US Rights to Film Adaptation of Hodejegerne (Headhunters) by Jo Nesbo Acquired by Magnolia Pictures

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Magnolia Pictures has acquired the US distribution rights to the film adaptation of Jo Nesbo's crime novel Hodejegerne (Headhunters). The film is expected to premiere in Norway later this year.

Nesbo is probably best known to US audiences for his series of novels featuring Oslo police detective Harry Hole, but Hodejegerne is a stand-alone thriller (though has the potential to be the first in a series).

In the book, Roger Brown (played by Aksel Hennie in the film) is a successful headhunter, who finances his extravagant life by way of dangerous art thefts. Upon meeting the Dutchman Clas Greve (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), he starts planning his biggest heist ever, but soon runs into trouble.

The film adaptation was co-written by Ulf Ryberg, who also adapted the third book in the Millennium trilogy by Stieg Larsson, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest.