Banijay Entertainment Brings Back ‘Wallander’ for Modern-Day Reboot Starring Gustaf Skarsgård (EXCLUSIVE)
“Wallander,” the globally-acclaimed Swedish detective drama, is back. Banijay Entertainment has unveiled plans for a modernized and reimagined reboot of “Wallander” with Gustaf Skarsgård (“Oppenheimer,” “Vikings”) playing the iconic role.
Hailing from Jarowskij/Yellow Bird, TV4 and Banijay Rights, the first season of this new Swedish-language adaptation will comprise three 90-minute films. They will be directed by Molly Hartleb (“Riding In Darkness,” “Top Dog”), as well as Pella Kågerman and Hugo Lilja, the duo behind the highly-anticipated “Egghead Republic.”
The new series will see Kurt Wallander, now 42, who’s recently separated after two decades of marriage and estranged from his daughter. On the edge as his life seemingly unravels, Wallander drinks too much, sleeps too little, and carries the weight of every unsolved case.
Elin Kvist, CEO Jarowskij/Yellow Bird, said today’s “Wallander” “is not just a strong and intuitive detective, but also a complex, vulnerable character struggling as a father, partner and friend.”
Kvist added that “Gustaf Skarsgård gives us a relatable character packed with nerve, intuition and emotion.” Most of all, however, the idea for the new films, she said, was to create “suspense thrillers filled with unpredictability, struggle and the sense of constantly being in a pressure-cooker.”
Simon Cox, EVP of content and acquisition at Banijay Rights, said “‘Wallander’ is one of the most iconic global crime brands in television, and this landmark reimagining delivers everything contemporary audiences are looking for –fast-paced crimes and high emotional stakes.”
“With Gustaf Skarsgård in the legendary role, and its revived contemporary lens, this latest version is an exciting proposition for those seeking a new premium crime series for international audiences,” Cox continued.
The scripts are written ) respectively by Antonia Pyk, a writer on the original Swedish “Wallander” franchise, Josefin Johansson (“Top Dog”) and scribe-helmer Jörgen Bergmark (“Beck”) adapted from three of the most successful books of the series: “One Step Behind,” “Sidetracked” and “Faceless Killers.”
Glenn Lund for Jarowskij/Yellow Bird is producing in partnership with TV4, Banijay Rights, Film i Skåne and Ystad Österlen Filmfond.
Penned by bestselling author Henning Mankell, the Kurt Wallander novels have sold over 40 million copies and been translated into more than 40 languages. The original Swedish series and film adaptations, which aired between 1994 and 2013, garnered wide international success, including in the U.K. where it became BBC Four’s top-performing import in 2009 and 2010.
A British mini-series adaptation starring Kenneth Branagh also aired on the BBC, and earned him a BAFTA for his portrayal of the detective.
Simply titled “Wallander,” the reboot will be sold internationally by Banijay Rights, the global distribution arm of content powerhouse Banijay Entertainment.
Banijay Entertainment’s roster for Canneseries, one of the top TV festivals in Europe, take in stylish ’80s-set crime thriller “The Big F*ck Up,” produced by Jonnydepony (“Arcadia,” “Black-Out,” “Transport”) for Flemish streamer Streamz B and Amazon Prime Video NL; as well as psychological thriller “Rien ne t’efface” (“Nothing Can Erase You”) produced by Shine Fiction for TF1; and dramedic sisters reunion road trip “How to Kill Your Sister,” produced by Banijay company MadeFor Film and FBO for Play4 & ZDF Neo.
Hailing from Jarowskij/Yellow Bird, TV4 and Banijay Rights, the first season of this new Swedish-language adaptation will comprise three 90-minute films. They will be directed by Molly Hartleb (“Riding In Darkness,” “Top Dog”), as well as Pella Kågerman and Hugo Lilja, the duo behind the highly-anticipated “Egghead Republic.”
The new series will see Kurt Wallander, now 42, who’s recently separated after two decades of marriage and estranged from his daughter. On the edge as his life seemingly unravels, Wallander drinks too much, sleeps too little, and carries the weight of every unsolved case.
Elin Kvist, CEO Jarowskij/Yellow Bird, said today’s “Wallander” “is not just a strong and intuitive detective, but also a complex, vulnerable character struggling as a father, partner and friend.”
Kvist added that “Gustaf Skarsgård gives us a relatable character packed with nerve, intuition and emotion.” Most of all, however, the idea for the new films, she said, was to create “suspense thrillers filled with unpredictability, struggle and the sense of constantly being in a pressure-cooker.”
Simon Cox, EVP of content and acquisition at Banijay Rights, said “‘Wallander’ is one of the most iconic global crime brands in television, and this landmark reimagining delivers everything contemporary audiences are looking for –fast-paced crimes and high emotional stakes.”
“With Gustaf Skarsgård in the legendary role, and its revived contemporary lens, this latest version is an exciting proposition for those seeking a new premium crime series for international audiences,” Cox continued.
The scripts are written ) respectively by Antonia Pyk, a writer on the original Swedish “Wallander” franchise, Josefin Johansson (“Top Dog”) and scribe-helmer Jörgen Bergmark (“Beck”) adapted from three of the most successful books of the series: “One Step Behind,” “Sidetracked” and “Faceless Killers.”
Glenn Lund for Jarowskij/Yellow Bird is producing in partnership with TV4, Banijay Rights, Film i Skåne and Ystad Österlen Filmfond.
Penned by bestselling author Henning Mankell, the Kurt Wallander novels have sold over 40 million copies and been translated into more than 40 languages. The original Swedish series and film adaptations, which aired between 1994 and 2013, garnered wide international success, including in the U.K. where it became BBC Four’s top-performing import in 2009 and 2010.
A British mini-series adaptation starring Kenneth Branagh also aired on the BBC, and earned him a BAFTA for his portrayal of the detective.
Simply titled “Wallander,” the reboot will be sold internationally by Banijay Rights, the global distribution arm of content powerhouse Banijay Entertainment.
Banijay Entertainment’s roster for Canneseries, one of the top TV festivals in Europe, take in stylish ’80s-set crime thriller “The Big F*ck Up,” produced by Jonnydepony (“Arcadia,” “Black-Out,” “Transport”) for Flemish streamer Streamz B and Amazon Prime Video NL; as well as psychological thriller “Rien ne t’efface” (“Nothing Can Erase You”) produced by Shine Fiction for TF1; and dramedic sisters reunion road trip “How to Kill Your Sister,” produced by Banijay company MadeFor Film and FBO for Play4 & ZDF Neo.