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Young Wallander series for Netflix

New-look Kurt Wallander to investigate his very first case in a new take on Swedish detective.

Swedish detective Kurt Wallander, previously depicted on screen by both Krister Henriksson and Kenneth Branagh (pictured) is to have a new adaptation, Young Wallander.

The Netflix series, based on Henning Mankell’s best-selling novels, will be told over six serialised episodes with both British and Swedish cast.

The original story set in contemporary Sweden, sees Kurt Wallander investigate his first case. The story focuses on his formative experiences – professional and personal – as a recently graduated police officer in his early twenties.

The series is created by Banijay-owned Yellow Bird UK, the original producer of the BBC series.

Erik Barmack, Vice President, Head of International Originals at Netflix, says, “The Wallander novels have sold 40 million copies and been translated into over 40 different languages, while still being true and authentic to the Swedish noir that Mankell helped create. And the series created by Yellow Bird have also been fantastic global and local successes. Netflix is thrilled to continue this tradition and add new layers to the fantastic legacies that Mankell and Yellow Bird have created.”

Berna Levin, Creative Director, Yellowbird UK says, “Henning Mankell’s beloved detective Kurt Wallander has a special place in our hearts as his eponymous series was the first Yellow Bird ever produced. So, it is with tremendous joy and pride that we embark on this new journey together with Netflix as our first production through Yellow Bird UK. Getting to meet Wallander as a young man and explore how the times and his new experiences will shape him to eventually become the man we already know and love is a thrilling opportunity. We are confident he will captivate new audiences and delight longstanding fans once again with his sharp intelligence, youthful enthusiasm, and unmistakable humanity.”

Production starts in 2019.

3 Responses

  1. Mankell’s novels were originally down as movies starring Lassgard in the 1990. The TV series was based on the Linda Wallander novel Before The Frost and then original story written for the TV show. They used the last Wallander novel, The Troubled Man to start off the final season and Kurt’s decline. The BBC series with Branagh went back to using the Mankell novels. Netflix have just down a deal with Yellow Bird UK, the production company created to co-produce the BBC series to use the character of Wallander in original prequel stories. Of course the idea and style of Mankell’s novels is heavily based Detective Martin Beck novels of the 1960s & 70s. I guess that as every time someone pitches an original idea they end up being sued for plagiarism, it makes more economic sense to buy something with name recognition, then write you own stories using characters lifted from it

  2. Long time Wallander fan here….loved the Krister Henriksson version….did not at all care for the Branagh version…….but I will have to wait for this to come to FTA sometime…or DVD…..

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