How Netflix's Department Q went from Scandi noir to Tartan noir
Danish writer Jussi Adler-Olsen had just three books to his name when he first offered the screen rights to American writer Scott Frank.Fifteen years later, there are now 10 books in the series and the first, Department Q, has just been made into a major Netflix series which has been relocated to Scotland."It wasn't for the lack of trying," said Scott, whose Oscar-nominated work includes Out Of Sight and Logan."We did try an American version which we were going to set in Boston but it just didn't feel right."
It was while preparing for the Netflix drama, The Queen's Gambit, in Berlin that he was first persuaded that a Scandi noir could become a Tartan noir."I emailed him, more in hope than expectation," said executive director Rob Bullock."We had lunch in Berlin, we talked about what a great book it was, the humour and the twists, and then it took six years to get into production."They began to look for UK cities which might be able to accommodate the production.Edinburgh - with its varied locations, crew base, and studio space – was already top of the list when Scott arrived to check the city out."The first thing he said when he got off the bus on the Royal Mile was 'I love this place, we're going to film here'," said Rob.
Matthew Goode plays the main character, DCI Carl Morck, a damaged and shambolic detective who heads up the department of misfits of the title.Best known for period dramas like Brideshead Revisited, or Downton Abbey, he said he loved playing the character."I found it very freeing," he added."All these characters have trauma but they're also hilarious, you really root for him."He's so rude to people that their eyebrows shoot off their faces."Scott Frank says the Scottish setting also allowed him to focus on the humour of the original novels. The Scottish cast, which includes Mark Bonar, Kelly Macdonald, Shirley Henderson, Jamie Sives and Kate Dickie, agree.
"I think it translates well," said Kate, who plays Chief Inspector Moira Jacobson."There's a similar grittiness to Scotland and Denmark and there's a dry humour in the language which Scott captures so well."He listens to the way you speak, the rhythms and the words you use and he works that into the script. "I'm very sweary and the longer he was round me the swearier my character Moira became."Scott has also been absorbing authentic Scots dialogue.He said: "I remember when I discovered the word doolally, I thought I have to find a way to include that. "The cast came up with their own phrases too. Kelly Macdonald introduced me to 'not having a scooby'."Scott added he was delighted the book he's championed for almost two decades has now made it to the small screen, but he says it's up to audiences whether Department Q has a sequel.He said: "The last three shows I made were meant to be one and done. "There was no more to say but I'd love to do more with this and the next book in the series is even more interesting and relevant."
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