Rune appears overnight in Odda
Netflix films mythology-inspired series in Hordaland
Photo: The Local / Netflix
A large stone with rune inscriptions appeared just outside of a shopping center in the town of Odda in Hordaland County mid-November.
The Local
A large stone with rune inscriptions appeared just outside of a shopping center in the town of Odda in Hordaland County mid-November.
There was a hint for passers-by as to the purpose of the runes. A Netflix logo and a message to the “oddingene” (the people inhabiting Odda) reveal the date for the premiere of the streaming giant’s Norse mythology-inspired series “Ragnarok,” which is scheduled for release next year.
Several episodes of the show were filmed in Odda during the past year.
“It is correct that it is we who put it there. With all the goodwill we have received from the local community during the recordings, we wanted this to be the first place in the world to receive the news of when the series is to be released,” a spokesperson for Netflix Norwegian press service told local newspaper Hardanger Folkeblad, which originally reported the stone.
The local community in Odda has offered considerable assistance during filming of the show, according to Netflix.
Several well-known Norwegian actors are listed amongst the cast, including Henriette Steenstrup, Odd-Magnus Williamson, and Bjørn Sundquist.
The series, which consists of six episodes, is the second international television series in Norwegian on Netflix.
Portraying the fictional village of Edda, the official launch date—as inscribed on the Odda runestone—is Jan. 31, 2020.
The series will be available in every country that has Netflix, giving as many as 158 million subscribers from 190 countries the chance to see the nature and sights of the Hardanger region.
“Ragnarok” is described by Netflix as a “Norse drama built on Norse mythology with a new and exciting twist.”
Odda’s Mayor Roald Aga Haug said he was pleased to receive the heavy stone as a thank you to the municipality and the town for their contributions to the production.
“The feedback from the production company is that they are excited for the collaboration we’ve had. We’re just trying to be of good hospitality,” Haug said.
Hardanger Folkeblad reports that the plan was initially to leave the stone in place for a couple of days, but it is now expected to stay there until the series premiere next year.
This article was originally published on The Local.
This article originally appeared in the November 29, 2019, issue of The Norwegian American. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (206) 784-4617.
