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The Legacy is headed for US homes

An American version of Arvingerne will look to replicate the success of Danish shows like The Killing and Borgen.

The Legacy is headed for US homes
In the original version of The Legacy, Signe Larsen discovers the mother she never knew. Photo: Martin Lehmann/DR
Yet another Danish television programme is headed to American living rooms. 
 
Hollywood Reporter revealed on Monday that Universal Cable Productions has bought the rights to the Danmarks Radio programme The Legacy (Arvingerne).
 
Doug Liman, who is behind such hit films at Swingers, Mr & Mrs Smith and The Bourne Identity, will helm the American remake. 
 
"The Legacy features the kind of extraordinary characters that are truly unique even as they remind us of some of our favourite (and craziest) relatives,” Liman told Hollywood Reporter. 
 
Arvingerne is based on the family fallout following the death of a well-known artist. After their mother dies, four adult children find that her inheritance opens the doors to all kinds of family secrets.
 
The show’s first season was a major success for DR, and the second season is due to hit Danish TV screens in January 2015.  
 
Arvingerne will be the latest in a long lime of Danish programmes to make their way to American viewers. 
 
An American remake of the hit Danish show The Killing (Forbrydelsen) had mixed success Stateside. The series was twice cancelled by AMC but was picked up by Netflix for a fourth and final season that will air next month. 
 
The political drama Borgen is set to be remade for the US market by writer and producer Adam Price, while an American version of The Bridge (Broen) is currently airing its second season on FX. 

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CHILDREN

Why has Denmark made a children’s TV show about the ‘world’s longest penis’?

The everyday adventures of new Danish kids' TV character John Dillermand like walking the dog or going to the zoo might not look like the stuff of scandal -- if the tales didn't often revolve around his oversized penis.

Why has Denmark made a children’s TV show about the 'world's longest penis'?
An image from the first episode of 'John Dillermand'. Photo: DR/Louise Bergholt Sørensen

Even in one of the world's most progressive countries, the stories of the man with “the world's longest willy” have sparked debate about just what is appropriate for children in the programme's target audience of four- to eight-year-olds.

“We think it's important to be able to tell stories about bodies,” public broadcaster DR posted on Facebook Tuesday.

“In the series, we recognise (young children's) growing curiosity about their bodies and genitals, as well as embarrassment and pleasure in the body.”

Broadcast on kids' channel Ramasjang, the first of Dillermand's 13 episodes has already been watched 140,000 times since it was released on January 2nd.

His extra-long member is often key to the wacky situations in which he finds himself at one point floating over the city thanks to balloons tied to his tackle.

“It's a very Danish show. We have a tradition to push the limits and use humour and we think it's totally normal,” education expert Sophie Munster told AFP.

With some members of the public posting outrage online, far-right MP Morten Messerschmidt attacked the show in a Facebook post.

“I don't think looking at adult men's genitalia should be turned into something normal for children. Is this what you call public service?” he fumed.

Munster argued however: “The debate is from an adult perspective, in which the long penis is sexualised. Children have a different perspective.

“The size of the penis is exaggerated so much, children realise it's a joke.”

The series can be watched via broadcaster DR's website.

READ ALSO: Danish zoo invites kids to watch lion dissection (2015)

 

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