TV4 has announced that Swedish actor Gustaf Skarsgård (Oppenheimer, Vikings) will star as Kurt Wallander, Henning Mankell’s legendary detective in a new film trilogy based on his acclaimed crime novels Faceless Killers (Mördare utan ansikte), Sidetracked (Villospår), and One Step Behind (Steget efter). Filming starts after summer in Ystad, an atmospheric southern Swedish town central to Wallander’s world. The trilogy is slated to premiere on TV4 and TV4 Play in Sweden, targeting 2026–2027.
“Wallander is a role that carries a legacy. It is an honor – and a responsibility – to step into this character that so many already relate to. I look forward to exploring Wallander, both his darkness, but also his stubborn hope for justice.“
Gustaf Skarsgård, actor
Advertisement
The Wallander TV series brought Henning Mankell’s brooding detective to the screen with stark realism and emotional depth. Framed by the somber landscapes of southern Sweden, it helped define the Nordic noir genre with its slow-burning plots, moral complexity, and atmospheric tension. The series introduced global audiences to the genre’s hallmarks, paving the way for later international successes like The Bridge and The Killing.
Gustav Skarsgård – Wallander. Photo: Magnus Ragnvid / TV4
Gustaf Skarsgård, who played a younger Kurt Wallander in The Pyramid (2007), brings prior experience to the role he now inherits from Rolf Lassgård (1994-2007), Krister Henriksson (2005-2013), and Kenneth Branagh in a British-Swedish BBC co-production across four seasons (2008-2016).
“Wallander is an important part of TV4’s DNA, so we are extremely happy to be able to announce this news. Both through the books and the film adaptations, the character Wallander is something that a very large part of Sweden has a relationship with. With Gustaf and his incredibly great commitment to the project, the dedicated Wallander fans and new viewers will get a film series that will both surprise and maintain an incredibly high quality.”
Johanna Lind, Head of Drama at TV4
Advertisement
The new Wallander trilogy is written by Antonia Pyk, Josefin Johansson, and Jörgen Bergmark, and will be directed by Molly Hartleb, Pella Kågerman, and Hugo Lilja. The films are produced by Glenn Lund at Jarowski/Yellow Bird, with Lisa Dahlberg serving as executive producer and Johanna Lind as head of drama for TV4 Drama. Co-producers include Film i Skåne and Ystad Österlen Filmfond, with distribution handled by Banijay Rights.
Source: TV4 Sweden Photo credit: Magnus Ragnvid / TV4
This post/page may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. For details, visit our Affiliate Disclosure page.
TV4 has announced that Swedish actor Gustaf Skarsgård (Oppenheimer, Vikings) will star as Kurt Wallander, Henning Mankell’s legendary detective in a new film trilogy based on his acclaimed crime novels Faceless Killers (Mördare utan ansikte), Sidetracked (Villospår), and One Step Behind (Steget efter). Filming starts after summer in Ystad, an atmospheric southern Swedish town central to Wallander’s world. The trilogy is slated to premiere on TV4 and TV4 Play in Sweden, targeting 2026–2027.
Advertisement
The Wallander TV series brought Henning Mankell’s brooding detective to the screen with stark realism and emotional depth. Framed by the somber landscapes of southern Sweden, it helped define the Nordic noir genre with its slow-burning plots, moral complexity, and atmospheric tension. The series introduced global audiences to the genre’s hallmarks, paving the way for later international successes like The Bridge and The Killing.
Gustaf Skarsgård, who played a younger Kurt Wallander in The Pyramid (2007), brings prior experience to the role he now inherits from Rolf Lassgård (1994-2007), Krister Henriksson (2005-2013), and Kenneth Branagh in a British-Swedish BBC co-production across four seasons (2008-2016).
Advertisement
The new Wallander trilogy is written by Antonia Pyk, Josefin Johansson, and Jörgen Bergmark, and will be directed by Molly Hartleb, Pella Kågerman, and Hugo Lilja. The films are produced by Glenn Lund at Jarowski/Yellow Bird, with Lisa Dahlberg serving as executive producer and Johanna Lind as head of drama for TV4 Drama. Co-producers include Film i Skåne and Ystad Österlen Filmfond, with distribution handled by Banijay Rights.
Source: TV4 Sweden Photo credit: Magnus Ragnvid / TV4
The Dividend Tracker:
Keep All Your Investments in One Place
This post/page may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. For details, visit our Affiliate Disclosure page.
Share this:
Like this: