The Swedish film The Adventures of Halvdan Viking is produced by Anagram Production with support from Nordisk Film & TV Fond.

The Romeo & Juliette story set in Viking times is freely inspired by Martin Widmark’s beloved literary character Halvdan Viking. In the title roles as Halvdan and his friend Meia are 12 year-olds Vilgot Hedtjärn and Ellinea Simbalis.

Family film expert Gustaf Åkerblom (The Anderssons Rock the Mountains) will direct from his own script adaptation. Peter Haber of Beck series fame plays a blacksmith, responsible for the young viking’s education while his father is at sea.

Top crew members include Oscar-nominated Make up artists Eva von Bahr and Love Larson (A Man Called Ove), costume designer Kicki Llander (A Serious Game) and cinematographer Peter Mokrosinski (The Girl Who Played with Fire).

Producer Jessica Ask said: “We’re so proud of having a great relationship with Martin Widmark and of having been allowed to write our own story about the kids, using the author’s universe and characters. The film has a universal message. It says you should dare to believe in yourself, the unknown doesn’t necessarily have to be dangerous and you don’t need to fight hard to be a real Viking."

Filming starts in August in Västra Götaland and the release in Sweden is set for the winter 2018.

The film is produced by Anagram Production in co-production with Film i Väst, TV4/C More, co-financing from NDR in Germany, and support among others from the Swedish Film Institute. SF Studios handles Scandinavian distribution and world sales.