Netflix has ordered Young Wallander, a new original series based on Henning Mankell’s best-selling Kurt Wallander novels, which is being produced by Yellow Bird UK, the company behind the BBC’s Wallander series starring Kenneth Branagh.
Set in contemporary Sweden and features both British and Swedish cast, Young Wallander sees Henning Mankell’s iconic detective Kurt Wallander investigate his gripping first case. The story focuses on the formative experiences – professional and personal – faced by Kurt as a recently graduated police officer in his early twenties.
“The Wallander novels have sold 40 million copies and been translated into over 40 different languages, while still being true and authentic to the Swedish noir that Mankell helped create,” said Erik Barmack, Vice President, Head of International Originals at Netflix. “And the series created by Yellow Bird have also been fantastic global and local successes. Netflix is thrilled to continue this tradition and add new layers to the fantastic legacies that Mankell and Yellow Bird have created.”
“Henning Mankell’s beloved detective Kurt Wallander has a special place in our hearts as his eponymous series was the first Yellow Bird ever produced,” added Berna Levin, Creative Director of Yellow Bird UK. “So, it is with tremendous joy and pride that we embark on this new journey together with Netflix as our first production through Yellow Bird UK. Getting to meet Wallander as a young man and explore how the times and his new experiences will shape him to eventually become the man we already know and love is a thrilling opportunity. We are confident he will captivate new audiences and delight longstanding fans once again with his sharp intelligence, youthful enthusiasm, and unmistakable humanity.”
Production on Young Wallander will get underway in 2019.
