Despite the critical acclaim and modest box office success of "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy," director Tomas Alfredson hasn't been attached to many — or any — movies in the way you might expect. His name was briefly on the shortlist for "Catching Fire" and his adaptation of Philip Reeves' "Larklight" is still brewing, though when we spoke with him at the end of last year, he wasn't sure where on his schedule that might be. But it seems another project has caught his attention, one based on a book, and the helmer quietly hit Cannes earlier in the month to drum up interest.
Alfredson has snapped up the rights to Astrid Lindgren's "The Brothers Lionheart" and together with producer Peter Pjodor Gustafsson, is pulling the pieces together for the $30 million dollar movie. The story follows two brothers — the heroic, brave and strong Karl and his polar opposite Jon — who both die, but are reunited in the afterworld Nangijala that is under threat from cruel tyrant. The beloved book has been made into a movie before, in 1977 by Olle Hellborn, but as you can see from the trailer below, there's room for it to updated to the 21st century. John Ajvide Lindqvist, who adapted "Let The Right One In," is penning the screenplay.
There's no word yet on if Alfredson will solely produce or direct the film as well, but we assume if he's snapping up the rights he plans to get behind the camera. It's an interesting gear change for the director who certainly push his way into meetings for higher profile Hollywood pics if he wanted. But with "Larklight," he's shown a keen interest in telling a fantasy story with children, and something like "The Brothers Lionheart" should at least allow him the total creative control he might not get elsewhere. But all this will depend on financing, so we'll see if he can raise the funds he needs to get it off the ground. [ScreenDaily/DN]