Loukko by 
We are very happy to announce that Film & TV Rights to Elina Backman’s bestselling thriller WHEN THE KING DIES have been optioned by Aurora Studios to be developed into an international TV series.
Published by Otava in Finland in May 2020 to excellent reviews and immediately hitting the bestseller lists, WHEN THE KING DIES has already been sold to 10 territories and counting. Rights are still free for example in France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Russia, Hungary, Latvia and in English-speaking territories.
Elina Backman is now writing a sequel, THE ISLE OF SHEEP, to be published in June 2021.
Aurora Studios owner Ari Tolppanen, CEO Antti Toiviainen and Creative Director Roosa Toivonen are thrilled to start this adventure with author Elina Backman: “Utterly readable and full of plot twists and quirky characters, WHEN THE KING DIES is an ideal starting point for a TV series that keeps audiences at the edge of their seat and leaves them hungry for more. Luckily, a sequel is already in the works by the promising author!”
“I love Finland – its own unique voice and beautiful landscapes – and I love murder mysteries. I believe that together with Aurora Studios we will create something special. The last months have been amazing: As a debut author this is a dream come true for me to be able to share my crime story with global readers.” – Author Elina Backman
About Aurora Studios:
Aurora Studios was started in June 2020 to enable and assist the creation of commercially and artistically ambitious films and audiovisual content through development, financing and distribution. Its owners are Finnish media company The Otava Group and Ari Tolppanen and Ari Lahti, the investors behind the financing of Finnish audience phenomenon The Unknown Soldier.
About the book:
Saana is a former click-bait journalist who spends a summer in the quiet town of Hartola. But when she begins to dig into the case of a teenage girl who died 30 years earlier, the peace of the small town is shaken. Meanwhile in Helsinki, crime investigator Jan Leino is solving a murder at the King’s Gate on Suomenlinna Sea Fortress. Saana and Jan continue working on their own cases until their paths cross – for more than one reason.
Rights sold:
FINLAND:
Otava (orig.)
ESTONIA:
Varrak (2-book deal)
CZECH REPUBLIC:
Grada
GERMANY:
Piper Verlag (2-book deal)
LITHUANIA:
BALTO
NETHERLANDS:
De Bezige Bij/Cargo
(2-book deal)
NORWAY:
Cappelen Damm (2-book deal)
POLAND:
Czarna Owca
SLOVAKIA:
Arkus
SWEDEN:
Bokfabriken (2-book deal)
TV/FILM:
Aurora Studios
