Acorn TV Picks Up Finnish Series ‘The Last to Disappear’
Acorn TV scoops up the nordic noir series 'The Last to Disappear' starring Sam Keeley.
We first learned that MTV Oy, Finland’s leading commercial broadcaster, was plotting to adapt Jo Spain’s best-selling novel, The Last to Disappear, back in February 2025. The broadcaster is best known outside its home country as the production company behind the Walter Presents series Helsinki Crimes; the announcement of the forthcoming series clearly signaled it was pushing to find a home for the show in the U.K. and the U.S.
A year and a half later, just ahead of the series debut at MIPCOM, CEO Johannes Leppänen has succeeded in doing just that, as the series has been pre-sold to Acorn TV in the U.S. and ITV in the U.K.
Much like Acorn TV’s other recent acquisition, This Is Not A Murder Mystery, the producers sidestepped landing on Walter Presents and Channel 4 (or worse, Viaplay) by filming the show in English. It helped that the novel’s main character is Alex Evans, a young London professional from Ireland, and a fish out of water in Lapland as he seeks answers about his sister’s untimely death. Also, the lead actor who plays Evans, Sam Keeley, is someone both American and British viewers will recognize. He recently starred in Kin on the far side of the pond and in the not-a-sequel-to-Mare of Easttown series Task on HBO.
Here’s the series’ logline:
A high-flying Dublin city boy is told his sister has accidentally drowned at a luxury resort in Lapland. But he soon discovers that her death was no accident and may in fact be the latest in a string of murdered women. He makes it his mission to find her killer and bring them to justice.
Keeley stars alongside Oona Airola (Helsinki Syndrome) and Thea Sofie Loch Næss (So Long Marianne). The supporting cast includes Daniel De Bourg (Mobland), Charlotte Chimes (Guilt), Jukka Uhlgren (Hooked), Rebekka Baer (Raptures), Alison McKenna (Harald & Sonja), Kari Hietalahti (The Man Who Died), and Kristo Salminen (Bordertown).
David Logan (Harry Wild) adapted the six-part series, working with author Jo Spain, who gets a co-adaptation credit. Director Teppo Airaksinen (Supercool) helmed all installments. Logan and Spain executive produce the series alongside Helene Aurø, Rikke Ennis, Olli Haikka, and Jorma Reinilä.
The Last to Disappear doesn’t have a premiere date set on Acorn TV, but we’re pretty sure it won’t air until 2027 at the earliest.
