The stellar cast of the Swedish film Young Astrid by Pernille Fischer Christensen also includes Maria Bonnevie, Trine Dyrholm and Magnus Krepper.

Fisher Christensen said: “We have assembled an amazing cast of Scandinavia's best actors and I am delighted to be working with them, and especially with Alba August who plays Astrid. Her incredible talent ranges from the lightest comedy to the deepest sorrow. This will be a challenging role for her, but she has worked hard to get Astrid under her skin and has gone into the process of life and death.”

Alba August (daughter to Bille August and Pernilla August) has starred in a dozen productions such as the film A Serious Game and TV dramas Jordskott, The Sandhamn Murders, The Legacy and Below the Surface.

The script written by Kim Fupz Aakeson focuses on an event that occurred when Astrid Lindgren was very young and that came to shape her adult life, writing talent and aspirations. Filming just started on Tuesday, and will be split between Göteborg, Stockholm, Berlin and Altenburg.

The Swedish film is produced by Anna Anthony (Avanti Film) and Lars G. Lindström (Nordisk Film Production), in co-production with Film i Väst, TV4, Nordisk Film Production Denmark, DCM in Germany, in association with DR and support from Nordisk Film & TV Fond, the Swedish Film Institute, the Danish Film Institute, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH and Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung.

Nordisk Film Distribution will release the film in 2018. TrustNordisk handles world sales.