Simon Stålenhag’s game trailer for ‘Dune Awakening’ unveiled

Visionary artist and author Simon Stålenhag has joined Goodbye Kansas Studios in producing a game trailer for Funcom’s Dune Awakening, a game inspired by the new feature film adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classical sci-fi novel series. Stålenhag thus makes his debut as a game trailer director.

“The collaboration with Goodbye Kansas Studios and Funcom to create this trailer was an incredible opportunity for me to explore a tiny sliver of the legendary Dune universe. I really enjoy working with Goodbye Kansas Studios since they immediately understand what I’m looking for even though my ideas might seem strange at times. Every part of this project was a delight for me – from concepts, mocap to compositing, and to work on something as deep and rich as the Dune universe was nothing short of an honor and privilege,” says Simon Stålenhag.

New Title: ‘After She’d Gone’

After She’d Gone is a timely psychological thriller about the danger of beauty, the lure of power, and the fierce love of a mother for her son.

Liv keeps a low profile in Sandefjord, Norway: she’s just another tired single mother, trying to make ends meet. She has never told her son about the secrets she carries or the life she lived before he was born. She will do anything to keep him safe.

Anastasia’s life is transformed when she moves from Russia to Milan to work as a model. She’s rich. She’s desired. But there’s a dark side to the high-pressure catwalk shows; the sun-baked Italian palazzos; the drink-fuelled after-parties hosted by powerful men. Soon, she will do anything to escape.

Selma is a journalist in Oslo. She’s investigating scandals in the modelling industry, but can’t get her article published. Then a woman goes missing in Sandefjord. Now Selma is about to uncover the biggest story of her life…

Marklund on the Swedish bestseller lists

Liza Marklund and The Mire claim the No. 1 spot on the hardcover bestseller list in Sweden this week. Marklund also holds the No. 1 spot on the overall bestseller list for the month of August.

‘The Masquerade Mystery’ No. 1 in Sweden

 The Masquerade Mystery, the latest book in Martin Widmark’s immensely popular JerryMaya Detective Agency series, jumps to No. 1 on the official weekly bestseller list for children’s books in Sweden.

Cast revealed for ‘Ronja the Robber’s Daughter’

Filming has begun on Ronja the Robber’s Daughterthe classic Astrid Lindgren adventure about a strong and independent girl which took the world by storm when it was published 40 years ago.

Kerstin Linden has signed up for the lead role as Ronja, joined by Jack Bergenholtz Henriksson, who plays the role of Ronja’s friend, Birk Borkason. The parents of the two robber families are played by Christopher Wagelin as Mattis, Krista Kosonen playing Lovis, and in rival dynasty, Sverrir Gudnason plays Borka, and Maria Nohra as Undis.

Ronja the Robber’s Daughter is penned by the renowned writer Hans Rosenfeldt, and the first season is directed by Lisa James Larsson.

The series will premiere in 2023 on Viaplay.

blodmåne

‘Killing Moon’ No. 1 in Norway

Jo Nesbø’s just published Killing Moonthe thirteenth installment in the Harry Hole series, enters the official Norwegian bestseller lists for hardcover fiction and e-books at No. 1 this week.

‘An Orange Among Pears’ published in Sweden

A letter arrives, inviting Lisbet’s granny The Samba King to attend a pear-ent meeting at Pear School. Granny immediately decides that if everyone will go as a pear, she will of course go as an orange instead. Lisbet panics when she realizes that the pear-ent thing is just a play on words – no one else will be wearing a costume! And in Pear School the principal makes a big deal about fitting in. What if granny’s crazy antics means Lisbet will be kicked out of school?!

An orange among pears is an hilarious, zany and heartwarming story about wanting to fit in, and about having a granny who always wants to do the opposite of everyone else. Here comes a shorter and more easy-to-read book set in Emma Karinsdotter’s colorful Lisbet and The Samba King-universe, perfect for children who want to read themselves about the adventures of these beloved characters.

‘Oxen’ now filming

Oxen is the television adaptation of the international bestselling book series of the same name by Jens Henrik Jensen recounting the story of war veteran Niels Oxen, a former special forces soldier who must conquer his inner demons as he is framed for a series of gruesome murders.

The six-episode series is created by Emmy-award-winning duo Mai Brostrøm and Peter Thorsboe, and directed by Jannik Johansen. In the star-studded cast we find Jacob Lohmann, Ellen Hillingsø, Josephine Park and Birgitte Hjort Sørensen.

Filming has just begun near Copenhagen, and the premiere on TV2 and TV2 Play is set for 2023.

Great reviews for ‘Headhunters’

The series Headhuntersinspired by Jo Nesbø’s eponymous best-selling novel, premiered September 2 on C More to fantastic reviews. Headhunters is written by Rolf-Magne Golten Andersen and Geir Henning Hopeland, who is also the series’ director.

“A perfect exercise in improbability, the narrative is intensified at just the right speed for it to remain credible. /…/ Full of feints and comic twists, set in a mystery that obscures the outcome of the story for a good while.”
Verdens Gang ★★★★★

“Fast-paced, thrilling.”
– Stavanger Aftenblad ★★★★

“Well-produced and incredibly thrilling from beginning to end.”
Filmfront ★★★★

The film adaptation of the novel ‘Stolen’ to come to Netflix

The critically acclaimed novel Stolen, written by Ann-Helen Laestadius, is being adapted into a film for Netflix.

Elle Márjá Eira (The Sámi Have Rights, Ealát) will be directing Stolen as her feature film debut and the renowned writer Peter Birro (Monica Z, 438 Days) will pen the script. 

The novel Stolen portrays a young woman’s struggle to defend her indigenous heritage in a world where xenophobia is on the rise, climate change is threatening reindeer herding, and young people choose suicide in the face of collective desperation. But the novel also lays bare the tensions that arise when modern ideas come up against a traditional culture with deeply rooted patriarchal structures.

The film is planned to have its global premiere in 2024 and filming is currently planned to begin in Sápmi in the spring of 2023.