Henriette Steenstrup’s “Nepobaby” Gains Momentum Ahead of Mipcom

The latest TV drama from renowned Norwegian showrunner Henriette Steenstrup, titled “Nepobaby,” has made headlines after winning best screenplay and ensemble cast awards at Canneseries this past April. As we approach the global content market, Mipcom in Cannes scheduled for October, the show has attracted a new wave of buyers eager to distribute this compelling narrative.

Nordisk Film Distribution is handling the Nordic rights and has successfully secured deals with TV2 Denmark and SVT Sweden. Meanwhile, global distributor Oble has entered into fresh agreements with Canada’s public broadcaster CBC for CGC Gem, as well as SBS in Australia, a known buyer of high-quality international content. Earlier, contracts were established with Be-tv in Belgium and RÚV in Iceland. The show’s principal broadcaster, TV2 Norway, is set to premiere it domestically this October.

Jes Brandhoj, director of sales and series acquisitions at Nordisk Film, expressed enthusiasm regarding the early commitments from Nordic broadcasters, describing it as “a fantastic vote of confidence.” He noted, “With its mix of humour, heart, and relatable family drama, ‘Nepobaby’ is precisely the kind of feel-good storytelling that connects people. We are incredibly excited to see it come to life on their platforms.”

“Nepobaby” is a collaborative creation led by Henriette Steenstrup, who envisioned the character Emma with actress Vivild Falk Berg in mind. The screenplay was co-written with Siri Seljeseth from “Young & Promising,” alongside Tina Rygh. Co-direction is handled by Gunnar Vikene and Hallvar Witzø.

Centering on Emma—who recently graduated as a physiotherapist and purchased her first apartment with her fiancé Niko (played by Deniz Kaya of “The Worst Person in the World”)—the first season takes a turn when she uncovers her identity as the secret daughter of shipping tycoon Ludvig “Doddo” Bullmann, making her one of his heirs.

Emma’s newfound wealthy siblings are portrayed by a talented cast, including Steenstrup, Nicolai Cleve Broch (“The Sandhamn Murders”), Kristin Grue (“Power Play”), and Helle Ryg Eia (“Peak TV”).

Describing the series, Canneseries artistic director Albin Lewi remarked last April that it is “’Succession’ meets ‘Veep’ made in a fun way.” The Norwegian six-part series is also set to be presented at the Panorama section of the upcoming Serielizados festival in Barcelona this November.

As anticipation builds, a second season of “Nepobaby” is awaiting approval. The series is produced by Ida Håndlykken Kvernstrøm and Bård Ljones Fjulsrud for Oslo-based Eldorado Content Club.

At Mipcom, Oble’s co-founder Katia Sol will be actively negotiating additional rights for “Nepobaby” alongside other premium offerings, including “Winter Palace” (co-produced by Oble and Point Prod for RTS and Netflix), the Canneseries-selected “Jailbreak” (“Zonz”) from France, and “Noob” from New Zealand.