EXCLUSIVE: Ketchup Entertainment, hot off giving Warner Bros Animation’s Coyote Vs. Acme a theatrical release, has acquired U.S. distribution rights to Norwegian animated movie ViQueens from director Harald Zwart (The Karate Kid, The 12th Man, Agent Cody Banks).
The U.S. campaign for ViQueens will begin this weekend, with the launch of a teaser only in theaters on Coyote vs. Acme; that movie barreling toward $37M at the domestic box office by Labor Day Monday. ViQueens continues Ketchup’s streak in the family entertainment space after Coyote vs. Acme notched their best domestic opening ($15.9M) and overall title cume ever. A theatrical date is in the works for ViQueens.
ViQueens follows two fearless Viking girls, Ingrid and Hedvig, who defy tradition when they embark on an extraordinary journey to return a stowaway boy to China. Their adventure takes them from the icy fjords of Norway through Byzantine intrigue and along the legendary Silk Road, bringing together Viking grit, ancient Chinese wisdom, unexpected alliances and a touch of magic.
The pic is produced by Veslemøy Ruud Zwart of Zwart Arbeid, with an international voice cast led by Ella Purnell (Arcane, Fallout, Yellowjackets) as Ingrid and Rita Ora (Pokémon: Detective Pikachu, Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight) as Hedvig. Additional cast includes Steve Speirs as King Erik, Anton Lesser as Lars and Alan Carr as the Bard. The film features an original score by acclaimed composer Christophe Beck (Frozen, Frozen II).
“ViQueens has been a true labor of love, and I’m incredibly excited that audiences in the U.S. are going to get their first taste of the film in theaters this weekend,” said Zwart. “From the beginning, Veslemøy and I wanted to create a Viking story that felt fresh and unexpected – one filled with adventure, humor and heart, but also with a spirit of curiosity and cultural connection. Ketchup immediately understood what we wanted the film to be, and we are thrilled to have them as our U.S. partner.”
“Norway captivated the world with its energy and spirit during the World Cup, and ViQueens brings that same infectious energy to the big screen,” said Gareth West, CEO of Ketchup Entertainment. “This is exactly the kind of film we love to champion – an ambitious, original animated story with a strong cinematic identity and an outstanding cast.”
“For Harald and me, ViQueens has always been about creating something that families could experience together – an adventure that is funny, emotional and visually spectacular, while also bringing different worlds together,” said Veslemøy Ruud Zwart, the pic’s producer. “Finding the right U.S. partner was incredibly important to us. Ketchup’s enthusiasm for the film and their commitment to theatrical audiences made the partnership feel like a natural fit. We are so excited for American audiences to finally discover ViQueens.“
“We are delighted to see it enter the U.S. market with Ketchup Entertainment,” said Solveig Langeland, Managing Director of Sola Media. “Harald has created a wonderfully entertaining and visually ambitious film with a truly international spirit. Ketchup shares our belief in the film’s theatrical potential, and we are thrilled to see the U.S. campaign begin with audiences experiencing the teaser on the big screen.”
The acquisition marks the latest milestone for ViQueens, which Sola Media is representing internationally. The film is currently slated for a home-territory release in Norway on Dec. 25.
