BBC commissions ABBA: Against The Odds
February 14, 2024
With 2024 marking the 50th anniversary of ABBA’s iconic victory at Eurovision and the contest once again taking place in Sweden (on May 11th), BBC One has announced the commission of feature documentary ABBA: Against The Odds.
The documentary will be produced by Rogan Productions (Freddie Mercury: The Final Act), directed by James Rogan and distributed worldwide by BBC Studios.
Telling the epic story of ABBA’s greatest period of musical achievement framed between the albums Arrival (1976) and Super Trooper (1980), the documentary will reveal the personal and perilous journey through the band’s most transformative years and rise to global fame.
In the UK the film will be shown on BBC One and iPlayer this May. ABBA: Against The Odds will see a host of European broadcasters including BBC, ARD/WDR, France Télévisions, SVT and DR unite and come together to fund the feature film detailing the story of the renowned group featuring rediscovered archive, exclusive never-before-seen stills and previously unheard stories.
Michael Jochnowitz, BBC Commissioning Editor, Factual Entertainment & Events, commented: “ABBA: Against All Odds is a truly special documentary, formed by a unique collaboration of broadcasters about one of the world’s greatest ever bands… And if you thought you knew the story behind the music, think again.”
Rogan added: “To be able, as a director, to dive into the ABBA story through the extraordinary archive of their voyage through the tumultuous 70s has been a jaw-dropping experience. The sheer joy of working on a documentary about ABBA cannot be understated, as their bitter-sweet songs remain as resonant in our confused times as they did when they were first recorded. This film will capture the scale of the challenge they faced as a Swedish band gaining success and respect on the global stage, and how the unique combination of four talents produced music that defined the decade and changed pop music forever.”