Amy Poehler and Her Brother Collaborate with New eOne, TV4 Comedy “Welcome to Sweden”

LOS ANGELES, CA – May 8, 2013 – Sweden’s TV4 is pleased to announce it has closed a deal with siblings Amy Poehler and Greg Poehler under their brand new production banner Syskon to produce the half-hour comedy series, WELCOME TO SWEDEN. Local Swedish producer FLX, who produce TV4’s hit comedy Solsidan, now in its fourth season will be producing the series along with leading independent studio, Entertainment One (eOne) who will also handle worldwide rights to the series in all media. The series will be shot in both Sweden and New York with production slated to begin filming on Monday, May 13th.

WELCOME TO SWEDEN is a fish out of water comedy series based on Greg Poehler’s true life story about a New York accountant, Bruce (Greg Poehler) who falls in love with a Swedish girl, Emma and follows his heart to Sweden. Making his acting debut, Greg will star in the series along with Josephine Bornebusch (Solsidan) who will play Emma, Lena Olin (Chocolat, The Ninth Gate) as Emma’s mother Viveka, and Illeana Douglas (Easy to Assemble, Grace of My Heart) and Patrick Duffy (Dallas) as Bruce’s parents.

“This show has been a real passion project for eOne! It’s been thrilling to work with TV4 on their first English language co-production that organically explores a cross-cultural world,” said Carrie Stein, Executive Vice President, Global Production, Entertainmnet One. “Greg Poehler is a talent on the rise, both as an actor and writer and he has created a series rife with humor as his lead character, Bruce, tries to navigate a different culture, a foreign language, his grilfriend’s quirky family and a life-changing romance.”

“I’m overjoyed to work with everyone involved to create what we hope will be a uniquely international show. Mostly, I’m happy to finally start profiting from my strange Swedish experiences,” said Greg Poehler.

“I’m so happy to work with my talented brother Greg and the terrific Swedish actors who have joined us. Hopefully this helps us decide once and for all who is our parents’ favorite child,” commented Amy Poehler.

“It was easy to fall for Greg Poehler’s self experienced story of an American that follows his heart to Sweden,” said Asa Sjöberg, director of Programs at TV4. “When Greg teamed up with Felix Herngren and his excellent team at FLX, there was no doubt that this series had a unique and huge potential to reach further than the Swedish comedy audience. We are so excited to join forces with eOne and to follow the story of Bruce and Emma, in our first English language co-production.”

Entertainment One is currently pitching the series to U.S. broadcasters and cable networks.

This is an excerpt. Click here to read the full press release in The Futon Critic.