Norwegian director Stefan Faldbakken will direct the first feature in a new $14.2m (NOK 94m) film andtelevision package based on the best selling Varg Veum novels by Gunnar Staalesen.

Faldbakken will work on the $3.2m (NOK 21m) The Writing On The Wall (Skriften På Væggen) and will stay on as consultant director for the whole series, which is centered on Bergen-based private investigator, Varg Veum.

Faldbakken had local success with his 2006 debut feature Uro, which was selected for 15 international festivals including Cannes.

The remaining five projects will be made for TV by Trygve Allister Diesen (Black Sheep/Svarte Får), Petter Rosenlund (Consorts Of Death/Dødens Drabanter, Cold Hearts/Kalde Hjerter), Siv Rajendram (All Wolves Are Grey At Night/I Mørket Er Alle Ulver Grå). It has yet to be announced who will helm Like A Bee To Honey (Bukken Til Havresekken).

Actors Trond Espen Seim and Bjørn Floberg, will return as Varg Veum and his police inspector side-kick. The films will be produced by Silje H Eik, Tanya Badendyck, Peter Bose, Jonas Allen and Jørgen Storm Rosenberg for CineMiso, a new production outfit established by Norway’s CineNord and Denmark’s Miso Film.

The series will be co-financed by SF Norge, commercial broadcaster TV2 Norge, and Germany’s ARD Degeto.

Two features from the first package, Bitter Flowers (Bitre Blomster) and Fallen Angels (Falne Engler, were theatrically released and took 230,000 admissions domestically.

SF Norge handles local distribution, and Sweden’s Svensk Filmindustri international sales.