A familiar brooding detective is getting a fresh face. Gustaf Skarsgård, who recently impressed audiences in “Oppenheimer,” is set to step into the shoes of Kurt Wallander for a new film trilogy from Swedish network TV4. Based on Henning Mankell’s much-loved novels, the films will adapt “Faceless Killers,” “Sidetracked,” and “One Step Behind,” bringing Wallander’s signature investigations back to our screens.
This won’t be Skarsgård’s first time exploring Wallander’s world; he actually played a younger version of the character back in the 2007 film “The Pyramid.” Now, he joins the respected list of actors who have portrayed the famous detective, including Rolf Lassgård, Krister Henriksson, and Kenneth Branagh.
Filming is scheduled to kick off after the summer in Ystad, the charming Swedish town that has become synonymous with the Wallander stories. The trilogy, penned by writers Antonia Pyk, Josefin Johansson, and Jörgen Bergmark, will see directing duties shared between Molly Hartleb, Pella Kågerman, and Hugo Lilja. It’s clear TV4 views Wallander as a cornerstone of their programming, and with this fresh adaptation and high-profile star, they seem to have big plans.
Look for the films to arrive on TV4 and TV4 Play sometime between 2026 and 2027. Given the huge impact previous “Wallander” adaptations have had – helping define the now-famous Nordic noir genre and paving the way for shows like “The Bridge” and “The Killing” – anticipation is understandably high for Skarsgård’s interpretation of the iconic detective.
The trilogy is a Jarowski/Yellow Bird production for TV4. Glenn Lund serves as producer, with Lisa Dahlberg as executive producer and Johanna Lind as head of drama for TV4. Film i Skåne and Ystad Österlen Filmfond are co-producers, and Banijay Rights is handling distribution.
