The most expensive film ever made in Scandinavia is being released on 206 prints (including 35 digital) all over Sweden starting today, as well as on 70 prints (including 20 digital) in Norway and 14 in Finland, basically the same print run as for the first film of the series. "As the marketing for Arn-The Knight Templar was very successful we will basically repeat with the second film what we did on the first film. The show continues!" said Eva Svendenius, head of Theatrical Distribution for SF Film Sweden. "The difference perhaps is that last time, the element of curiosity was very high, whereas now, there is already a strong level of awareness. And of course, it's easier to market a sequel to a film that was a huge success."
And what a success. In particular in Sweden. The first Arn movie attracted 1.1 million visitors in Sweden, 170,000 in Norway, 140,000 in Denmark and 25,000 in Finland.
In The Kingdom at Road's End, audiences keen to follow the screen adventures of Arn Magnusson (Joakim Nätterqvist) will see him come home to bring peace to his country and marry his beloved Cecilia (Sofia Helin). "I think this second film is perhaps better because you get directly into the plot and there is more action and more love," said Svendenius.
An international version of the film -a compilation of the two feature films released in the Nordic countries- will be available early September.
The SEK210m film was produced by Svensk Filmindustri in collaboration with UK's Sheba Productions, Germany's Telepool GmbH, Film i Väst, TV4, DR, YLE, TV2 Norway, SF Norge, Juonifilmi Oy, Tju Bang AS, DR, Dagsljus Film Equipment AB, Europa Sound Production, Arion Communication Ltd, Molinare Ltd with support from Nordisk Film & TV Fond, the Swedish and Danish Film Institutes.