TV SERIES · 2011–2018 · DENMARK
Bron/Broen
- Created by
- Hans Rosenfeldt
- Network
- SVT1
- Seasons
- 4
- Episodes
- 38
- Studio
- Filmlance International, Nimbus Film
28 archived facts 7 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
When a body is found on the bridge between Denmark and Sweden, right on the border, Danish inspector Martin Rohde and Swedish Saga Norén have to share jurisdiction and work together to find the killer.
28 Interesting Facts About Bron/Broen
Interesting Facts (7)
- #001
- #002
Danes and Swedes do not always understand each other's languages, contrary to what the series suggests. However, the creators decided to ignore this fact in the interest of fluent dialogue. Also, when people pronounce their own languages the way television actors do, people in the Malmö/Copenhagen region generally understand each other.
- #003
Throughout the series, Saga is often seen carrying a round container from which she obtains something that she then places between her gum and cheek. This is a pouch of Swedish Snus, a tobacco product that many Swedes use as an alternative to cigarettes.
- #004
The opening and closing theme is from the song "Hollow Talk" by Copenhagen-based Danish chamber pop band Choir of Young Believers.
- #005
In an interview with Walla!, Kim Bodnia said that because he is Jewish, he wanted to include an element about the anti-Semitic tensions in Malmö and Copenhagen. In seasons 1 and 2, the actors were encouraged to make such additions to the script. In season 3, however, this changed and it became difficult to get actor suggestions through. When his request was rejected, Bodnia chose to leave.
- #006
From 2013 to 2015 the American remake The Bridge (2013) starring Diane Kruger and Demián Bichir was released on the FX network. This version takes place on the U.S. and Mexican border where a murdered body on a bridge between El Paso and Juárez was found. After two seasons, consisting of 13-episodes each, the series was cancelled.
- #007
The series premiered in Australia on Wednesday, 5 September 2012 on SBS Two, where the first episode had overnight ratings of 101,000 viewers.
Production Story (12)
- #008
Danes and Swedes do not always understand each other's languages as well as the series may have you believe. But the creators decided to ignore this fact for the sake of a fluent dialogue. Also when people enunciate their respective languages as well as television actors do, people in the Malmö/Copenhagen region usually do understand each other.
- #009
The title of the program, Bron/Broen, were separated on screen by the number of lines representing the season number. They were separated by one line in the first season, two in the second, three in the third and four in the fourth & final season.
- #010
Series creator Hans Rosenfeldt never overtly referred to Saga's social awkwardness as a result of her being on the autism spectrum to the cast, including Sofia Helin, during pre-production. He did explain to Ms. Helin the particular behavioural traits he would like to see manifested in Saga, but "feared any labels bestowed on Saga's odd-behaviour would prevent the actors from relating to the character in an individual and authentic manner." "I did not want them to all rush off and learn a "textbook" approach to Asperger's syndrome or autism from the same source material". By not giving the cast and crew a label or category to understand Saga's odd-behaviour, "I hoped that each individual cast and crew member would have a more personal reaction to Saga's character traits and research accordingly".
- #011
The series was screened in Israel on September 30 on HOT VoD.
- #012
Kim Bodnia in an interview on Walla! said that - being Jewish - he wanted to incorporate an element about antisemitic tensions in Malmö and Copenhagen. In seasons 1 and 2 the actors were encouraged to make that kind of additions to the script. But for season 3 this changed and actor suggestions were harder to get in. As his request was denied, Bodina chose to leave.
The Bridge (2011): Kim Bodnia talking in a black jacketImage: Wikimedia Commons · Nordiske Mediedager, CC BY-SA 2.0 - #013
The opening and closing theme is from the song "Hollow Talk" by Copenhagen-based Danish chamber pop band Choir of Young Believers.
- #014
In the UK, the the series was shown in weekly two-episode blocks on BBC Four and BBC HD from 21 April 2012.
- #015
In Germany, the series was shown by broadcaster ZDF from 18 March 2012.
- #016
When the fourth series started broadcasting on 1 January 2018 in the Nordic countries, Hans Rosenfeldt confirmed that it was the final series; it was written so as to bring the previous story-lines to satisfactory conclusion.
