Yahoo Finance Lasse Hallström To Direct Hilma Af Klint Biopic Starring Lena Olin; Producer NENT Group Commits To Making 2 English-Language Movies Per Year
Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group), a leading digital player in Scandinavia, is committing to produce two English-language films per year that will debut directly on its Viaplay streaming service.
The first project will be Hilma, a biopic of the revolutionary Swedish artist and feminist pioneer Hilma af Klint, written and directed by Lasse Hallström, an Oscar nominee for The Cider House Rulesand My Life As A Dog. The pic will star Lena Olin (Enemies, A Love Story) as Klint, with Hallström’s daughter Tora Hallström (Hachi: A Dog’s Tale) portraying the artist in her younger days.
More from Deadline
The project will debut exclusively on NENT Group’s Viaplay streaming service in 2022. The film is produced by NENT Studios with Helena Danielsson as producer and Josephine Zapata Genetay as executive producer.
“Hilma and our coming films make NENT Group’s ambitions clear. Nobody in the Nordic region is thinking as big as this,” said Filippa Wallestam, NENT Group Chief Content Officer. “Hilma af Klint literally changed the way we look at the world. She happens to be Swedish, but her story says something important to audiences everywhere. It’s so special to work with talents of the calibre of Lasse, Lena and Tora, and it’s even better when the project means so much to everyone involved.
“In today’s very competitive streaming world it is key to stand out and be relevant. For us, building on who we are, where we come from and what we stand for is a very clear differentiator that will support our vision of becoming the European streaming champion. Today’s news is an amazing stepping stone on that journey,” added Anders Jensen, NENT Group President and CEO. “The impact that women and men from the small countries in the Nordics have had on the world is nothing less than extraordinary. Many are of course very well known, but others are less known or even almost unknown. We want to share these stories with the world and hopefully find new perspectives that will both enlighten and entertain.”
“I’ve spent three years trying to understand the mystery of Hilma af Klint,” added Hallström. “This is a story about an unwavering search for the truth about humanity and the universe, at a time when men made all the rules. Despite so many obstacles, Hilma created art that influences our lives today. My ambition is for the audience to experience these struggles with all their senses.”
Best of Deadline
Upfront & NewFront 2021 Schedules: Broadcast, Cable & Podcast Companies Set Virtual Lineups
Coronavirus: Movies That Have Halted Or Delayed Production Amid Outbreak
Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
