Stockholm, May 2, 2024 — Nigel Havers, the celebrated actor known for roles in Chariots of Fire and Coronation Street, drew upon a surprising personal connection to portray a key figure in the upcoming Swedish crime drama, Golden Boys. The series delves into Sweden’s largest financial scandal of the late 1990s, and Havers’ portrayal of Lord Moyne—a fictionalized version of British peer Jonathan Guinness—was informed by a decades-old encounter involving his own father.
A Family Affair: How History Informed a Role
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Golden Boys centers on a brazen scheme to build a financial empire, known as the Trustor Affair, which captivated Europe. Havers’ character, Lord Moyne, was a central player in the scandal, and the actor discovered a direct link to his past when preparing for the role.
“Lord Moyne had one trait, and that was to look after himself,” Havers recalled with a laugh. He explained that the real Lord Moyne once sought advice from his late father, Michael Havers, a prominent politician and attorney general. The actor received the scripts from Erik Hultkvist (Blinded) and immediately remembered the story. “I got the scripts and thought they were tremendous, and I wasn’t wrong,” Havers said. “It’s a hell of a good story, and I do remember it in the back of my mind.”
The Rise and Fall of the “Golden Boys”
The series, a TV4 production from FLX and Film i Väst, follows the meteoric ascent and dramatic collapse of Joachim and Thomas Posener, along with their associates. The story begins with Joachim (Adam Lundgren) being released from prison and quickly re-immersing himself in a world of lavish parties and ambitious financial schemes, alongside Thomas (Erik Svedberg-Zelman) and Peter Mattsson (Viktor Björkberg). Lord Moyne, seeking a lucrative opportunity, soon joins their ranks.
“Lord Moyne’s motivation was he wanted to make some money,” Havers explained. “Mind you, the Golden Boys’ motivation was exactly the same. They all wanted to make huge amounts of money.” Lundgren, who plays Joachim, echoed this sentiment, adding, “Joachim wants to make a lot of money, but it’s about what the money represents for him rather than having it. He wants to be the biggest one in everyone else’s mind.”
Rooting for the Underdog—or the Villain?
The creators of Golden Boys hope to tap into the same fascination audiences have for anti-heroes seen in shows like The Sopranos, Succession, and Industry. “You sort of fall in love with them, which you shouldn’t do,” Havers admitted. Lundgren shared a similar hope, stating, “My hope is that you’re going begin thinking, ‘What sort of arseholes are these guys?, but by the end you feel for them.”
Director Ivica Zuback (A Hustler’s Diary) emphasized a non-judgmental approach to the characters, confessing, “I am in love with these guys.” He envisions Golden Boys fitting into the genre of anti-hero dramas, where viewers become captivated by morally ambiguous figures.
A Modest Budget, Ambitious Vision
Despite a relatively modest budget of around €5M ($5.9M), or €1.25M per episode, Golden Boys represents TV4 Group’s largest-ever investment in a series. Zuback secured licenses for numerous 1990s songs to enhance the series’ atmosphere. Filming took place across multiple locations, including Stockholm, London, Geneva, and St. Tropez.
Havers, whose career spans decades and includes iconic roles in films like A Passage to India and television series like Downton Abbey, found the project particularly appealing. “I thought the part was so intriguing,” he said. “I went over and filmed in Gothenburg, and I had the time of my life – more than I’ve enjoyed any job for some time. I thought the actors were superb and we had an extraordinarily inventive director.”
Golden Boys is set to launch on TV4 on May 3. Viaplay will showcase the series at its London TV Screenings event on Tuesday 24, with the full series available to buyers immediately afterward.
