World War II thriller The Traitor Within has released exclusive behind-the-scenes images ahead of the Series Mania Buyers Upfront on Monday, March 23rd.
Based on the true story of Norway’s most notorious Nazi collaborator and the man ordered to kill him, the film follows two young men who try to join the resistance in Nazi-occupied Norway. Their choices at a crossroads in history lead them down radically different paths.
Henry Linnan, an ordinary family man and an unremarkable salesman, becomes the Gestapo’s most valuable Norwegian agent. Codenamed Agent Laura, he infiltrates and destroys resistance organizations from within, using deception, sabotage, torture, and murder. Odd Solli, a resistance fighter, works with British intelligence to save his homeland and rises to become a key figure in the rebel movement.
Sulli is given a single life-threatening mission: to assassinate Rinnan. What follows is a relentless cat-and-mouse battle across borders and hidden networks, driven by lies, betrayal, and shifting loyalties.
Henry Linnan is played by Axel Boym, whose credits include Emmy Award-winning “Witness” and “Blasted.” He won the Gruten Award for Best Actor in Norway for his role as Adrian in Jaimebane. Odin Waage (The Wisting, Witness) co-stars as Odd Solli.
The Traitor Within, also co-produced by Miso Film Norway and TV2 Norway for Prime Video, is a four-part thriller. The film is directed by Kenneth Karstad (Kids in Crime, Hunger) and written by Øyvind Holtmon and Eirik M. Holsv. Kristen Ulseth and Ale Heidenström are the producers of “Miso Film Norway.”
“I think the biggest challenge is staying relevant in a market that’s becoming more conservative. In Scandinavia, we’ve always had to be creative in our approach to storytelling and find new ways to tell stories that stand out through perspective and character. For us, that’s the opportunity now: to offer something unique rather than competing within a familiar formula,” Ulseth told Variety.
“Today, there is a strong interest in real events and real people. We are capitalizing on that appeal by telling true, untold stories that feel urgent and relevant right now. The focus is on characters and themes, bringing a sense of immediacy that is relevant to the past. That’s what gives us confidence in our shows: Clear, character-driven stories can actually stand out more in a market where so much feels so familiar.”
Jeba Jacobiah
She said there were many powerful films and series about World War II, both in Norway and abroad, many of which centered on heroism.
“For us, the starting point was a desire to explore a different side of that story. The story of the notorious traitor Henry Linnan allows us to consider moral ambiguity, betrayal, and how ordinary people overcome extreme situations. This feels jarring today, when Europe is once again characterized by war, polarization, and the rise of extremism.”
As such, they did not look to traditional war dramas for inspiration.
“We wanted a more modern, character-driven approach, something immediate and emotionally real. Bringing in director Kenneth Karlstad was key. He has a raw and intimate approach to characters. He has a strong, playful visual style, and he could bring this story to life as if it were here and now. We knew we could make it feel authentic and present. That was our guiding principle from the beginning: not to rehash well-known war stories, but to share unique, untold war stories and create a series that felt urgent, human, and close to our time. ”
Karlstad admitted: “When Kristin and Aare offered me this project, I had to ask my dad for advice. He said, ‘No, it’s too sensitive.'”
“Eighty-odd years later, there’s still a lot to be said about the potency of this. We chose to do it because I think we need the ability to see evil. To me, the constant worship of war heroes is creepy and blinds us to the lessons we can learn from war.”
The team decided to cover seven years and get as close to the truth as possible.
“Our screenwriters were very inspired by the true story of the Linnan group. I wanted to emphasize this authenticity by seamlessly blending archival footage with our own footage,” he said, describing Linnan as “a little man with very distinct special abilities that no one recognized until the Nazis came.”
“He had a very good memory and social skills, which made him perfect for a spy. This, combined with pride and narcissistic ambition, makes for a powerful cocktail. I think he needed to feel a sense of purpose, and the Nazi regime gave him the opportunity to be empowered and have an advantage. It was a situational combination made in hell.”
Jeba Jacobiah
Miso Films will also screen the historical epic “Royal Blood” at the Coming Next from the Nordic Showcase. This is the second project selected for the festival.
“‘The Traitor Within’ and ‘Royal Blood’, although very different, are two very ambitious series and important stories to tell in the times we live in. It’s always interesting to see how history can be relevant in today’s context, and that’s something we’ve explored in other series such as ‘1864’ and ‘The Bombardment’, which reflect the impact of war,” said Miso. said Film CEO and producer Jonas Allen.
He said both shows fit very well with the company’s policy and ethos, which involves “working with the best creative talent to deliver bold storytelling that always delivers production value and never compromises creative integrity.”
“This also applies to previous series such as ‘The Investigation,’ ‘Faithless,’ and ‘The Uniform,’ as well as ‘Side Effects’ and ‘The Cold Song,’ which are currently in production.”
“The Traitor Within” was produced with support from the Norwegian Film Institute (NFI), Filminvest, Frøya kommune and Sparebanken1.
Executive producers are Peter Boes and Jonas Allen for Miso Film, Andreas Hjertø for Prime Video, and Alice Sommer for TV 2 Norway. Miss Film is a Fremantle company with international sales handled by Fremantle.
Fremantle Commercial and International CEO Jens Richter said the show “has all the makings of a global hit”.
“At its core, the film is a gripping cat-and-mouse thriller driven by lies, betrayal, and shifting loyalties, driven at an addictive pace. It also focuses on the psychology of how ordinary people are drawn into evil by fear and power, bringing a new perspective to a rarely explored chapter of history,” he said.
“With its cinematic scale, striking scenery and the power of Mythofilm and award-winning director Kenneth Karlstad, we are confident this production will connect with audiences around the world.”
Jeba Jacobiah
