Nordic Original Production

Award-winning author Mikael Niemi’s stunning novel To Cook a Bear will be adapted into a six-part series produced by Disney+; making it the first Nordic Original production. The story takes place in 1852 in a small village up north and is centering on a pastor and a runaway Sami boy, who develops a deep relationship while investigating an unexpected murder mystery.

The screenplay is written by Swedish screenwriter Jesper Harrie (“Blinded,” “Bonus Family,” “Sunny Side”) who described his ambition to not only “create a crime in a historical setting, but also a drama.” The series is produced by by Miira Paasilinna, Martin Person and Mia Welin at Anagram Sweden for The Walt Disney Company Nordic & Baltic.

“We are incredibly proud to announce the very first Disney+ Nordic Original production. “To Cook a Bear” has everything we want to offer our adult audience; a deep, rich story set in a truly grand Nordic Noir scenery. I am confident it will find its way to the hearts of audiences in and well beyond the Nordics, and we can’t wait to bring it to them” said Vibeke Lia, Director of Programming & Production, The Walt Disney Company Nordic & Baltic. 

“I feel great joy and anticipation for the production of “To Cook a Bear.” It will be exciting to follow the Sami boy Jussi and his meeting with the great revival Pastor, and see their fight against the evil ravaging the Northern wilderness. We get to follow a story about cunning and courage, but also about man’s longing for both divine and human love,” said author Mikael Niemi.