Today, Netflix revealed the main cast and title of Jo Nesbø’s upcoming crime series about the introverted detective Harry Hole. The live cast announcement happened at the iconic restaurant Schrøder in Oslo, Norway, which also serves as Harry Hole’s “second home” in the novels.
Tobias Santelmann (Exit, The Arctic Convoy) will lead the cast as the legendary detective Harry Hole, alongside Joel Kinnaman (Altered Carbon, The Suicide Squad) as Tom Waaler, and Pia Tjelta (Made in Oslo, State of Happiness) as Rakel Fauke.
As a memorable entrance, the cast arrived in the cars they will drive in the series, including a 1988 Ford Escort, a Skoda Enyaq, and a brand new Lotus Emira. During the press conference, Netflix confirmed the title of the coming Netflix series Jo Nesbø’s Harry Hole and the main cast.
Created by one of the greatest storytellers in crime fiction, Jo Nesbø’s Harry Hole is a whodunnit serial killer mystery led by famed antihero Harry Hole. Underneath the surface, this series is a nuanced character drama about two police officers – and supposed colleagues – operating on opposite sides of the law.
Throughout the first season, Harry goes head-to-head with his long-time adversary and corrupt detective, Tom Waaler (Joel Kinnaman). Harry is a brilliant but tormented homicide detective who struggles with his demons. As the two navigate the blurred ethical lines of the criminal justice system, Harry must do all he can to catch a serial killer and bring Waaler to justice before it is too late.
“I am incredibly grateful for the trust I have been shown in getting to play Harry Hole. I am very much aware of the huge global fan base and the millions of readers who love the character,” said Tobias Santelmann.
“For me, it is about creating a Harry that people can both recognize and be surprised by. I can’t wait for the shoot to start. It will be a true pleasure to work with everyone.”
Author and creator Jo Nesbø added: “I’m guessing that all readers of the book series have their own vision of what Harry Hole would look like, and they should be allowed to keep that. We will create a Harry that is based not only on the books but someone based on the actor Tobias Santelmann and everyone involved in this project – both in front and behind the camera.
“For me, storytelling isn’t about serving people what they think they want, but what they didn’t know they wanted. We will try to create something fresh, exciting and surprising with respect to the book version of Harry.”
The Netflix series is produced by the leading film and TV production company Working Title and will be shot on location in Oslo. Principal photography begins on May 23.
Eric Fellner, executive producer at Working Title, commented: “Working Title is thrilled to be working with Jo Nesbø and Øystein Karlsen to bring the legendary detective Harry Hole to life. To have assembled such an incredible cast of actors and crew is a testament to Jo’s storytelling skills.
“Through the collaboration with our partners at Netflix, we’re excited to share Jo and Øystein’s vision not just in the Nordics but around the world.”
Mirko Parlevliet has been reporting on the entertainment industry since 1998 and founded Vital Thrills to provide the latest news on streaming, movies, and TV shows. He previously created the websites ComingSoon, SuperHeroHype, and ShockTillYouDrop.