Eva Björg Ægisdóttir’s best-selling crime series ‘Elma’ is set for a TV adaptation after Icelandic production company Glassriver optioned the rights.
The series follows Detective Elma, who returns to work at the local police station in her small hometown of Akranes, Iceland, after a disastrous romance goes wrong.
“When a woman’s body is found at the foot of a lighthouse, terrible secrets from the past may emerge,” the logline reads. ‘Can Elma find redemption from her colleague Saevar in this small Icelandic town with its oppressive atmosphere?’
The first book in the series is called ‘The Creak on the Stairs’, while the sequel is ‘Girls Who Life’. Ægisdóttir’s books have been translated into 23 languages, but the series was especially a hit in France, where it has reached more than 100,000 readers.
David Headley of DHH Literary Agency negotiated the deal in collaboration with The Artists Partnership.
Glassriver has an extensive script portfolio, including the crime drama ‘Black Sands’, and is developing more than twenty film projects for both TV and film, ranging from comedy to science fiction.
“We are thrilled to be working with Eva and Karen on ‘Elma,’” said Andri Ómarsson, co-owner and producer at Glassriver. “The project brings together Iceland’s striking landscapes with a gripping crime story that has already blown away audiences worldwide, from Iceland to France to Britain. This project is a testament to the power of Icelandic storytelling, and we believe it will resonate with audiences both locally and internationally. Karen is a talented screenwriter who brings the story to life on screen. With a dedicated cast and creative team, we are confident Elma will captivate viewers and highlight the best of what Icelandic drama has to offer.”
Ægisdóttir added: “I am extremely happy that Glassriver is bringing ‘Elma’ to the screen. I have been waiting for the right opportunity for some time and I am confident that ‘Elma’ will be in good hands with the talented and capable team at Glassriver. Karen is one of Iceland’s most talented and prolific screenwriters in recent years. After hearing her vision for the series, I am so excited to work on this project and see how it will turn out.”