Filmmaker Anders Ølholm describes it as a “privilege” to direct Amazon MGM Studios’ first Danish original series, “Snake Killer”, which is now available on Prime Video. This four-episode crime thriller draws inspiration from real events and centers on Denmark’s infamous Uropatruljen, a police unit active from 1965 to 2001 that focused on tackling drug dealers and gangs in Copenhagen.

The series stars Pilou Asbæk (“Game of Thrones”) as the controversial officer Brian “Smiley” Petersen, alongside a strong ensemble cast including Lars Ranthe (“Another Round”), Mira Obling (“Dark Horse”), Joey Moe (“Fugleflugten”), and Ali Al-Bayate (“Sommerdahl”).

Ølholm is no stranger to stories about the Danish police, having previously directed the 2020 film “Shorta” with Frederik Louis Hviid. That film followed two officers trapped in a fictional Copenhagen neighborhood after the death of a young foreigner in police custody, premiering at the Venice Film Festival and later distributed in North America.

However, “Snake Killer” presented a new set of challenges. Ølholm notes that little was known about the real Uropatruljen, making it difficult to find a way into the story. That changed when former Uropatruljen officer René Dahl Andersen reached out to Ølholm’s production company, expressing interest in collaborating on a project about his experiences. “It seemed too good to be true at first,” Ølholm recalls. After meeting Andersen and hearing his stories, Ølholm realized he had found an authentic entry point into this world. He also met Andersen’s former colleagues and informants, further grounding the project in reality.

At the time, Andersen was working on his book “Hærdet” (“Hardened”), a Danish bestseller that recounts his time on the streets of Copenhagen. The book helped shape the series, with Ølholm drawn to the idea that success in such an environment requires social intelligence and empathy. He discovered that the unit, often depicted as brutish, was far more nuanced and complex than commonly portrayed.

Several former Uropatruljen officers, as well as ex-drug dealers and minor criminals, appear in the series as versions of themselves, which Ølholm believes adds to the show’s authenticity.

It took six years for Ølholm to bring “Snake Killer” to life. He describes working with Amazon as a “godsend,” especially after facing numerous rejections. “I pitched them and was completely stumped at their immediate positive reaction,” he says. Contrary to concerns about creative control with major streamers, Ølholm found Amazon supportive and open to his vision from the start.

Ølholm explains that working with a global platform only strengthened his desire to blend Danish social realism with elements of classic American cop films like “Serpico,” “The French Connection,” and “Training Day.” The series was shot on real locations in Copenhagen, including an actual police station and motel, grounding it in Danish culture while drawing on familiar genre conventions.

A key factor in getting “Snake Killer” made was the involvement of Pilou Asbæk, a long-time friend of Ølholm’s. “He is one of the very few actors in Denmark who can actually get a project greenlit,” says the director. Asbæk, known for his empathetic public persona in Denmark, was intrigued by the opportunity to play a character so different from himself. Ølholm credits Asbæk’s commitment and reputation as essential to the project’s success.

All four episodes of “Snake Killer” are now available on Prime Video. While there are currently no plans for additional seasons, Ølholm notes that the original concept was nine episodes long, leaving plenty of material for the future. “If there is more, great, but if it doesn’t happen, I am just so happy to have gotten the opportunity to make the first season,” he says.

Looking ahead, Ølholm is preparing to direct another passion project, a feature film titled “The Plan”, based on the Danish bestseller by Morten Pape. He describes the film as “Do The Right Thing meets This is England,” telling the story of a young boy growing up in the well-known Urbanplanen housing complex, also known as The Plan. Ølholm is excited to explore a project that is less genre-focused than his previous work.

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