The producers of Out Stealing Horses have just acquired the rights to Ingvar Ambjørnsen’s fifth book about the vulnerable and touching character Elling. 

Best-selling author Ambjørnsen whose world famous fiction character was first brought to the screens by Petter Næss in the 2002 Oscar nominated film Elling, will collaborate on the screen adaptation of his new book Ekko av en venn (The Echo of a Friend) published last week in Norway. 

Axel Hellstenius, writer of the first film Elling and its prequel Mother Elling (2004) is again attached to the new screen version featuring the obsessive-compulsive oddball. 

Producer Turid Øversveen who acquired rights to the novel a few months ago said: “It is with great respect for both Ambjørnsen and Elling that we are now in the process of writing the script. Like the previous stories about Elling, this story is both funny, sad and touching. In other words, a fantastic starting point for making a good movie.”

4 ½ collaborated earlier with Ambjørnsen on the film Dragonflies by Marius Holst (2001), adapted from the author’s short story Natt til mørk morgen. 

Øversveen said she is focusing on the script with screenwriter Axel Hellstenius, but hopes to start shooting “at the latest in the fall 2020”.

The films Elling, Mother Elling and Love Me Tomorrow starring Per Christian Ellefsen, were major box office successes at home, selling a combined 1.5 million tickets.