Fifth Season Boards ‘The Man Who Died’ With New Kaurismäki Star

Fifth Season has acquired worldwide distribution rights to Elisa Viihde authentic sequence “The Man Who Died.”

The corporate, previously often called Endeavor Content material, is behind “The Misplaced Daughter” or “Cha Cha Actual Easy.” It additionally handles world distribution for such hit reveals as “Killing Eve,” “The Morning Present” or “Regular Folks.” 

Primarily based on the bestselling e-book by Antti Tuomainen, the six-episode sequence is led by Jussi Vatanen, who will subsequent be seen in Aki Kaurismäki’s upcoming characteristic “Lifeless Leaves.” Saara Kotkaniemi and Sara Soulié, his co-star in Photo voltaic Movies’ drama “Forest Large,” additionally star.   

Since its premiere on June 19, “The Man Who Died” has been essentially the most watched sequence on Finnish streaming service Elisa Viihde Viaplay.  Produced by Helsinki-based ReelMedia Ltd. and Germany’s ndF Worldwide Manufacturing, the sequence follows mushroom entrepreneur Jaakko (Vatanen) who discovers he has been slowly poisoned. Jaakko is a person in his prime, with a thriving enterprise and eager prospects, however his world shatters when a health care provider reveals his days are numbered. Throughout his hunt for the killer, folks have a behavior of dying or vanishing. And but he feels gloriously alive, for the primary time in years. 

Rights for the award-winning e-book have offered extensively, from Czech Republic, France, Germany, Norway, Poland to the U.Okay., South Korea and the U-S.. 

Vatanen appreciated the sequence’ black humor, he mentioned.  “We now have all seen these Nordic Noirs, which all look the identical and are simply darkish. It was refreshing to have a sequence that not less than tries to be humorous.”

Already a family title due to the favored franchise “Lapland Odyssey,” he’s no stranger to comedy. Even when it skews a bit darker. 

“It simply feels acquainted, this sort of humor. Additionally, tragedy and comedy are finest buddies. When you’re critical, you can even be humorous. I assume it’s one thing that comes naturally to me,” he added.  

“[In ‘The Man Who Died’] the entire story is seen by Jaakko’s eyes. He’s continually current. The problem was to not lose the comedy, whereas on the identical time being actual about his scenario. He’s terribly unwell. He’s going to die. How do you mix that? We talked about it rather a lot with director Samuli Valkama and the creator.” 

“The Man Who Died” marks one other fascinating selection for the Jussi-nominated actor, who opted to not return for “Lapland Odyssey’s” fourth outing. The movie – as soon as once more penned by Pekko Pesonen – will premiere in December. 

“It was a straightforward determination. I didn’t have the rest to provide to this character, to those movies,” he admits.  

“5, six years in the past I used to be nonetheless doing these stay comedy reveals and I obtained this sense that I wished to do one thing else. I didn’t get pleasure from them anymore.”

“I got here to the conclusion that point is essentially the most beneficial factor we now have, so how do you need to spend it? In case you are undecided a few challenge, and it’ll take months of your life, possibly it’s higher to do one thing else? You could possibly say I had an awakening,” he says. 

“I really like each single certainly one of my roles. However I need to give attention to productions which are significant and essential to me now.”

That features Aki Kaurismäki’s extremely anticipated and secretive new movie, which Vatanen was capturing this summer time. He’ll star alongside “Tove’s” Alma Pöysti. 

Produced by Kaurismäki’s manufacturing firm Sputnik, it’s going to premiere in 2023 and will probably be distributed in Finland by B-Plan Distribution.

“Each time you tackle a brand new challenge, it’s important to deal with it in the identical means. However on this case, it was laborious to maintain that in thoughts,” he admits.  

“After I was rising up, Kaurismäki’s movies have been thought of ‘actual’ cinema. These actors, these characters, have been simply near me. So, in fact, it wasn’t a traditional job.” 

“Nonetheless, after just a few days on set, I simply obtained used to it. I wasn’t that nervous anymore. It was an enormous deal, positive. However it’s important to persuade your self that it’s regular to be able to carry on going.