- #017
This program saw a surge in the popularity of Scandinavian dramas and was sold to more than 100 countries worldwide.
- #018
Contains a major spoiler — show
The Scandinavian launch of the third series was on 27 September 2015. In a nod to Kim Bodnia's departure, the titles in the opening episode of the series posted Sofia Helin's name alone, with the spot that had been occupied by Kim Bodnia's left vacant. From episode two, the opening credits showed Sofia Helin and Thure Lindhardt as the two protagonists of the series.
- #019
Contains a major spoiler — show
Saga was originally going to be killed off in Avsnitt 9 (2011), but the producers overruled the writers due to her popularity.
Behind the Scenes (2)
- #020
The intro shows locations and landmarks around the Malmö and Copenhagen areas that are well known to residents. For season one, they are (in order of appearance)... * The titular bridge itself. * View from the bridge towards Bunkeflostrand in Malmö. * Malmö Central Station rail yard, with Slagthuset to the left. * Turning Torso, a well known high-rise building in Malmö. * View towards Rådhuspladsen, Copenhagen, with Tivoli - the second-oldest operating amusement park in the world - faintly visible to the left. * Öresundsverket, a power plant in Malmö, with the neighboring town Arlöv in the background. * Rigshospitalet, Denmark's largest specialty hospital, stage for The Kingdom (1994). * Slottsmöllan, a windmill from 1850 near Malmöhus Castle. * Den Lille Havfrue, Copenhagen's iconic sculpture based on the tale of The Little Mermaid, written by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. * View from the bridge towards Amager and Copenhagen Airport.
- #021
The bridge featuring in The Bridge (2011) is the Øresund Bridge, which links Malmö with Copenhagen.
Characters & Cast (2)
- #022
Throughout the series, Saga is often seen carrying a round container from which she obtains something that she then places between her gum and cheek. This is a pouch of Swedish Snus, a tobacco product that many Swedes use as an alternative to cigarettes.
- #023
Contains a major spoiler — show
The car that Saga Norén drives is a 1977 Porsche 911S, originally sold in the Unites States with US specifications. The car was sold in 2010 and imported to Sweden where the car was modified to meet the European specifications, namely the taillights with separate amber-colored turn signal indicators and rear bumper with thinner bumper guards. Saga Norén revealed in Avsnitt 4 (2018) that she won the bet with her instructor who didn't believe she could graduate from the police academy. She did graduated and received his 911S as a prize.
Easter Eggs & References (3)
- #024
Kim Bodnia's character's name in Nightwatch (1994) is the name of his arch rival in this series. He also co-played with Lotte Andersen in the same movie.
- #025
England and France have their own version of "The Bridge", re titled The Tunnel (2013). There is also a US/Mexico version named The Bridge (2013). In 2018 Austria and Germany produced a Series titled Pagan Peak (2018), which drew inspiration from The Bridge.
- #026
The intro shows places and landmarks well known to people living in the Malmö and Copenhagen areas. In the first season, these are (in order of appearance)… * The bridge itself in the title. * The view from the bridge towards Bunkeflostrand in Malmö. * Malmö Central Station railway station, with Slagthuset on the left. * Turning Torso, a well-known high-rise building in Malmö. * A view towards Copenhagen's Rådhuspladsen, where Tivoli, the world's second-oldest amusement park, is faintly visible on the left. * Öresundsverket, a power plant in Malmö, with the neighbouring town of Arlöv in the background. * Rigshospitalet, Denmark's largest private hospital, the setting of The Kingdom (1994). * Slottsmöllan, a windmill near Malmöhus Castle dating from 1850. * Den Lille Havfrue, Copenhagen's iconic statue based on the fairy tale The Little Mermaid by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. * A view from the bridge towards Amager and Copenhagen Airport.
Deeper Meaning (1)
- #027
The title of the program, Bron/Broen, were separated on screen by the number of lines representing the season number. They were separated by one line in the first season, two in the second, three in the third and four in the fourth & final season.
Life & Family (1)
- #028
The scars on Sofia Helin's lips are real. She got it from a bike accident when she was younger.
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
Information from external sources is independently selected, consolidated and edited by Arka Evren. Sources are listed for verification and further reading. Encyclopedia text is used under its licence (CC BY-SA). How we work