Tom Hanks will star in A Man Called Ove

Tom Hanks to Star in A Man Called Ove

Swedish international bestseller and Oscar-nominated box office smash produced by SF Studios to be film produced by and starring Tom Hanks.

Swedish production company SF Studios has announced that Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman will produce a new English version of international hit  together with Rita Wilson and Fredrik Wikström Nicastro. Hanks will also star as Ove in the comedy based on the Swedish international bestseller and the Oscar-nominated box office smash produced by SF Studios and directed by Hannes Holm.

A Man Called Ove was nominated for two Academy Awards earlier this year and was the highest-grossing foreign language film in the United States in 2016. In addition, the film was awarded with Best Comedy prize at the European Film Awards in 2016.

Fredrik Backman’s debut novel became an international sensation following its 2012 publication, hitting No. 1 on the New York Times Best Seller List and remaining on the list for a consecutive 77 weeks. It has been translated into 43 languages.

“We are thrilled and extremely happy to have joined forces with Tom Hanks and the very successful Playtone in this project,” says CEO of SF Studios Michael Porseryd. Producer Fredrik Wikström Nicastro continues, “I strongly believe that A Man Called Ove is a universal story that resonates strongly with an American and international audience. Making this film with one of the world’s best and most acclaimed actors gives A Man Called Ove the best possible opportunity to once again touch the hearts of audiences worldwide.”

“This story about love, tolerance and hope amplifies the qualities in movies that are hallmarks of the classic films we know and love,” says Rita Wilson. “A Man Called Ove transcended the language barrier to touch readers and audiences in ways we long for. What an honor to be part of such beautiful material.”

A Man Called Ove is one of the features included in SF Studios’ strategy to produce English language films for the international market based on Nordic intellectual properties and/or with Nordic talent. First out is Borg/McEnroe, starring Sverrir Gudnasson, Shia LaBeaouf and Stellan Skarsgård directed by Janus Metz (Armadillo) which just had its world premiere as the opening film of Toronto International Film Festival, and is sold to over 150 countries. It will be followed by the thriller Horizon Line written by the 10 Cloverfield Lane scribes Josh Campbell & Matt Stuecken, and I Am Victor written by James Bond scribes Neal Purvis & Robert Wade, based on an upcoming novel by Jo Nesbo, to be directed by Baltasar Kormakur (Everest).