Gutsy Pictures Joins MTV, Zeitsprung, Götafilm on ‘Dangerous Woman’

Value-driven Finnish outfit Gutsy Pictures headed by Marika Makaroff (“Moominvalley,” “L/Over”) has secured a greenlight from MTV Finland and added co-producers Zeitsprung in Germany and Götafilm in Sweden for the psycho-thriller “Dangerous Woman.”

Already pre-bought by TV4 in Sweden, the six-parter created by Makaroff will be directed by the established Zaida Bergroth, credited for the crowd-pleaser and Finnish Oscar entry “Tove.” Joining the key creatives are BAFTA-winner Kevin Rundle (“Gangs of London,” “The Thaw,” “Eastenders”), who reunites with Gutsy after their successful collaboration on the Canneseries selected “L/Over,” one of MTV’s biggest hits earlier this year.

The story centers on Laura, a middle-aged woman at the peak of her career, caught violently attacking a male visitor at an interior design fair. Once arrested, bigger secrets begin to surface. The woman who’s been hiding under a different identity for years, is also linked to an unsolved murder case. As the story of her life unwraps across three timelines, we start to question if it’s her where the real danger lies.

“I’ve wanted to tell this story for 10 years, but when I first wrote it, the idea felt almost too extreme,” Makaroff said, before adding: “Today, hatred has become increasingly normalized, and I wanted to explore what happens when it moves beyond words and becomes physical.”

Makaroff, who opened up about her own experience of abuse while promoting “L/Over” in 2025, said she’s approached the character of Laura in “Dangerous Woman” “with compassion”. “She [Laura] has spent a lifetime being belittled, dominated and abused, and eventually reaches her breaking point. Through her, I’m asking a difficult question: can violence or revenge ever be justified? And if we become those we hate, who does that serve?”

“The series is a mix of dark humor, psychological thriller and social drama, but ultimately it is a story about humanity, grace and forgiveness,” she observed.

Added Janne Vakio, commissions and content development manager at MTV, “At MTV, we believe great stories become even stronger through great partnerships. ‘Dangerous Woman’ brings together a bold creative vision, top-tier talent and producers from three markets with a shared ambition: to create a distinctive Nordic drama that can resonate both at home and internationally.”

The series is due to go into production later this year.

“Dangerous Woman” is one of 11 international premium dramas selected for the co-production pitch showcase Mind the Gap, hosted by Serielizados Pro (Oct 21-24), the industry sidebar of Barcelona’s series festival Serielizados.