Amir Shaheen, one of the co-creators of Netflix’s pioneer Norwegian series Home for Christmas, has been signed to Inner Voice Artists. Based in Los Angeles and Oslo, the company was formed in part by former exec of Sierra/Affinity, Ina Petersen, according to Deadline.
Co-created by Shaheen and Kristian Andersen, the series follows nurse Johanne, played by Ida Elise Broch (Switch), as she faces family pressure to find a relationship. Initially lying to her family that she has a boyfriend on December 1, Broch scrambles to find her Christmas dinner guest in 24 days. Throughout the six, 30-minute episode series that premiered to Netflix in December 2019, Broch attempts to find a significant other by attending speed dating events and using online dating apps. She also experiences dates with those much younger than her, like 18-year-old Jonas, played by Felix Sandman (Quicksand), and much older than her with Bengt Erik, played by Bjørn Skagestad (The Witch Hunt). Her search for a holiday lover even led her to have a fling with female hospital coworker Eira, played by Line Verndal (Limbo).
This series is Andersen’s first writing and production credit. Other writers include Fredrick Høyer (Elegi over Avicci), Miriam Larsen (Nummer), Mattis Herman Nyquist (Headhunters) and Julie Skaufel (Vessel).
Other cast members include Eric Curtis Johnson (Borderline), Hege Schøyen (Gentlemen), Oddgeir Thune (Occupied) and Arthur Hakalahi (The King’s Choice).
Produced by the Oslo Company, the show was “well-received,” via Deadline, which also led to its nomination for the Gullruten Awards. In 2019, the series was nominated for the Norway’s national TV awards, the Gullruten Awards. Shaheen will join Inner Voice Artists’ “roster of largely Euro talent,” via Deadline.
The trailer for Home for Christmas can be seen below. With a Netflix description of heartfelt, raunchy and quirky, all six episodes of Shaheen’s Scandinavian holiday romantic comedy can be streamed on Netflix.