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All we know About the Nordic Cold War Dramedy Series—Whiskey on the Rocks
Whiskey on the Rocks is set to bring a fascinating and darkly comic chapter of history to life. Blending political satire with high-stakes drama, this Swedish-language series dives into a Cold War crisis that’s stranger than fiction.
The latest buzz around Whiskey on the Rocks includes its status as the first Nordic Original series, co-produced by Sweden’s SVT and Skyverse Nordic, set to captivate a global audience. This show marks a significant milestone for Nordic storytelling on the international stage.
Prepare to uncover everything about Whiskey on the Rocks, including its unique take on real-life events, the creative minds behind it, and what sets this series apart. Stay tuned as we continue to update this article with the latest news and surprises, ensuring you don’t miss a single detail!
Release date & Where to Watch
The first Nordic Original series will debut on Disney+ in select countries and Hulu in the US on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, with all six episodes dropping simultaneously.
What is the plot of Whiskey on the Rocks?
The series Whiskey on the Rocks offers a playful and satirical take on the dramatic events of late October 1981, when the Soviet submarine U-137, a nuclear Whiskey-class vessel, ran aground in Sweden's Karlskrona archipelago, dangerously close to its largest naval base.
This incident pushed the world to the brink of full-scale conflict, placing immense responsibility on Sweden’s Prime Minister Thorbjörn Fälldin, a former sheep farmer tasked with balancing tensions between Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and U.S. President Ronald Reagan.
Director Björn Stein explained in a press statement, “The true story behind Whiskey on the Rocks is both dramatic and absurd, and something we felt would work very well as political satire. The ambition was to use a visual and suspenseful language to contrast and enhance the humor, in a way you rarely see in comedies.”
He further explained, “Then when it shifts into true suspense we are already in that visual world. And although the events in the series happened more than 40 years ago, looking around the world today, it is frighteningly topical.”
The series blends sharp political satire with historical tension, offering an alternative perspective on one of the Cold War’s most bizarre crises. Through a mix of humor and suspense, Whiskey on the Rocks captures the absurdity and gravity of a moment when global superpowers stood on the precipice of disaster.
What is the cast of Whiskey on the Rocks?
- Rolf Lassgård (Wallander) as Swedish PM Thorbjörn Fälldin
- Kestutis Stasys Jakstas as Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev
- Anders Mossling as Minister of Foreign Affairs Ola Ullsten
- Artur Svorobovich as Andrei Bortnik
- Andrius Bialobzeskis as Vladimir Peskov
- Mark Noble (All Creatures Great and Small) as US President Ronald Reagan
- Filip Berg as Håkan Martinsson
- Per Lasson as Anders Karlsson
- Niklas Engdahl as Swedish Chief of Defence Börje Lagerkrantz
- Rolf Lydahl as Gustav Jansson
- Per Ragnar as Harry Jansson
- Oskar Vygonovski as Dimitrij Tarasenko
- Elsa Saisio as Aleksandra Kosygina
- Vytautas Kaniusonis as Admiral Valerij Kalinin
- Daniel Hansson as Radio Operator Lundin
- Adam Lundgren as Captain Hammarberg
- Albinas Keleris as Yuri Andropov
- James Studdert as General D. Cooper
Official Trailer
The trailer for Whiskey on the Rocks blends Cold War tension with sharp humor, recounting the accidental grounding of Soviet submarine U-137 off the Swedish coast. It teases a mix of dark comedy and political drama, with frantic Swedish officials and determined Soviet forces navigating the absurd crisis.
Showcasing immersive visuals powered by cutting-edge VR technology, the series captures 1981’s essence with stunning detail and witty satire. Whiskey on the Rocks promises a thrilling, hilarious retelling of one of history’s most bizarre incidents.
Behind the Scenes
Whiskey on the Rocks is a series based on a story by Jonas Jonasson, renowned for his bestseller The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared. The show is written by Henrik Jansson-Schweizer, directed by Björn Stein, and produced by Jan Marnell.
It’s a co-production between Swedish national broadcaster SVT and The Walt Disney Company Nordic & Baltic. The series aired on SVT1 during Christmas 2024.
The production is led by executive producers Patrick Nebout, Henrik Jansson-Schweizer, and Magnus Bimberg for Humanoids; Sonja Hermele and Anna Croneman for SVT; and Nanna Mailand-Mercado for Disney+.
Vibeke Lia, Director of Programming and Production at The Walt Disney Company Nordic & Baltic, expressed excitement in the press statement about bringing the first Nordic production to Disney+, saying, “The series is a testament to the richness of our stories, the talent of our region, and the global appeal of Nordic storytelling. We can't wait for audiences around the world to experience the alternate version of what happened outside Karlskrona in 1981.”
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