As of: February 21, 2024, 5:32 a.m
By: Sven Trautwein
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Jens Henrik Jensen's books about Niels Oxen are bestsellers.
In March, ZDF will show the film adaptation of Denmark's most successful series.
Danish film productions have that certain something extra.
Many television viewers will still have fond memories of “Borgen – Dangerous Ropes” with Sidse Babett Knudsen in the lead role.
Danish crime novels have also been a guarantee of positive reviews from readers for years.
“Pilgrim” was most recently published in the current Nordic Noir series by Jens Henrik Jensen.
The book adaptation was the most successful series in Denmark in 2023. It can be seen on ZDF on March 4th.
Film adaptation of “Oxen”: That’s what the series is about
Film scene: Niels Oxen (Jacob Lohmann) returns to his tent camp in the forest.
In March, the bestselling adaptation by Jens Henrik Jensen can be seen as a series on TV.
© Mike Kollöffel/ZDF
The bestselling authors of Scandinavia have already created a number of charismatic protagonists who are very popular on German television.
Now a new striking figure is celebrating its debut in the ZDFmediathek and in the ZDF Monday cinema: Niels Oxen, Denmark's most decorated soldier, according to the broadcaster in its press release.
The crime novels by the Danish author Jens Henrik Jensen, known as “Oxen”, are enjoying increasing popularity among German readers.
So it's time for the maverick elite soldier to get his own television series.
Mai Brøstrom and Peter Thorsboe, an Emmy-winning duo, were hired to write the scripts.
They are known for their work on successful ZDF series such as “The Team” and “ Modus “.
The ingredients for the success of the Danish-German crime series are already there: a fallen hero, an unconventional team of investigators, an enigmatic head of the secret service and a secret society that gives the famous sentence “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” a completely new meaning.
With its broadcast in autumn 2023, “Oxen” became the most successful series of the year in Denmark.
The “Niels Oxen” thrillers in the correct order
Jens Henrik Jensen's crime novels are bestsellers.
ZDF will show the “Oxen” film adaptation from March 4th © Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix/Imago
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The first victim, 2012
The Dark Man, 2014
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Pilgrim, 2023
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“Oxen” film adaptation: The plot of the original book “The First Victim”
The elite soldier Niels Oxen loses a comrade in Mali due to the cowardice of his superior.
After returning to Denmark, he plans to take legal action, but is sidelined by a conspiracy.
Disappointed and bitter, Oxen retreats into the Danish forests.
But a murder at nearby Norlund Castle brings him into the sights of the Danish secret service.
The resolute head of the secret service, Mossmann, suspects that the murdered castle owner was the leader of a secret league.
This alliance appears to be influencing Denmark's center of power through murders and conspiracies.
The series starts on March 4th as a double episode on ZDF.
The episodes will be available in the media library from February 25th.
“Pilgrim” is one of the new releases you can look forward to since January.