Hot Picks: Golden Boys

The high-octane world of business and finance has already spawned global hits such as Industry, Succession and Billions, but this Swedish show – inspired by real, scarcely believable events – takes the genre in something of a new direction.

Golden Boys is produced by FLX, famed for Quicksand and Love & Anarchy, with Ivica Zubak (A Hustler’s Diary) directing.

The story follows a father named Joachim Posener and his cousin, Thomas Jisander. Posener, fresh from a stint in jail, wants to prove he is a success, and together, they devise a wildly illegal scheme to seize control of a major Swedish investment company using an enigmatic British aristocrat as their front man.

They pull off the largest financial crime in Swedish history. But a determined journalist begins to uncover the truth and Posener ultimately abandons everyone closest to him, fleeing the country. He has never returned.

The cast is led by Adam Lundgren (The Arctic Convoy, Blue Eyes) who features alongside Nigel Havers, while Erik Hultkvist is attached as lead writer. He tells Broadcast International that his background in finance helped his work on the series.

“I love dramas set in the world of fi nance, partly because I studied at a business school, so writing this story was a fantastic opportunity. I think my background helped us understand both the quite complicated twists and turns of the real events, as well as the psychology of these characters. This was key to unlocking the drama, suspense and humour in the story.”

The show is set in 1990s Stockholm and follows Posener and Jisander as they climb the ranks of the elite fi nancial world, travelling from Stockholm to London, Geneva and Saint-Tropez, a combination that made for a complex shoot, says producer Anna Carlsten.

“Logistically, staging multiple international locations within a tight schedule, and at the same time take into account that it is a period drama that takes place in 1997, was for sure a challenge – we filmed London, Geneva, Saint-Tropez and Argentina, all recreated in Croatia, over a single period of 10 days.”

Havers and Lundgren were joined by Erik Svedberg-Zelman (The Helicopter Heist) and Viktor Björkberg (Riding In Darkness) among the cast, and Carlsten says they immersed themselves in the story and the characters.

“Golden Boys has a very specific tone, which is fun, feisty and fast-paced”
Anna Carlsten

“The amount of humour and craziness we were able to weave in alongside the drama was a pleasant surprise; it made the story feel alive, fast-paced, signifi cant and fun.” Hultkvist says the combination of fi nancial heist and “wonderful, odd characters – very intelligent and very stupid at the same time” – will make the show stand out for others.

“It also has a very specific tone, which is fun, feisty and fast-paced. This, together with what happens to the characters and the notorious real-life crime, will keep viewers invested.”

Alexandra Aldred, vice-president of Viaplay Select and Content Distribution, is taking the show to the global market for the first time at London TV Screenings. She says strong interest has come from those looking for fresh, elevated European crime.

“What sets it apart is its distinctive tone – fast, bold and cinematic – anchored in rich characters,” she adds.