Filmlance Working on Vinterviken Adaptation for Netflix

Netflix is prepping a modern adaptation of Mats Wahl’s acclaimed novel Vinterviken, with The Bridge producer Filmlance International on board.

The original Vinterviken novel was turned into a successful film in 1996. The story in the new Netflix treatment, Vinterviken 2021, is set in Stockholm in 2021 and focuses on the romance between Elisabeth and John John, two youngsters who are raised in the same city, yet live light-years apart—separated economically, socially and culturally—until the day they are in the same high school class.

Vinterviken 2021 will be produced by Filmlance International, a part of Endemol Shine Group, with Teresa Alldén as producer and Alexis Almström as director. Dunja Vujovic serves as the screenwriter. The three previously collaborated on Top Dog, based on the Jens Lapidus trilogy.

Vinterviken 2021 will release globally on Netflix and will be co-produced by Sveriges Television.

Alldén said: “Mats Wahl’s novel portrays a timeless theme: Love beyond social status and class. The new film adaptation must reflect the development of society. Vinterviken 2021 should thus be a modern story about experiencing true love in a world full of prejudice and economic inequality.”

Almström added: “I will never forget when I watched Vinterviken as a teenager in the ’90s. A lot has happened since then, not only in a good way. A feeling of hopelessness is getting prevalent amongst young people, regardless of background. Therefore, I’m excited to share this hopeful story about young lovers breaking class barriers to the global Netflix audience.”

Lina Brouneus, director of co-production and acquisition at Netflix, said: “We’re thrilled to be able to bring a contemporary version of this modern Swedish classic to a global audience and we believe that the universal themes of love, class differences and segregation will resonate with our audiences all over the world. We can’t wait to see how Alexis Almström and the rest of the incredible team at Filmlance International will reflect the times that we live in and make this story come to life again.”