Photo: Jesper Brandt Photo: Jesper Brandt

Magnus Martens

Norwegian screenwriter and director Magnus Martens is internationally recognized for his ability to deliver stylish and violent action while remaining staggeringly entertaining and savagely funny. He made his feature breakthrough with the slick comedy thriller Jackpot (2011) which he wrote and directed based on a Jo Nesbø story. Selected for the Tribeca Film Festival, the critics described Jackpot as bloody and brilliant, and applauded Martens’ deliciously dark style, favorably comparing him to Tarantino and the Coen brothers.

Following his international breakthrough with Jackpot, Martens has directed multiple episodes for some of the biggest TV shows in the US, including Banshee, 12 Monkeys, Power, Marvel’s Luke Cage, Good Behavior, Longmire, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Will and Fear the Walking Dead. Most recently he directed the first two episodes of the anticipated The Walking Dead: World Beyond which premiered in October 2020.

Martens’ latest film, the explosive action thriller SAS: Red Notice, starring Sam Heughan, Ruby Rose and Tom Wilkinson, premiered in March 2021 in the UK and US. In August 2021 SAS: Red Notice was released on Netflix. Furthermore, Martens is director of the acclaimed series Furia, which premiered on Viaplay in September 2021.

Currently, Martens is directing the anticipated Norwegian holiday horror There’s Something in the Barn.

Awards

Montréal International Children's Film Festival (Children's Jury Prize) Canada – United 2004
Mannheim-Heidelberg International Filmfestival (FIPRESCI Prize) Germany – Folk flest bor i Kina Utopia - Nobody's Perfect in Perfect Country 2002
Mannheim-Heidelberg International Filmfestival (Special Prize in Memoriam R.W. Fassbinder) Germany – Folk flest bor i Kina Utopia - Nobody's Perfect in Perfect Country 2002
Grimstad Short Film Festival (Dolby Prize) Sweden – Eddie Stargazer 1999
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Filmography

Furia 2 Fury 2
(TV Series)
 (CrimeDramaThriller)
in-production
Director
2023
There's Something in the Barn
(Feature film)
 (Horror)
in-production
Director
2023
Furia Fury
(TV Series)
 (CrimeDramaThriller)
Director
2021
SAS: Red Notice
(Feature film)
 (Action)
Director
2021
The Walking Dead: World Beyond
(TV Series)
 (DramaHorrorSci-Fi)
Episode director
2020
Fear the Walking Dead
(TV Series)
 (DramaHorrorSci-Fi)
Episode director
2018
Longmire
(TV Series)
 (ActionCrimeDrama)
Episode director
2017
Will
(TV Series)
 (Drama)
Episode director
2017
Good Behaviour
(TV Series)
 (CrimeDramaMystery)
Episode director
2016 - 2017
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
(TV Series)
 (ActionAdventureDrama)
Episode director
2016
Luke Cage
(TV Series)
 (ActionCrimeDrama)
Episode director
2016
Power
(TV Series)
 (CrimeDrama)
Episode director
2016
12 Monkeys
(TV Series)
 (AdventureDramaMystery)
Episode director
2015 - 2016
Banshee
(TV Series)
 (ActionCrimeDrama)
Episode director
2015
Meglerne
(TV Series)
 (Comedy)
Director
2014
Nattskiftet
(TV Series)
 (Comedy)
Director
2012
Arme Riddere Jackpot
(Feature film)
 (ActionComedyCrime)
DirectorWriter
2011
Baby, Yeah Yeah
(TV Movie)
 (Drama)
Director
2003
Uti vår hage
(TV Series)
 (Comedy)
Director
2003
United
(Feature film)
 (ComedyRomance)
DirectorWriter
2003
Folk flest bor i Kina Utopia - Nobody's Perfect in Perfect Country
(Feature film)
 (ComedyDrama)
Director
2002
Eddie Stargazer
(Short)
 (ComedyDrama)
1999
Åpen Post
(TV Series)
 (Comedy)
Director
1998

Related news

Trailer released for ‘There’s Something in the Barn’

The first trailer for Magnus Marten’s Christmas comedy horror There’s Something in the Barn has now been released.

The film follows a Nordheim family who happily have moved into their old family farm up in the Norwegian Mountains. But their lives soon turn into banes and torments as they come across the trickiest of the Nordic folklore creatures, the Barn Elf.

There’s Something in the Barn is directed by Martens, written by Aleksander Kirkwood Brown, and will premiere in Norwegian theaters on November 10.

To see the trailer, press “Read more”

Read more
Viaplay Photo: Viaplay

‘Furia’ returns for a second season

Viaplay will air a second season of the record-breaking Norwegian series Furia in 2023. A dark, multi-layered drama exploring the disturbing underworld of right-wing terrorism, Furia is created by International Emmy winner Gjermund Stenberg Eriksen. Actors starring are Ine Marie Wilmann, Pål Sverre Hagen and Borys Szyc.

The second season of Furia takes place two years after the first. Security police agents Ragna and Asgeir continue to battle extremist forces in Norway – but when an undercover mission goes wrong, the two are forced into a new race against time to foil a terrorist plot.

Furia season two is written by Gjermund Stenberg Eriksen, Ingar Johnsrud, Embla Veier Bugge and Mikkel Bugge, with Magnus Martens as conceptual director.

‘There’s Something in the Barn’ now shooting

Magnus Martens’ Norwegian holiday horror There’s Something in the Barn has begun shooting.

