EXCLUSIVE: The meteoric rise and spectacular fall of of two ambitious Swedish city boy cousins will be told in a TV4 drama that Viaplay Content Distribution is taking international.
Based on real-life events, Golden Boys will tell the story of recently-released white collar criminal Joachim Posener and his flamboyant cousin, Thomas Jisander, who hatch a plan to create bold, illegal business ventures. Posener orchestrates the largest fraud in Swedish financial history, with Jisander by side, but when a journalist begins digging into their affairs, their glamorous world begins to crumble.
Adam Lungren (The Arctic Convoy, The Restaurant), Erik Svedberg-Zelman (The Helicopter Heist, Skåne) and Viktor Björkberg (Baba Yoga, Wizard of Oz) star in the four-part series, which is for TV4 in Sweden and made by Quicksand producer FLX as a co-production with Film i Väst.
Ivica Zubak (A Hustler’s Diary, Måste Gitt) is the director, with FLX Head of Drama Programs Erik Hultkvist (Blinded, The Dark Heart) writing alongside Per Gavatin (Swedish Dicks) and Tapio Leopold (Trouble). Anna Carlsten (Trouble, Together 99) is the producer with Julia Lennartson the executive producer.
The story will span Stockholm, London, Geneva and St. Tropez, and production begun ahead of a planned early 2026 launch date.
“At Viaplay, we love true stories so unbelievable they could be mistaken for fiction, and Golden Boys is a prime example,” said Vanda Rapti, EVP, Viaplay Select and Viaplay Content Distribution. “It’s a fast-paced, high-stakes drama with all the hallmarks of a global hit: real-life intrigue, compelling characters, and a world of wealth, ambition and betrayal. We’re proud to add it to our lineup of premium, export-ready series, and to bring this captivating story to buyers and audiences worldwide through our boutique distribution arm, SVOD channels in markets including the U.S., UK, and Canada, and our Viaplay Select branded content offering.”
“With Golden Boys, we set out to tell a story that’s as audacious as the heist itself, blending dark humour, sharp character work, and the intoxicating allure of fast money,” added Hultkvist. “It’s a stylish, provocative drama with real edge, and we’re thrilled to partner with Viaplay Content Distribution to share it with global audiences.”
At the London TV Screenings earlier this year, Viaplay introduced buyers to another drama series set in the world of high finance, Vanguard, which follows a socialite who, when tragedy strikes his relatives in Sweden, is unexpectedly thrust into a leadership role at the family’s powerful industrial group.
