- Jarowskij/Yellow Bird, TV4 and Banijay Rights partner on  modern revival of iconic detective franchise -   

Stockholm, 24th April 2025: From Cannes Series, Banijay Entertainment today announces the return of globally-acclaimed detective drama, Wallander, reimagined for a new era by Jarowskij/Yellow Bird, TV4 and Banijay Rights. The first season of this new Swedish-language adaptation will comprise of three 90-minute films, with Gustaf Skarsgård (Oppenheimer, Vikings) playing the iconic role. The series will be directed by Molly Hartleb (Riding In Darkness, Top Dog) and the duo behind the highly-anticipated Egghead Republic, Pella Kågerman & Hugo Lilja. 

At 42, Kurt Wallander’s life is unravelling. Newly separated after two decades of marriage and estranged from his daughter, he’s a man on the edge. Wallander drinks too much, sleeps too little, and carries the weight of every unsolved case. He is pushed to the limits as he confronts high-stakes cases, and this new adaptation goes deeper than ever before, taking the audience under the skin of this intriguing character, with a raw portrayal of a modern man navigating personal collapse, while attempting to uphold his detective work. 

Elin Kvist, CEO Jarowskij/Yellow Bird says: “Wallander set in today is not just a strong and intuitive detective, but also a complex, vulnerable character struggling as a father, partner and friend. Gustaf Skarsgård gives us a relatable character packed with nerve, intuition and emotion. But most of all we want these new films to be suspense thrillers filled with unpredictability, struggle and the sense of constantly being in a pressure-cooker.” 

Simon Cox, EVP, Content & Acquisitions, Banijay Rights says: “Wallander is one of the most iconic global crime brands in television, and this landmark reimagining delivers everything contemporary audiences are looking for - fast-paced crimes and high emotional stakes. With Gustaf Skarsgård in the legendary role, and its revived contemporary lens, this latest version is an exciting proposition for those seeking a new premium crime series for international audiences” 

The first season have been adapted from three of the most successful books of the series: One Step Behind, Sidetracked and Faceless Killers. The scripts are written by Antonia Pyk, Josefin Johansson and Jörgen Bergmark, respectively, and the films will be produced by Glenn Lund for Jarowskij/Yellow Bird in partnership with TV4, Banijay Rights, Film i Skåne and Ystad Österlen Filmfond. 

A global phenomenon from iconic author Henning Mankell, the Kurt Wallander novels have sold over 40 million copies and been translated into more than 40 languages. 

The original Swedish series and film adaptations aired between 1994 and 2013, achieving wide international success, including the in UK where it became BBC Four’s top-performing import in 2009 and 2010. In addition, a British mini-series adaptation starring Kenneth Branagh aired on the BBC, seeing him win a BAFTA for his stellar portrayal of the detective. 

Wallander will be sold internationally by Banijay Rights, the global distribution arm of content powerhouse Banijay Entertainment. 

As the number one European scripted studio, Banijay Entertainment stands at the forefront of premium storymaking with a slate of new and returning titles like House of Guinness (Kudos/ Netflix), The World According to Lidea Poët (Groenlandia/ Netflix) Elixe (Topkapi/ New 8), Rogue Heroes (Kudos/ BBC One), Fallen (Filmlance/ TV4), Bergerac (Blacklight TV for U and U& Drama), Culpa Tuya (Pokeepsie/ Prime Video) and more. Highlights at this week’s Cannes Series festival include The Big F*ck Up (jonnydepony for Streamz B and Amazon Prime Video NL) Rien ne t’efface (Shine Fiction for TF1) and How to Kill Your Sister (MadeFor/ FBO for Play4 & ZDF Neo).