The original film directed by Óskar Jónasson, is Iceland's Oscar contender in the Foreign Language Film category. Kormákur who starred in the film, produced it for his company Blueeyes Production and therefore controls remake rights.
The US version written by Aaron Guzikowski (Prisoners) is produced by London-based Working Title with Hollywood Leverage Management. "At this stage, shooting will begin next spring," said Kormákur to nordiskfilmogtvfond.com. This is the second time Working Title's moguls Tim Bevan and Erik Fellner tap into Nordic talents. Sweden's Tomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In) was hired last July to direct the English language Tinker, Soldier, Spy.
Meanwhile, the prolific Kormákur has a handful of other film projects at various stages of production and post-production. His US thriller Inhale starring Diane Kruger and Vincent Perez will open in the US next February-March and his ambitious $60m Vikings project is in pre-production. A big part of the set has already been built in the eastern part of Iceland, and shooting will probably start after summer 2010.
Icelandic projects in development include Silence of the Grave, co-written by Kormákur with Arnaldur Indridason from his own best-selling novel. Both men previously collaborated on the international hit Jar City. Last but not least, Kormákur will go back to the stage this winter to adapt for Reykjavik's National Theatre Gerpla (The Happy Warriors) based on a novel by Nobel Literary Prize winner Halldór Laxness.