The BBC has acquired the new adaptation of Wallander, produced by Jarowskij/YellowBird for TV4, in a deal with Banijay Rights.
The three-part Swedish-language adaptation features Vikings star Gustaf Skarsgård in the title role. It will be made available to U.K. audiences on BBC iPlayer and BBC Four.
Banijay Rights has also secured deals with MHz Choice for the U.S. and Canada, NPO in the Netherlands, VRT in Belgium, HRT in Croatia, and LNK in Lithuania.
Elliott Chalkley, SVP for the U.K. and Eire at Banijay Rights, commented, “Wallander is one of the defining crime franchises in international television, and BBC audiences have played an important part in its success over the years. This latest adaptation builds on the character’s remarkable story and brings a contemporary perspective to the world of Kurt Wallander. It is a fitting next step to bring this iconic drama to audiences around the world.”
Elin Kvist, CEO of Jarowskij/ YellowBird, added, “Set in today’s world, Wallander is not only a brilliant and intuitive detective, but also a complex and vulnerable character struggling as a father, partner and friend. Gustaf Skarsgård delivers a powerful and nuanced performance, and with his role behind the camera too, he has helped create a drama with incredible depth and emotional intensity.”
Wallander is part of MIA’s GreenLit showcase in Rome this week. It was commissioned by TV4 in collaboration with Banijay Rights, ARD Degeto, Film i Skåne and Ystad Österlen Filmfond, based on Henning Mankell’s bestselling Kurt Wallander novels. The original Swedish series and film adaptations aired between 1994 and 2013. There was also a British mini-series adaptation starring Kenneth Branagh that aired on the BBC.
