SF Studios’s Fredrik Wikström Nicastro will produce with Playtone Partners’s Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman as well as Rita Wilson.

Wikström Nicastro said: “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.”

Producer Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks' wife said: “This story about love, tolerance and hope amplifies the qualities in movies that are hallmarks of the classic films we know and love. A Man Called Ove transcended the language barrier to touch readers and audiences in ways we long for."

Fredrik Backman’s best-selling eponymous novel was translated into 43 languages and stayed 77 consecutive weeks on the New York Times’ best-selling list. In the cinemas, the Swedish adaptation directed by Hannes Holm posted more than 1.7 million admissions and Rolf Lassgård won Best Actor at the national Guldbagge awards and at the Seattle Film festival for his role as the grumpy old Ove. Released through Music Box in the US, the film became the highest grossing foreign language in 2016 and earned two Academy Awards nominations.  

The teaming up of SF Studios with one of Hollywood’s biggest stars is part of the Scandinavian group’s strategy to expand into English language content for the international market. Upcoming projects include the thriller Horizon Line written by Josh Campbell & Matt Stuecken (10 Cloverfield Lane), and I am Victor to be directed by Baltasar Kormákur.

Bonnier-owned company recently opened a London office headed by Kate Myers.

Borg vs McEnroe is currently playing at number three in Sweden and opened at number 5 this week in Denmark via Nordisk Film.