There’s Something in the Barn follows a typical American family who inherit a farm in the Norwegian mountains and cross paths with a tricky creature from Nordic folklore, the Barn Elf. The family must avoid incurring the wrath of this gnome-like Santa by eschewing all bright lights and loud noises and making sure to leave a bowl of porridge on Christmas Eve.

In the leading roles we find Martin Starr (Spider-Man films, Intruders) and Amrita Acharia (Game Of Thrones, The Serpent Queen). Produced by Norway’s 74 Entertainment, with US-based XYZ Films executive producing and co-financing, the film will make its market debut at AFM.

‘SAS: Rise of the Black Swan’ premiere on Netflix

SAS: Rise of the Black Swan, the action film directed by Magnus Martens based on Andy McNab’s novel Red Notice, premiered on Netflix on this Friday and is the second most watched movie in the US this weekend.

The film stars Sam Heughan (Outlander), Ruby Rose (Batwoman), Andy Serkis (Planet of the Apes), Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton) and Hannah John-Kamen (Ready Player One) and follows a band of criminals as they hijack the Eurostar train with 400 hostages on board, deep beneath the English Channel where they plan to detonate an explosion, ushering in an economic war on the government. Unbeknownst to the criminals, injured Special Air Service off-duty officer Tom Buckingham is on board the train as well, and he will stop at nothing to thwart the terrorist attack.

‘Furia’ nominated for Series Mania’s International Competition’s Grand Prize

Furia, the original crime thriller created by Gjermund Stenberg Eriksen and directed by Magnus Martens, is in the running for the Grand Prize for ‘Best Series’ at Series Mania’s International Competition.

Furia: On the run from his past and with a new identity, the cop Asgeir moves with his daughter to an idyllic small town in western Norway. A conflict at the local refugee center leads Asgeir to encounter the mysterious Ragna, the owner of a dire secret. She is Furia, a far-right writer spreading dark and sinister opinions to a global audience. A tragic murder puts both Asgeir and Ragna in danger, revealing forces in Norway and Europe far more dangerous than a small-town murder.

Taking place in Lille, France, on August 26 – September 2, Series Mania will also be where Furia has its world premiere.

 

‘Furia’ on Series Mania’s lineup for 2021

Series Mania has announced the lineup for its 2021 event and the selection includes world premieres of some of the most hotly anticipated international series this year, including Furia, the original crime thriller created by Gjermund Stenberg Eriksen and directed by Magnus Martens, about a police officer who goes undercover in a neo-Nazi group.

Furia is a co-production between German producers X Filme (Babylon Berlin) and Norway’s Monster Scripted (Noble).

The festival will take place in Lille, France, on August 26 – September 2.

Read more in The Hollywood Reporter by clicking “Read More” below.

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Trailer premiere for ‘SAS: Red Notice’

The trailer has been released for SAS: Red Notice, the new action film based on Andy McNab’s novel Red Notice, directed by Magnus Martens.

The film stars Sam Heughan (Outlander), Ruby Rose (Batwoman), Andy Serkis (Planet of the Apes), Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton) and Hannah John-Kamen (Ready Player One).

SAS: Red Notice will premiere in the UK on March 12, and in the US on March 16.

‘The Walking Dead: World Beyond’ to premiere on AMC and Amazon Prime UK

The spin-off series The Walking Dead: World Beyond expands the universe of The Walking Dead, delving into new mythology in a storyline that follows the first generation raised in a surviving civilization of the post-apocalyptic world. Two sisters along with two friends leave a place of safety and comfort to brave dangers, known and unknown, living and undead on an important quest.

The Walking Dead: World Beyond was co-created by The Walking Dead universe producer Scott Gimple and The Walking Dead writer Matthew Negrete, who also serves as showrunner. Magnus Martens is the director of the first two episodes.

The Walking Dead: World Beyond will premiere October 4 on AMC in the US and on Amazon Prime UK the following day.

NENT Group orders ‘Fury’

NENT Group has ordered Fury, an original drama series created by Gjermund Stenberg Eriksen. The series explores the underworld of right-wing extremism in Europe. The eight-part show is directed by Magnus Martens and Lars Kraume.

Fury is a co-production between Norway’s Monster Scripted and Germany’s X Filme Creative Pool Series and ZDF. It will premiere on NENT Group’s Viaplay streaming service in 2021.

Magnus Martens’ ‘SAS: Red Notice’ has wrapped

Director Magnus Martens’ upcoming action thriller SAS: Red Notice has wrapped production after shooting in London, Paris and Budapest. The movie is based on the bestselling novel Red Notice by former British special forces operative turned writer Andy McNab and stars Sam Heughan (Outlander), Ruby Rose (Batwoman), Andy Serkis (Planet of the Apes), Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton) and Hannah John-Kamen (Ready Player One). The screenplay is written by Laurence Malkin and Chad Thumann. The movie will be released in 2020.

Click “Read more” below to read the full article in Deadline Hollywood.

Read more
Photo: Jesper Brandt

Magnus Martens signs with Salomonsson Agency

Norwegian screenwriter and director Magnus Martens is internationally recognized for his ability to deliver stylish and violent action while remaining staggeringly entertaining and savagely funny. He made his feature breakthrough with the slick comedy thriller Jackpot, which he wrote and directed based on a Jo Nesbø story, and has since directed multiple episodes for some of the biggest TV shows in the US. Martens and Nesbø have now teamed up for a second time on a feature film that Martens is attached to direct.

We will shortly reveal the next addition to our select list of top directors. Stay tuned!