According to Variety, It star Bill Skarsgård has signed on for the leading role in Netflix’s newest Swedish-language series titled Clark, which will center on 1960s gangster Clark Olofsson. Skarsgård is set to take on the titular role in his first major role since appearing as a recurring character in Hulu’s Castle Rock series which aired its second season last year.
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“Clark Olofsson is, for good and bad, one of Sweden’s most colorful and fascinating individuals. I accept this challenge with delight mingled with terror and think that with Jonas and Netflix in the back, we can tell a groundbreaking story with a pace and madness we may not have seen on TV before.” Skarsgård said in a statement. “Clark’s life and history is so incredible and screwed that it would even make Scorsese blush.”
Based on Clark Olofsson’s autobiography “Vafan var det som hände,” the six-episode series will chronicle the Swedish criminal’s early years up until the present day. He first started doing crimes such as robbery, attempted murder, assault, and drug dealing during the 1960s-1980s. Olofsson is also best known for involvement in the infamous Norrmalmstorg robbery when his former cellmate and friend Jan-Erik Olsson had requested the police to allow Olofsson to come to the bank where he had kept four people as hostages. This event ultimately led to the creation of the term “Stockholm syndrome,” where hostages develop some kind of bond towards their captors.
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Clark will be directed and executive produced by Jonas Åkerlund from a script he co-wrote with Fredrik Agetoft, and Peter Arrhenius. Skarsgård will also be serving as an executive producer along with Hans Engholm. The series is a production by the Scandinavian Content Group with Börje Hansson and Patrick Sobieski set as producers.
“’Clark’ is the story about the most politically incorrect man, who lived the most politically incorrect life… 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,” Åkerlund said. “[Skarsgard] the perfect match for this [and]…will bring the Stockholm Syndrome to the role.”
Skarsgard gained worldwide recognition through his breakout role as the evil shape-shifting clown Pennywise in the 2017 horror film It, based on Stephen King’s iconic novel of the same name. Skarsgard’s other notable film credits include Atomic Blonde, Assassination Nation, Deadpool 2, and Villains. He will next be seen in Edson Oda’s sci-fi film Nine Days; the psychological thriller film The Devil All the Time starring alongside Tom Holland and Robert Pattinson; and Robert Eggers’ The Northman.
(Photo by Rachel Murray/Getty Images for FLAUNT Magazine)
