Norwegian star actor Kristofer Hivju (“Game of Thrones,” “Red One”, “Beck”) will play opposite Friday Hallgren (from Oscar-nominated “As It Is in Heaven”) in the upcoming Swedish-Croatian rom-com “True Love” (working title). Helmed by actor-turned writer, director and best-selling author Martina Haag, the SF Studios project, now in pre-production, will be pitched Aug. 26. at Haugesund’s Nordic Co-Production Market. As with ‘Little Did I know,” “True Love”’s starting point is deceit and divorce and how to bounce back when you’re over 50.
According to the logline, when Ellinor (played by Hallgren) is dumped by her husband after 20 years of marriage, she loses faith in life. When she wins €40 million ($46 million) immediately after, she finds it even harder to trust anyone. But then she meets Henrik (Hivju).
The latter grew up at the elite Lundsberg boarding school, where his mother worked as a cleaner. To fit in, he learned to lie, and became an irresistibly charming master of deception. Their relationship should never work, but what if they’re exactly what the other needs?“As both main characters are flawed and a bit extreme in the beginning of the film, it was important for us to find great actors that are warm and relatable: Real people in exaggerated situations, that we want to be with and see get better,” said Hivju and Hallgren Haag.
They added: “Both Frida and Kristofer feel grounded and are capable of going from being extremely funny to super sensitive. And of course, the chemistry and dynamics between the actors is super important in a romantic comedy. If the spark isn’t there, it doesn’t matter how great the story is.
We’re so happy to have Frida and Kristofer on board!” Added SF Studios producer Helen Ahlsson: “Frida is a wonderfully warm and talented actress, and one audiences have taken to their hearts over the years. Kristofer has never really played a romantic lead before, which was perhaps a new challenge he was very keen to take on. In this film, you’ll discover a new Hivju like you’ve never seen before,” she enthusiastically shared with Variety.
Haag said catering for mature audiences came naturally. One being deceit and divorce – as in “Little Did I Know” – but also how to be able to trust and love again.” “This story is about that,” she added. How can anyone dare to let their guard down and risk being hurt once again?
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