Summit Entertainment Names Screenwriter for Adaptation of Jo Nesbø's Headhunters

Earlier this year we learned that Summit Entertainment had optioned the English-language film rights to Jo Nesbø's stand-alone art theft caper Headhunters. Today the studio announced that Sacha Gervasi (Henry's Crime) will write the adapted screenplay.

A Swedish-language film adaptation of the 2008 novel — originally published as Hodejegerne — was released in 2009 (though it is not yet available here in the US).

Headhunters introduces the charming villain Roger Brown, a man who seems to have it all: he is Norway's most successful headhunter, married to the beautiful gallery owner Diana, owns a magnificent house – and is living larger than he should. Meanwhile, he is playing at the dangerous game of art theft. At a gallery opening, his wife introduces him to the Dutchman Clas Greve. Not only is Greve the perfect candidate for the CEO position of the GPS company Pathfinder that Roger Brown is recruiting for; he is also in possession of "The Calydonian Boar Hunt" by Peter Paul Rubens, one of the most sought-after paintings in modern art history. Roger sees his chance to become financially independent, and starts planning his biggest hit ever. But soon, he runs into trouble — and it's not financial problems that are threatening to knock him over this time …

(Related article: Deadline.)