According to Worldscreen.com, Zodiak Entertainment-owned Yellow Bird has optioned the film rights to Headhunters (Hodejegerne) from bestselling Norwegian writer Jo Nesbø. The book has been sold to ten countries, including France, Germany and the Netherlands, and now Yellowbird is developing a feature-film adaptation of it. While Jo Nesbo is primarily known for his Inspector Harry Hole series, Headhunters is not from this series, but rather the first book (probably) of what may become a second crime fiction series by Nesbo.

Jo Nesbø is an internationally well-known author thanks to his seven highly acclaimed crime novels featuring Detective Harry Hole. His books have been translated into more than 30 languages, and four of them into English (see reviews of Jo Nesbo’s books at Scendinavianbooks.com).

Headhunters is a thriller which focuses on Roger Brown, a successful headhunter who finances his extravagant life by way of dangerous art thefts. Upon meeting the Dutchman Clas Greve, he starts planning his biggest heist ever, but soon runs into trouble.The book has been a great success in Scandinavia.

PS: The Leopard is now available for preorder at Amazon UK.

Marianne Gray, producer at Yellow Bird, noted: “Headhunters is both entertaining and riveting and we believe that the strength of this story together with Jo’s sales success worldwide will make for another highly successful feature film with huge international potential.”

According to Worldscreen, the work on the movie script has already started. If all proceeds accoring to schedule, the production of the movie is expected to start next year.

This is very good for Jo Nesbo and for Scandinavian crime fiction fans. I’ll be looking forwards to seeing the movie!