KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 — Upcoming Malaysia–Netherlands co-produced series Hemelrijk is on the horizon, directed by Jim Taihuttu and Lisette Donkersloot.
A supernatural thriller that’s set across a dual timeline from the 1940s and mid-1990s, the story follows Saskia, who uncovers a dark family history tied to a colonial-era plantation.
The series is stacked with stars, led by Dutch-Indonesian actress Denise Aznam as Saskia, alongside Gijs Naber as well as international stars from Indonesian Abimana Aryasatya and Malaysia’s own Bront Palarae.
Malay Mail has reported that Malaysia’s robust infrastructure, diverse geography, and the Film in Malaysia Incentive (FIMI) made it the ideal primary filming location, despite the story being set in Indonesia.
Hemelrijk is produced by Kinovisuals and New Amsterdam Film Company, which has filmed across Hulu Langat, Cameron Highlands, and Kuala Lumpur.
When Malay Mail visited the Hulu Langat set, Sander Verdonk, executive producer of New Amsterdam Film Company, shared further insight into the upcoming project.
Sander Verdonk, executive producer at New Amsterdam Film Company, tells Malay Mail how ‘Hemelrijk’ is a story shaped for and by a modern generation. — Picture courtesy of Kinovisuals
How the project came together
The collaboration happened naturally through Sander and Malaysian producer Benji Lim, co-founder of Kinovisuals, whose long friendship made the partnership a perfect fit.
“It’s always about looking forward and finding the best way to combine both working methods, cultural differences, and communication styles,” he shared.
Describing the series plot, it is about understanding one’s past and doing what is right in the present.
Overall, the series delivers a tense, gripping experience while delving deeply into the spirit world.
Casting choices
Denise is the perfect fit for the lead, and director Jim, who previously worked with her on 2020 The East, immediately envisioned her in the role.
“She is one of the best actresses in the Netherlands,” Sander said.
The story strongly resonated with her, particularly due to her Indonesian background and her parents’ experience of leaving Indonesia.
“She understands what it feels like to be caught between two cultures and has the understanding to play the role.”
On the Malaysian side, Bront is the only Malaysian cast member in the project, with Lim stating that his mysterious screen presence played a role in the casting.
The director himself requested Bront after seeing his performances in several Indonesian projects.
“We already had Bront in mind,” Lim said.
“It helps that he is already an international actor and a recognisable face in Indonesia, and it all kind of worked out.
“But at the end of the day, when we make casting choices, it’s always the script first.”
Why a series instead of a movie?
According to Sander, Hemelrijk is better served as a series.
“It allows multiple storylines to develop over a longer period.”
It also comes with the rise of the streaming market, where series have improved in quality, which are now closer to films, while allowing more story to be told across multiple episodes.
“I think it was the scope that brought us to the series.
“I don’t think we could tell this story in just a film,” he added.
Behind-the-scenes exterior shot from the production of ‘Hemelrijk’ with cast dressed in retro clothing. — Picture by Cho We Jun
A story shaped by modern and generational perspectives
Sander concluded that the impact of what happened during colonial times cannot easily be told by those who lived through it.
The children of that era, as well as those directly affected, carry the trauma, but it is the grandchildren—the generation living now—who are at the right age to translate it into film.
Behind-the-scenes exterior shot from the production of ‘Hemelrijk’. — Picture by Cho We Jun
“It takes more than one generation to truly address what has happened.
“While there are many superhero and action stories, I think this story has a wider scope.
“We’ve also used a lot of action and thriller elements in this series.”
He has also hinted that Hemelrijk could become an anthology and be expanded to another country, creating another connection to the Netherlands.
“I hope Malaysian audiences will take away from Hemelrijk an appreciation of how beneficial and strong international collaboration can be.”
Malaysia currently does not yet have a dedicated platform for release, but the team hopes the series will still get the chance to be shown there.
Currently, Hemelrijk is tentatively planned for release at the end of the year only on NPO, the Dutch public broadcaster.
