KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas today announced that a new television show, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, is coming to Kansas City. Created by Amy Poehler, star of the hit NBC series Parks and Recreation, and Scout Productions, who produced Netflix’s Queer Eye, this Peacock series will begin filming in Kansas City later this summer.  

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas last year investigated the contents of his desk as part of Kansas City’s pitch to Scout Productions.

“Kansas City is on a roll, and we’re thrilled to welcome Scout Productions, which produced Queer Eye, back to town to tell more of our friends’ and neighbors’ important stories,” said Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas. “We look forward to seeing our City featured again internationally as the new series, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, explores the beauty and complexities of major life transitions through the eyes of Kansas Citians. Thank you to Scout Productions, Amy Poehler and Peacock for choosing our community to tell these stories and for tapping into our community's outstanding pool of talent to help produce the show.” 

Based on Margareta Magnusson’s book by the same title, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning will feature hour-long episodes about people facing major crossroads and needing to get their houses and lives in order. A Swedish “Death Cleaner” comes in to organize the characters’ homes, lives, and relationships, allowing them to prepare for death while still enjoying life. The project was first announced in Deadline Hollywood in April 2022. The show will air on Peacock/NBC Universal with release date unknown at this time.

“We are so excited to come back to Kansas City to film our new series,” said Scout Productions’ David Collins and Michael Williams. “It was our first choice because we had such a great time on our last production. The support we received from the Kansas City Film Office and the City and its citizens was beyond amazing and makes it the perfect location for a first season show. Not to mention the barbecue!” 

Thanks to the efforts of the City of Kansas City and KC Film Office, this isn’t the first major production that has called Kansas City home. Several Hollywood movies including Article 99 and Mr. and Mrs. Bridge have filmed here, as have two seasons of the hit show, Queer Eye. The KC Film Office leads the City’s efforts to attract film, television, and new media productions to the community. Since reopening, the Film Office has assisted more than 1,400 productions throughout the region, generating an economic impact of more than $80 million.  

“We are honored Kansas City has been selected for the first season of Amy Poehler’s new show, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning,” said Steph Shannon, Director of the Kansas City Film Office. “The KC Film Office put forward a strong pitch for the show in 2021 with the help of Mayor Lucas, SNL’s Heidi Gardner, Visit KC partners. It was Kansas City’s reputation with Scout Productions, which filmed Queer Eye seasons 3 and 4 in Kansas City, that really helped us recruit the show. I am excited to work with Scout Productions again and look forward to working with their producing partner, Paper Kite Productions (Russian Doll, Broad City, Difficult People, Making It), for the first time. This kind of project creates jobs for our crew base, provides economic impact to the region and elevates Kansas City’s profile internationally.” 

In conjunction with the filming of The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, the Kansas City Public Library will have extra copies of Magnusson’s book available for checkout in both digital and print form, plus a limited number of print copies to give away for free at all Library locations beginning July 18. It will also host special events surrounding the TV show’s production. More information will be released when it becomes available. To learn more about the KC Film Office, go to FilminKC.com.  

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