A Production of Unprecedented Scale
The production of Jo Nesbø's Detective Hole was based mainly in Oslo and the surrounding area, with more than 400 Norwegian crew members who worked on the series, showcasing both the size and competency of Norway’s production industry.
The production also involved extensive use of public space in Oslo: “We have closed streets in Oslo in ways that have never been done,” says Jo Nesbø. “Including a car chase that culminates in a crash at a metro station, a rooftop chase, and more.”
To accommodate the production’s scale, the production rented the Filmparken studio complex for several months, in addition to built studio facilities in the city for large set pieces.
City as Narrative Element
The series draws extensively on locations associated with the Harry Hole universe. Filming included sites such as Restaurant Schrøder, Vigeland Park, Frognerbadet, and Oslo Police Headquarters.
Rather than presenting Oslo as-is, the filmmakers worked with a slightly heightened version of the city. As Nesbø describes it, the Oslo on screen is “Oslo plus 10 percent”.
The gritty side of Oslo is a little bit more gritty, like a Gotham City version of Oslo, and the glossy side is a little bit more glossy.
For the filmmakers, Oslo was not merely a backdrop but a central element of the storytelling. This contrast plays out across a wide range of locations, from inner-city streets to quiet residential areas and waterfront settings. The intention was to showcase how multi-faceted Oslo is, including areas and textures that are less commonly depicted on screen.
Director Øystein Karlsen points to the range within the city: “We wanted to show both sides of Oslo: the city at its most beautiful—and the more worn-down, industrial side that most people rarely see.”
“Oslo is almost its own character,” says actor Tobias Santelmann. “Harry and Oslo are inseparable—you can’t really take one away from the other.”
Range and Accessibility
According to the production team, Oslo and the surrounding region offered a wide variety of locations within a short distance.
Between Oslo and Greater Oslo, you can have locations spanning from modern cityscapes, old squares, cabins, beaches, forests and snow, all within half an hour. It’s a very versatile location.
This proximity made it possible to move quickly between locations during production, often within the same day.
Seasonal conditions were also a factor. “If you're looking for darkness, come to Norway in the winter—you don’t have to shoot real night,” Øvrebø notes. “In the summer, you have long twilight and many daylight hours.”
Local Expertise, International Standards
The production relied on a predominantly Norwegian crew.
“We have worked with a predominantly Norwegian crew, who have been fantastic, and we are incredibly grateful to the city for opening its doors to us,” says executive producer Eric Fellner of Working Title Films. “You really feel the real Oslo in every frame.”
Both cast and crew highlight the collaborative working environment.
“Norwegian crew have an incredible work ethic, and are very diligent, disciplined and innovative.” says actor Ingrid Bolsø Berdal.
Nesbø also emphasises the collective nature of the production: “Writing a novel is essentially a one-person job; this series has involved around 400 crew members and a level of coordination I have never seen before.”
Filming Key Locations
Among the locations used in the series, several are closely tied to the Harry Hole character. These include Restaurant Schrøder and Harry’s apartment, overlooking the city near the Akerselva river.
“I really enjoyed staying on that balcony and watching the view of the whole city,” says Santelmann. “But it’s hard to choose a favourite, as we had 160 different locations around the city.”
Night shoots and aerial footage were also used extensively to capture the city from different perspectives, including drone shots circling Harry’s apartment and wider views of the urban landscape.
Other locations, such as character Rakel’s house by the Oslo fjord, offered a different setting within close reach of the city centre.
“There’s a narrow part of the Oslo fjord where the ferry goes through, and it looks very village-like,” says Øvrebø.
Oslo On Screen
For Jo Nesbø, filming in Oslo was essential to the project.
“It was a condition for me to take part in this,” he says. “Oslo has become a character in its own right in the Harry Hole universe.”
The result is a version of the city that remains recognisable, while allowing for adjustments to support the story. Audiences will encounter a version of Oslo that is both authentic and heightened: a city grounded in reality, yet pushed just beyond it. It is darker, sharper, and more intense. But it is also unmistakably Oslo.
As Santelmann describes it: “The city is instantly recognisable, but they’ve stretched it—made it slightly larger than life without losing any of its beauty.”
Locations from Jo Nesbø's Detective Hole can be found on Visit Oslo’s map.
Filming in Oslo
The Oslo Film Commission provides local production guidance and liaison services, while Viken Film Centre and Oslo Film Fund offer financing and investment opportunities. With an international airport, studios, post-production facilities, experienced crews, and a strong hospitality sector, Oslo is a flexible base for both urban and nature-based productions.
"Logistically, in Oslo; productions can move itself quick and easy between sole nature in forms of sea and forest, to both historical and high tech futuristic grounds and architecture. This makes it all the more flexible and creates room for more screen value," says Adrian Mitchell, Oslo Film Commission.
He continues, "Of course, if you do feel otherwise, as we see in Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole; you are completely free to rearrange the whole city to the best of your liking.
In Oslo, we strive to be both flexible and creatively engaged in meeting the different needs of production, and particularly with the director vision in mind. Some of the most challenging scenes in Joachim Triers film The Worst Person in The World, and in Roar Uthaugs Troll could not have made it to the screen had it not been for close and creative collaboration between public services and the production. Let’s not forget, shooting an important dialogue scene in Tenet, on a rooftop situated in between two of the most prestigious public buildings being built at the time of film shoot. Nothing comes easy, but that makes it all the more fun."
In Oslo, we strive to be both flexible and creatively engaged in meeting the different needs of production, and particularly with the director vision in mind.
Facts about Oslo
- Oslo is Norway’s capital and largest city, with a population of around 700,000 (and over 1 million in the greater Oslo region).
- Well-connected internationally: Oslo Airport Gardermoen (OSL) is the main hub, connected to 31 domestic and 164 international destinations, with frequent direct flights to major cities like London (approx. 2 hours), Paris, Berlin and Amsterdam.
- The city offers immediate access to diverse landscapes with forests, fjords, islands and mountains within 30–60 minutes from the city center.
- Oslo has gained international attention for its distinctive and modern architecture and landmarks like the Oslo Opera House, MUNCH museum and the new National Museum, alongside a mix of historic and contemporary urban environments.
- Norway consistently ranks among the top countries globally for English proficiency, making communication seamless.
- The city is home to a skilled and experienced crew base, as well as studios, production companies, post-production houses and VFX environments supporting both local and international projects.
- Norway offers a film production incentive, regional support systems and experienced production partners, making it easier to navigate logistics and financing.
- Travel times within Oslo are short, with locations, crew, accommodation and services all within close reach, helping streamline production days.
- The city has become a notable culinary destination, with several Michelin-starred restaurants, alongside a wide range of high-quality hotels and serviced apartments.
