WWII thriller ‘The Traitor Within’ has debuted exclusive behind-the-scenes images ahead of the Series Mania Buyers Upfront on Monday March 23.
Based on the true story of Norway’s most notorious Nazi collaborator – and the man who was ordered to kill him – it sees two young men attempt to join the resistance in Nazi occupied Norway. Standing at the crossroads of history, their choices send them down radically different paths.
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Henry Rinnan, an ordinary family man and unremarkable salesman, becomes the Gestapo’s most valuable Norwegian agent. Codenamed Agent Lola, he infiltrates and destroys the resistance from within, using deception, sabotage, torture – and murder. Resistance fighter Odd Sørli rises in rank as a key opposition figure, coordinating with British intelligence to save his country.
Sørli is given a single, deadly mission: Assassinate Rinnan. What follows is a relentless cat-and-mouse battle across borders and hidden networks, driven by lies, betrayal and shifting loyalties.
Henry Rinnan is played by Axel Bøyum whose credits include Emmy-winning “Eyewitness” as well as “Blasted.” He won Norway’s best actor Gullruten Award for his performance as Adrian in “Heimebane.” Odin Waage (“Wisting,” “Eyewitness”) co-stars as Odd Sørli.
Produced by Miso Film Norway for Prime Video and TV2 Norway, who also serve as co-producers, “The Traitor Within” is a four-part thriller. It’s directed by Kenneth Karstad (“Kids in Crime,” “The Hunger”) and the screenplay written by Øyvind Holtmon and Eirik M. Holsve. Kristen Ulseth and Are Heidenstrøm serve as producers for Miso Film Norway.
“I think the biggest challenge is to stay relevant in a market that’s becoming more conservative. In Scandinavia, we’ve always had to be creative in our approach to storytelling, finding new ways to tell stories that stand out through perspective and character. For us, that’s the opportunity in this moment – not competing within familiar formulas but offering something distinct,” Ulseth told Variety.
“There’s a strong fascination today with real events and real people, and we tap into that by telling true, untold stories that feel urgent and relevant now. The focus is on character and theme, which brings a sense of relevant immediacy to the past. That’s what gives us confidence about our shows: that a distinct, character-driven story can actually stand out more in a market where so much feels familiar.”
There are many strong WWII films and series, in Norway and internationally, often centered around heroism, she observed.
“For us, the starting point was a desire to explore a different side of that story. The story of the notorious traitor Henry Rinnan allows us to examine moral ambiguity, betrayal, and how ordinary people navigate extreme situations. Which feels uncomfortably relevant today, as Europe is once again marked by war, polarization and rising extremism.”
Because of that, they didn’t look to traditional war dramas for inspiration.
“We wanted a more contemporary, character-driven approach. Something immediate and emotionally real. Bringing in director Kenneth Karlstad was key. He has a raw, intimate approach to characters. He holds a strong and playful visual style, and we knew he could make this story feel authentic and present, as if it’s unfolding here and now. That was our guiding idea from the beginning: not to retell a familiar war story, but share a unique untold one, and create a series that feels urgent, human, and close to our own time.”
Karlstad admitted: “When I was offered the project by Kristin and Are, I had to ask my dad for advice. He said: ‘Don’t do it. It’s too much of a sensitive topic’.”
“That says much about the potency of this 80-some years later. So I went for it, as I think we need the ability to look evil in the eye. To me, this constant worshipping of our war heroes is uncanny, and it blinds us to the lessons we can learn from war.”
The team decided to stay as close to the true story as possible, covering a period of seven years.
“Our screenwriters were very inspired by the true story of the Rinnan group, and I wanted to highlight this authenticity by blending archival footage seamlessly with our own footage,” he said, calling Rinnan “a little man with some very distinct special abilities that nobody recognized – until the Nazis came.”
“He had an extremely good memory and social skills, perfect for a spy. This combined with pride and narcissistic ambition makes for a potent cocktail. I think he needed to feel a sense of purpose and the Nazi regime gave him the opportunity to be empowered and superior. It was a circumstantial match made in hell.”
Miso Film will also present historical epic “Royal Blood” at the Coming Next from the Nordics Showcase – their second project to be selected by the festival.
“‘The Traitor Within’ and ‘Royal Blood,’ while very different, are two very ambitious series, and are important stories to tell in the present times we live in. It’s always interesting to see how history can be relevant in today’s context, and it’s something we have explored in other series like ‘1864’ and ‘The Bombardment,’ both reflecting on the impact of war,” noted Jonas Allen, CEO and producer at Miso Film.
He called both shows a great fit within the company’s slate and its ethos, which has to do with “working with the best creative talent to deliver bold storytelling which always delivers on production value and never compromises on creative integrity.”
“This is true of previous series like ‘The Investigation,’ ‘Faithless’ and ‘The Uniform,’ and the ones currently in production: ‘Side Effects’ and ‘The Cold Song’.”
“The Traitor Within” is produced with the support of the Norwegian Film Institute (NFI), Filminvest, Frøya kommune and Sparebanken1.
Executive producers are Peter Bose and Jonas Allen for Miso Film, Andreas Hjertø for Prime Video, and Alice Sommer for TV 2 Norway. Miso Film is a Fremantle company and Fremantle is handling international sales.
According to Jens Richter, CEO Commercial & International at Fremantle, the show has “all the elements of an international hit.”
“At its core, it is a gripping cat-and-mouse thriller driven by lies, betrayal, and shifting loyalties, with addictive pacing. It also brings a fresh perspective to a rarely explored chapter of history, with a psychological focus on how ordinary people can be drawn into evil through fear and power,” he said.
“With cinematic scale, striking landscapes, and the strength of Miso Film and award-winning director Kenneth Karlstad, we’re confident it will connect with audiences worldwide.”
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