EXCLUSIVE: Viaplay aims to document the turbulent history of the pop group Ace of Base, one of the most successful Swedish pop bands of all time.
Everything He Wants: The Incredible Story of Ace of Base next year, a three-part documentary series will air on the Scandinavian streamer, featuring previously unseen personal footage shot during the group’s most turbulent years.
Ace of Base is Sweden’s third most popular musical export of all time, after ABBA and Roxette, but things have been tough behind closed doors, with group member Ulf Ekberg receiving death threats from right-wing extremists, performing in a bulletproof vest and employing bodyguards on world tours, and Jenny Berggren she suffered a traumatic attack by a German fan in her home. The band achieved worldwide fame with huge hits such as “All That She Wants” and “The Sign”, and the 1993 album “Happy Nation” is still the most successful Swedish debut in history, launching a global Swedish pop phenomenon.
“Documents about artists and groups can be quite nuanced and selective,” Ekberg said. “But this series is honest and deals with both successes and challenges. By showing previously unseen footage from the 1990s, viewers will have the chance to experience our history in a new way.”
The series is one of the first announced since Viaplay radically changed its originals strategy following the sudden resignation of its CEO. The company previously greenlit one scripted TV series or film per week, but has pivoted to “local and relevant” unscripted and acquired content in the wake of the economic downturn.
