TrustNordisk Boards Viking Drama ‘Stiklestad’ — AFM

TrustNordisk has acquired international sales rights to the Viking drama Stiklestad and will present the project at the upcoming American Film Market.

Stiklestad will be directed by Erik Skjoldbjærg, whose previous credits include Insomnia, starring Stellan Skarsgårdm, which was later remade in English under the same name and directed by Christopher Nolan. Skjoldbjærg’s credits also include Prozac Nation, starring Christina Ricci.

Since then, Skjoldbjærg has directed numerous feature films and episodes for television. His last film, the WWII feature Narvik, was released in 2022. Stiklestad will be his 8th feature film.

The film’s official synopsis reads: The year is 1030. As King Olav Haraldsson wages a brutal campaign to unite Norway under one throne and one God, Aud, a gifted blacksmith, sees her world torn apart. Captured alongside her sister during Olav’s conquest, she is forced to forge weapons of war for the king who enslaved her. But a burning rage and hunger for vengeance awakens in the flames.

Stiklestad will be produced by Sigurd Mikal Karoliussen for Nordisk Film Production, with support from the Norwegian Film Institute and Filminvest. The film is directed by Skjoldbjærg from a screenplay by Kathrine Valen Zeiner and Maren Skolem. Executive producers are Katrine Vogelsang and Sveinung Golimo. Nordic distribution through Nordisk Film Distribution. International sales by TrustNordisk.

“We are happy to be on board this legendary Viking saga with a fearless female lead and from the director and team behind Narvik,” Susan Wendt, Managing Director of TrustNordisk, said in a statement. “We can’t wait for the world to join this unique battlefield.”