'Cold Courage': Live stream, release date, cast, plot, trailer and all you need to know about AMC's Nordic noir

'Cold Courage' is based on author and journalist Pekka Hiltunen's 2011 award-winning and best-selling novels
Pihla Viitala as Mari and Sofia Pekkari as Lia in 'Cold Courage' (AMC+)
Pihla Viitala as Mari and Sofia Pekkari as Lia in 'Cold Courage' (AMC+)

A gloomy shot of London is how the trailer starts, but with its recognizable bleakness, troubling backstories, and dark palettes of grim greys and blue hues, 'Cold Courage' ticks all the right boxes for a becoming Nordic noir with a merry mix of accents. The series follows two young Finnish women in London, who are drawn 'inexorably together via the Studio — a clandestine group dedicated to bringing justice to those beyond the law'.

The Viaplay show is based on author and journalist Pekka Hiltunen's 2011 award-winning and best-selling novels. His debut 2011 novel 'Cold Courage', a psychological thriller, was nominated for the Helsingin Sanomat Prize for Best Debut Novel of the year, a rare feat for a thriller.

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Release date

The international crime drama is slated to premiere its first three episodes on Thursday, March 11. 

Plot

The show follows Mari, a fierce psychologist, and Lia, drawn together through a group of like-minded people operating off the grid, dedicated to righting the wrongs of the powerful, influential, and corrupt, giving people who feel ignored a voice, or simply 'fix things'. The duo team up to track down populist politician Arthur Freed, who wants to make Great Britain 'great again' and seems to have a bunch of wrongs under his belt.

The trailer ends on a cliffhanger with Lia saying to her new friend, "It's hard to trust people you hardly know."

Cast

Sofia Pekkari 

Pekkari plays Lia. The Swedish actor and singer works at the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm, where she has appeared in numerous plays, including Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night' as Viola, 'Romeo and Julia' (as Julia), 'The Tempest' (as Miranda) and Anton Chekhov's 'Three Sisters' (as Irina). Sofia has starred in several films and TV productions in Sweden, including 'The Days the Flowers Bloom', the 'Wallander' films and 'The Sandhamn Murders'.

Sofia Pekkari plays Lia in 'Cold Courage' (Viaplay Sverige)

Pihla Viitala

Phila plays Mari. She is an actress and director, known for playing Solveig in 'Latin Lover' (2015), Mina 'Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters' (2013) and for her role in 'Kaiken se kestää' (2017). She was previously married to musician Kerkko Koskinen. 

Pihla Viitala plays Mari in 'Cold Courage' (Viaplay Sverige/YouTube)

John Simm

Simm plays the dangerous, powerful politician Arthur Freed. The BAFTA-winning actor and Laurence Olivier Award nominee is best known for playing Sam Tyler in 'Life on Mars', and The Master in 'Doctor Who'.

John Simm plays Arthur Freed in 'Cold Courage' (Getty Images)

Arsher Ali 

Ali plays the DCI Peter Chandra. The British Asian actor has played various TV and film roles, and is a regular lead performer at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon. He starred in films like 'The Ritual' (2017), 'Line of Duty' (2016) and 'The Missing' (2014).

Arsher Ali plays Peter Chandra in 'Cold Courage' (Getty Images)

Caroline Goodall

Goodall plays the role of Maggie. The AFI award-winning actress and screenwriter is known for her roles in films like 'Hook' (1991), 'Cliffhanger' (1993), 'Schindler's List' (1993), 'Disclosure' (1994), 'The Princess Diaries' (2001) and 'The Best of Me' (2014).

Caroline Goodall plays Maggie in 'Cold Courage' (Getty Images)

Creators

'Cold Courage' is directed by Agneta Fagerström-Olsson and Kadir Ferati Balci, who directed five and three of the show's eight episodes, respectively. David Joss Buckley, known for his work on 'EastEnders' (1995-2014) and 'Bride of War' (1997) has written the series. He is joined by co-writers Brendan Foley and Shelley Goldstein.

Agneta Fagerström-Olsson and Kadir Ferati Balci (Wikimedia Commons, IMDB)

Trailer



 

Where to watch?

The series was available in Nordic countries on Viaplay on May 3, 2020. Lionsgate is now in charge of international distribution. You can catch the show on March 11 on AMC+.

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