<P> Fortitude is a British sci - fi psychological thriller television series created and written by Simon Donald . A 12 - episode series was commissioned by Sky Atlantic in 2013, and started airing on 29 January 2015 . The series is set in the fictional Arctic Norwegian settlement of Fortitude . On 9 April 2015, Sky Atlantic recommissioned the show for a second series consisting of 10 episodes, which premiered on 26 January 2017 . </P> <P> Writer Simon Donald based his parasite on ichneumon wasps, which lay their eggs in hosts, after talking to a parasitologist . </P> <P> Fortitude is a fictional community located on Svalbard in Arctic Norway . It is described as an international community, with inhabitants from many parts of the world (population of 713 inhabitants and 4 police officers). The series was filmed in both the UK and in Reyðarfjörður, Iceland . </P> <P> American actor Stanley Tucci appears in his first British television role as Detective Chief Inspector Morton from London's Metropolitan Police, who has flown to the peaceful close - knit community of Fortitude, as the local sheriff, played by Richard Dormer, investigates a violent murder . Christopher Eccleston plays Charlie Stoddart, a British scientist who leads the arctic biology department at the Fortitude arctic research facility . Michael Gambon portrays Henry Tyson, a wildlife photographer who is dying of cancer . The Killing star Sofie Gråbøl plays Hildur Odegard, the governor of Fortitude, in her first UK television drama role . </P>

Where is the town of fortitude supposed to be