Today, Netflix revealed the main cast and title of Jo Nesbø’s highly anticipated crime series about the introverted detective Harry Hole. The live cast annoucement happend at the iconic restaurant Schrøder in Oslo, Norway, which also serves as the “second home” of Harry Hole 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, 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 anti-hero 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 longtime adversary and corrupt detective Tom Waaler. Harry is a brilliant but tormented homicide detective who struggles with his demons. As the two toe 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.

Tobias Santelmann, actor:

“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. 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.”

Jo Nesbø, author and creator:

“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 of 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.”

Eric Fellner, Executive Producer, Working Title:

“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.”

The series is produced by leading film and tv production company, Working Title, and will shoot on location in Oslo. Principal photography begins on May 23.

Cast & Crew

Cast: Tobias Santelmann, Joel Kinnaman and Pia Tjelta

Directors: Øystein Karlsen

Creator & Screenwriter: Jo Nesbø

Producer: Tor Arne Øvrebø

Executive producers: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Katy Rozelle, Rene Ezra, Øystein Karlsen, Jo Nesbø, Niclas Salomonsson

Production Company: Working Title Television

Studio: Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group

Release Date: 2026

Norwegian actor Frank Kjosås (b. 1981) is one of today’s most interesting and versatile talents in Scandinavia.

Kjosås got his cinematic break in 2008 with House of Fools and Troubled Water, and his unique acting skills has since gotten him cast in significant roles in both films and TV shows, such as the immensely popular and awarded The Heavy Water: Stopping Hitler’s Atomic Bomb, EXIT and Halvbroren, for which he won both a Golden Screen and a Golden FIPA for ‘Best Actor’.

Kjosås has been widely admired for his chameleon-like acting abilites by critics and viewers alike and praised for his fascinating way of being able to switch expressions from warmth and innocence to threatening coldness in the blink of an eye.

2024 will see Kjosås in multiple film and TV productions including the Netflix drama Billionaire Island, hailed for its potential to be the Norwegian answer to the hit drama Succession, as well as Havnaa, the highly anticipated Norwegian film inspired by the gripping real-life story of the notorius boxing brothers Erling and Magne Havnaa.

On a spring night, a young mother is found shot to death in her luxury villa in Djursholm. Detective inspector Sakka Pienni and her team at Regional Investigation Unit in Stockholm are handed the case. An intense investigation, which exposes family secrets, lies, and unreliable alibis, is soon in full force.

As the case grows and demands more victims, Sakka is haunted by childhood memories from the dark lands in the north. At the same time, she does everything in her power to shield the secret which threatens to destroy both her personal life as well as her career. It does not take long before her greatest fear is not only losing sight of the killer but something even worse: losing herself.

With The Raven, award-winning author Lina Bengtsdotter is back with the first installment in a new series featuring Detective Inspector Sakka Pienni. Bengtsdotter seamlessly waves together contrasting environments in a series of books that touches mental illness, childhood trauma, the culture of silence, and class.

The shortlist for the 2024 CWA Crime Fiction in Translation Dagger, an award given to the best translated crime novel of the year published in the UK, has been announced. Among the six remaining nominees vying for the prestigious award is Yrsa Sigurdardóttir, with the thrilling novel The Prey. 

The winners will be announced on 4 July at the CWA Awards Night.

Oliver Lovrenski has been selected to join Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s Literature Train. The event will take place on a train traveling from Elverum to Røros in Norway and will include literary talks and events along the way. The Crown Princess’s literature train celebrates ten years this year, and the aim of the event is to spread great literature and the joy of reading.

The Crown Princess has selected some of her favorite authors on the journey, and Oliver Lovrenski is one of the authors to join. The Literature Train takes off on June 11.

Annette Bjergfeldt and her acclaimed novel Mr Saito’s Traveling Cinema have been nominated for the 2024 Martha Award. The Martha Award is the largest book retailer award in Denmark and has been bestowed annually since 1989 by Bog & Idé to honor the Danish readers’ favorite author. The nominated works are selected by book retailers and readers and following a public vote in September, the ultimate winner will be announced in October.

Lisa Ridzén’s acclaimed debut When the Cranes Fly South has been shortlisted for Bonnier’s Book Club’s high profile Book of the Year Award. The motivation reads as follows:

“What a gem! 89-year old Bo moves into our reader-hearts! (…) A moving, thought-provoking and tender tale that goes straight to the heart.”

Bonnier’s Book Clubs is the home of five Swedish book clubs, among them the biggest one in Sweden. The winning book and author will be announced during the Gothenburg Book Fair in September. To see the list of the nominees and vote for your favorite, click “Read more” below.

Cassi hadn’t always been drinking instant coffee from a PET bottle for breakfast, or numbed her evenings with a bag-in-box. She had gone from being successful, popular and happy, to being frustrated, depressed and wine-soaked in less than a year.

In an impulsive attempt to escape her life, she accidentally buys a secluded cottage in the countryside. But when she moves in, rumors have already spread that Cassi is an experienced self-help guru.

Instead of explaining the misunderstanding, she decides to embrace her new role and begins guiding the locals through their various problems. She creates a new existence with improvised forms of therapy, makeshift yoga and magical stones, and, to her surprise, a few really good friends.

But when has a life built on lies ever been a good idea?

Cassi is Johanna Swanberg’s literary debut; a book about hitting rock bottom and finding your way back, written with both humor and darkness.