Exclusive: Midnight Sun creators are producing their first family feature at the new Studio Nord in Boden. TrustNordisk handles world sales. Stefan Baron and Sonja Hermele (Midnight Sun, The 100-year-old Man) are producing together with Anna Knochenhauer (Young Sophie Bell) who is also experienced as post producer of features such as Euphoria, The Giant, The 100-Year-Old Man.

Baron said: “I love sci-fi and I’m thrilled to be back in that universe after the series Real Humans [which he exec produced for SVT].  The epic space adventure film is based on the play ‘Vial’ by playwright/actor Henrik Ståhl who has adapted it for the silver screen together with director Ted Kjellsson (The Junkyard Kids).

The central characters are the siblings Gladys (13) and her brother Keaton (6) who are lost in space on an enormous evacuation spaceship after an environmental disaster. They are on their way to paradise planet Vial, guided and helped in their odyssey by Japanese computer Otōsan, an A.I. that controls the spaceship and life support system. One day Vojajer, a friendly alien refugee crashes into their spaceship, on his quest to find Earth. Together the alien and the children will fight for survival. 

Knochenhauer told nordicfilmandtvnews.com: ”It’s a high concept adventure film that doesn’t shy away from big questions about life and death, with a strong theme about family ties and longing, to be filmed with warmth and humour.”

The SEK 20m (€2.1m) film will be shot almost entirely at Filmpool Nord’s new Studio Nord in Northern Sweden. “We have a group of creative people who know how to bend the bucks and do magic without too much money’ said Knochenhauer. “Ted’s background as production designer and broad knowledge of digital effects will be key, as well as the VFX to be made by award-winning Chimney. “

“We’re looking at creating a retro look as seen in Netflix’s series Stranger Things, but with sci-fi flicks like Alien in mind. It´s also filled with references to classic films such as Brothers Lionheart and E.T., to attract both kids (8+) and their parents," noted Knochenhauer. 

The film is co-produced by Filmpool Nord in collaboration with SVT, Chimney, Ljudbang, Dagsljus and Nordisk Film & TV Fond. Nordisk Film holds Scandinavian rights. Filming will start in July and the premiere is planned for the fall 2018.