EXCLUSIVE: Viaplay is to document the troubled story of pop group Ace of Base, one of Sweden’s most successful pop bands of all time.
All That She Wants: The Unbelievable Story of Ace of Base will air as a three-part documentary series on the Nordic streamer next year, featuring previously unseen personal footage shot during the group’s most tumultuous years.
Ace of Base is Sweden’s third most popular musical export of all time behind ABBA and Roxette but behind closed doors things were tough, with group member Ulf Ekberg facing death threats from right-wing extremists, performing in a bulletproof vest and hiring bodyguards during world tours, while Jenny Berggren suffered a traumatic attack by a German fan in her home. The band achieved global fame with huge hits like ‘All That She Wants’ and ‘The Sign,’ while 1993 album ‘Happy Nation’ is still the most successful Swedish debut in history, kickstarting the worldwide Swedish pop phenomenon.
“Documentaries about artists and groups can be quite polished and selective,” said Ekberg. “This series, however, is honest and deals both with successes and challenges. By showing previously unpublished material from the 90s, viewers will have a chance to experience our story in a new way.”
The series is one of the first to be announced since Viaplay dramatically shifted originals strategy following the sudden resignation of its CEO. The outfit was previously greenlighting one scripted TV series or movie per week but has pivoted to “local and relevant” unscripted and acquired content in the wake of the economic downturn.
