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Netflix orders Swedish crime drama

Netflix has ordered an original drama series about notorious Swedish criminal Clark Olofsson, with Bill Skarsgård in the lead role.

Bill Skarsgård

Swedish-language six-episode series Clark is based on the truth and lies of Olofsson’s autobiography Vafan var det som hände, and will follow the gangster’s early years through to the present day.

Olofsson started his criminal career in the 1960s and became one of the most controversial personalities in contemporary Swedish history. Convicted of several counts of drug trafficking, attempted murder, assault, theft and dozens of bank robberies, he has spent more than half his life behind bars.

In the 1970s, Olofsson gave rise to the concept of Stockholm Syndrome during a failed bank robbery in the city. The four hostages defended their captors after being released and refused to testify against them in court.

Olofsson will be portrayed by Skarsgård, who is best known for playing Pennywise the Dancing Clown in the 2017 and 2019 film adaptations of Stephen King’s horror novel It, and is the son of Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård.

Later this year, Skarsgård will also star in Netflix film The Devil All The Time and Sony Pictures Classic’s sci-fi film Nine Days. He most recently appeared in Hulu’s psychological drama series Castle Rock, from JJ Abrams and Stephen King.

Scandinavian Content Group will produce Clark, with Jonas Åkerlund directing and writing. Frederik Agetoft and Peter Arrhenius will also write. Producers are Börje Hansson and Patrick Sobieski, with Åkerlund, Skarsgård and Hans Engholm exec producing.

Scandinavian Content Group was formed last year by the amalgamation of Swedish prodcos Bright Pictures, The Broadcast Family and We and The Monkeys.

“Clark is the story about the most politically incorrect man who lived the most politically incorrect life. These are the kinds of stories I always look for. It’s an ultra-violent, witty, emotional, real and surreal biography to put a face to the name Stockholm Syndrome, but it isn’t just about the Norrmalmstorg Robbery. It’s about his whole life and what made him who he is, the truth and lies of his incredible career,” Åkerlund said.

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