Copenhagen, 13 November 2024 – Nordisk Film has announced its latest major production with the local title: REJSEHOLDET – DET FØRSTE MORD, and TrustNordisk is proud and excited to announce that is has secured the film for international sales. The international title has not yet been disclosed and is currently being referred to as the “UNTITLED - Christoffer Boe Project.” The film is a thrilling and entertaining crime story set between luxury and lawlessness in the 1920s, depicting the formation of the Police's mobile investigation unit. Rarely portrayed in Danish cinema, this period brings intrigue to the big screen.
The “UNTITLED - Christoffer Boe Project" is based on Jacob Jonia’s 2023 novel ‘Den yderste grænse’ (translated ‘The Outer Limit’). Directed by Christoffer Boe, the screenplay is co-written by Boe and Lasse Kyed Rasmussen. Filming is currently underway in Poland, with additional scenes planned to be shot in Denmark.
About the Director
Christoffer Boe is a Danish film director and screenwriter known for his distinctive, often surreal storytelling style and visually compelling cinematography. His debut film, RECONSTRUCTION (2003), earned the prestigious Camera d'Or and ‘Best First Feature’ award at the Cannes Film Festival, showcasing his flair for visually striking, unconventional narratives that explore memory and identity. This established his reputation as a bold, innovative filmmaker.
Next came the feature film ALLEGRO (2005), which was selected for both the Venice Film Festival and Sundance, followed by OFFSCREEN (2006), which was also shown at both festivals. EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE (2010) premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. His reputation in the international sphere continued to grow with works like BEAST (2011), a dark psychological drama praised for its intense exploration of human relationships, which screened at events including SXSW. Boe also directed the crime thriller THE PURITY OF VENGEANCE (2018), a part of the popular Department Q series, selling over 760,000 tickets locally.
Christoffer Boe, who is currently busy with the filming, is very excited to have taken on this piece of Danish history. He says:
” Let me be honest – I love crime stories! At their best, they serve as a mirror to our dark contemporary world, in a captivating and manipulative game that we love to be seduced by. There is a fundamentally thrilling story waiting to be told about the founding of the this special crime investigation unit and how they became Denmark's answer to the FBI, achieving almost mythical status among many Danes. And at the heart of it all is, of course, our main character – Otto Himmelstrup. A fascinating and complex figure, who struggles with the pain of the past in a desperate attempt to prevent future atrocities. He WILL catch the guilty – and in the process, we get a close look at the creation of modern criminal investigation. In that sense, we find ourselves at the very beginning – the primordial soup from which everything we know so well has emerged.”
Christoffer Boe co-wrote the script with one of Danish televisions unofficial crime kings, Lasse Kyed Rasmussen, who is known for scripting series such as DARKNESS: THOSE WHO KILL (2024), FACE TO FACE (2023), Netflix-series THE RAIN (2018-2020), and BELOW THE SURFACE (2019).
Star-Studded Cast
The film is produced by Nordisk Film Production and boasts a diverse cast of Danish actors spanning multiple generations. Taking the lead as Otto Himmelstrup is Alex Høgh Andersen. Known internationally for his portrayal of the villain Ivar the Boneless in over 50 episodes of Netflix’s VIKINGS (2013-2020), Andersen has also earned recognition for his roles in Danish films such as NIGHTWATCH – DEMONS ARE FOREVER (2023) and is currently featured in Pedro Almodóvar’s THE ROOM NEXT DOOR (2024). With the role of Otto Himmelstrup, this marks Andersen's first regular lead role in a feature film.
In the lead female role as detective Camilla, Mathilde Arcel, who has gained recognition in Denmark and is starting to build her international presence. Her work includes significant roles in Danish TV series and films, notably starring in AGENT (2023) and went on to star in the political thriller DARKLAND (2024). Completing the team is Nicolaj Kopernikus (THE KILLING,2007) as the detective “PR”, the technical expert and Otto Himmelstrup's closest collaborator.
Other central roles include Mille Hoffmeyer Lehfeldt (NOTHING’S ALL BAD, 2010) as the quick-witted local newspaper reporter Nete Schwartz, alongside Lars Ranthe (ANOTHER ROUND, 2020), Kathrine Greis-Rosenthal (A TASTE OF HUNGER, 2021), and many more.
Synopsis:
Denmark in 1927. The ambitious police officer Otto Himmelstrup leads the newly formed Travel Squad, which is tasked with assisting local police in solving particularly difficult crimes. When a body is found in a burnt-out summer house in Esbjerg, Otto and his team begin to unravel an unusual murder mystery, revealing power struggles and corruption among the city’s elite. The closer the Travel Squad gets to the truth, the more dangerous it becomes – soon, Otto finds himself not only battling powerful enemies but also confronting his own dark side in his quest to solve the case.
“UNTITLED - Christoffer Boe Project.” (Danish title: REJSEHOLDET – DET FØRSTE MORD) is directed by Christoffer Boe, written by Christoffer Boe and Lasse Kyed Rasmussen and produced by Thomas Heinesen for Nordisk Film Production. The film is supported by The Danish Film Institute in collaboration with Lava Films, The Polish Film Institute and TV2 Denmark. Local Distribution by Nordisk Film. International sales handled by TrustNordisk.
The film is expected to premiere locally on 4 September 2025. A UK script is available for interested buyers; please contact us here.
