Netflix’s first-ever original series Lilyhammer to remain on the site

It was previously expected that Lilyhammer would be taken off the streaming site following the end of a 10-year licensing agreement. However, it has now been revealed that the streaming giant has signed a new last-minute deal to retain the show. Lilyhammer is significant for being the first-ever original series created by Netflix.

The series stars Sopranos fame Steven Van Zandt who plays a mobster who relocates to Norway after entering a witness protection program. The series aired on local television networks in Norway and was well-received by critics and common people alike. In a statement addressing Lilyhammer staying on Netflix, Van Zandt said, “I am very proud of ‘Lilyhammer’ is not just the first original show on Netflix, but the first truly international show, with subtitles and a completely Norwegian cast and crew except for me, helping establish Netflix as the first truly international entertainment company."

In a show commemorating the ten-year anniversary of Netflix, the co-CEO and chief content officer Ted Sarandos looks back fondly on what Lilyhammer means to the company “Looking back, ‘Lilyhammer’ was perhaps an unorthodox choice for our first show. But it worked because it was a deeply local story that we could share with the world. The jokes and references worked locally and the more universal themes of the shows traveled perfectly. Thank you ‘Lilyhammer’