A true tale set in civil wat-ravaged Norway, produced by Oscar-nominated director Nils Gaup, The Last King, is ready for the US market. Magnolia Pictures has acquired the North American rights.
“The Last King” is a tale set in 1206 when Norway was in the midst of brutal civil wat between the Norwegian king and the church. It follows the journey of two Norwegian warriors who escape across the mountains in order to take their dying king’s infant son to safety. It stars Jakob Oftebro (Kon-Tiki), Kristofer Hivju (Game of Thrones), Nikolaj Lie Kaas (The Keeper of Lost Causes) and Thorbjørn Harr (Vikings).
“Nils Gaup has crafted another sweeping adventure with ” The Last King,” said Magnolia president Eamonn Bowles to the Hollywood Reporter. “The thrilling performances and high-stakes of this incredible true story will really resonate with audiences everywhere.”
Nils Gaup credits include the Oscar-nominated Pathfinder (1987) and local box-office hit The Kautokeino Rebellion (2008).
The Last King was written by Ravn Laneskog and produced by Stein B. Kvae and Finn Gjerdrum for Paradox Film 3 AS, co-produced by Nordisk Film, Newgrange Pictures Ltd. and Proton Cinema+Theatre with support from Norwegian Film Institute, Irish Film Board and Eurimages. It was developed in collaboration with The Media Programme, Film3 and Midtnorsk filmsenter.
Norwegian title: Birkebeinerne (The Birchlegs).
Previous announced deals include sales to Germany, Austria and Switzerland (Koch Media Deutchland), Italy (Minerva Pictures Group), Czech Republic (Film Europe Media Company) Middle East (Gulf Film), India (Pictureworks) and Estonia (Estinfilm).
Norwegian release is set for February 12th, 2016.
Feature image (on top) by Ian Brody
Norwegian action-adventure drama, written by Tor Kjolberg