Deadline International Disruptors: Hope Studios Is Banking On Optimism
International Disruptors: ‘A Man Called Otto’ Producer Fredrik Wikström Nicastro Is Banking On Optimism With Hope Studios
(DEADLINE ARTICLE)
https://deadline.com/2025/12/international-hope-studios-fredrik-wikstrom-nicastro-1236633037/
Deadline’s International Disruptors, is a feature where we shine a spotlight on key executives and companies outside of the U.S. shaking up the offshore marketplace.
“I’m an eternal optimist,” Wikström Nicastro tells Deadline from the set of Anxious People, which is the first film to shoot at Pinewood’s Indie Film Hub in the UK. “We want to give inspiration, and we want to tell stories that give people a glimpse of hope and instil a belief in humanity. I think that the power of believing in a better world or a better future is very powerful.”
Despite being wildly different genres, both are reflective of the slate he aspires to build at Hope Studios – human stories based on literary adaptations with optimistic DNA. Anxious People is the latest film adaptation from A Man Called Ove author Fredrik Backman while The Night House is based on the 2023 horror novel by famed Norwegian author Jo Nesbø.
Stephanie Allynne, Jessica Gunning, Carol Kane & Others Round Out Cast Of Marc Forster’s ‘Anxious People’
Stephanie Allynne, Jessica Gunning, Carol Kane & Others Round Out Cast Of Marc Forster’s ‘Anxious People’
(DEADLINE EXCLUSIVE)
https://deadline.com/2025/09/stephanie-allyne-jessica-gunning-anxious-people-1236531506/
EXCLUSIVE: Carol Kane, Stephanie Allynne, Joanna Scanlan, Lennie James and Jessica Gunning are joining Angelina Jolie, Aimee Lou Wood and Jason Segel in the pic Anxious People with Marc Forster directing. David Magee penned the script.
The story is set the day before Christmas Eve, when an investment banker (Jolie) begrudgingly finds herself mingling with a group of strangers at an open house. When a reluctant bank robber (Wood) inadvertently takes the group hostage, chaos and oversharing ensues, secrets are revealed, and literally nothing goes according to plan.
It’s a poignant, charming film about a crime that never took place, a would-be bank robber who disappears into thin air and eight extremely anxious strangers who find they have more in common than they ever imagined. Anxious People explores the enduring power of friendship, forgiveness and hope — the things that save us, even in the most anxious times.
Jason Segel Joins ‘Anxious People’ As Cameras Roll; Pic Is First To Use Pinewood Indie Film Hub
Jason Segel Joins ‘Anxious People’ As Cameras Roll; Pic Is First To Use Pinewood Indie Film Hub
(DEADLINE EXCLUSIVE)
https://deadline.com/2025/09/jason-segel-joins-angelina-jolie-aimee-lou-wood-in-anxious-1236504320/
EXCLUSIVE: Black Bear, Hope Studios, 2DUX2, and World Wide Word are underway in London on Anxious People, with Jason Segel joining the cast.
The three-time Emmy nominee joins Oscar winner Jolie and Bafta-winner Aimee Lou Wood in the feature adaptation of Fredrik Backman’s novel.
As we previously revealed, A Man Called Otto and World War Z director Marc Forster is helming from a script by Oscar-nominated screenwriter David Magee.
In Anxious People, “on the day before Christmas Eve, investment banker Zara begrudgingly finds herself mingling with a group of strangers at an open house. When a reluctant bank robber, Grace, inadvertently takes the group hostage, chaos and oversharing ensues, secrets are revealed, and literally nothing goes according to plan.”
Pic is being produced by Fredrik Wikström Nicastro of Hope Studios and Renée Wolfe of 2DUX2, with Marc Forster, David Magee, and Neda Backman executive-producing. World Wide Word, the newly formed financing entity of 2DUX2, and Black Bear provided financing for the film.
Black Bear is handling the international sales of the movie and WME Independent is repping domestically.
The production will be the first to use the newly launched Pinewood Indie Film Hub, a dedicated production facility for independent filmmakers at Pinewood Studios.
Segel stars in hit comedy series, Shrinking, which he co-writes and executive produces. Next, he will star in Jorma Taccone’s feature, Over Your Dead Body.
Angelina Jolie To Star In ‘Anxious People’ For ‘A Man Called Otto’ & ‘World War Z’ Director Marc Forster, Hope Studios & Black Bear
Angelina Jolie To Star In ‘Anxious People’ For ‘A Man Called Otto’ & ‘World War Z’ Director Marc Forster, Hope Studios & Black Bear
(DEADLINE EXCLUSIVE)
https://deadline.com/2025/05/angelina-jolie-anxious-people-movie-director-marc-forster-1236383335/
The movie will reunite some of the key players behind the 2022 feature adaptation of A Man Called Otto ($110M global box office), also based on Backman’s novel. Hope Studios’ Fredrik Wikström Nicastro (A Man Called Otto) and Renée Wolfe (A Man Called Otto) of 2DUX2 will produce, with Forster, McGee and Neda Backman executive-producing.
Maleficent, Girl, Interrupted and Unbroken actress Jolie was a Tony winner last year for producing on Broadway musical The Outsiders. She most recently starred in Pablo Larrain’s Oscar-nominated biopic about Maria Callas. Forster’s credits include Monster’s Ball, which earned Halle Berry an Oscar, Finding Neverland, The Kite Runner, James Bond film Quantum of Solace, World War Z, and A Man Called Otto.
“Fredrik’s novels speak to our shared humanity in a way that really moves audiences, and we’re proud to be able to deliver another heartwarming and hilarious adaptation of his work”, said producer Wikström Nicastro.
‘A Man Called Otto’ Producer to Adapt Bestseller ‘The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari’ at Hope Studios
‘A Man Called Otto’ Producer to Adapt Bestseller ‘The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari’ at Hope Studios
European film studio Hope Studios, led by Fredrik Wikström Nicastro, the veteran producer behind Sony’s hit Tom Hanks movie “A Man Called Otto,” is setting up a feature adaptation of Robin Sharma’s “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari,” the bestselling book about a life-changing journey.
Based on Sharma’s own search for life’s true purpose, “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari” tells the story of Julian Mantle, a lawyer forced to confront the personal crisis of his out-of-balance life after a tragedy – and his transformational journey through India. Translated into 70 languages, the book has sold over 10 million copies since being first published in 1999.
(full article link below)
Hope Studios secures funding (Dagens Industri article)
Hope Studios secures funding (Dagens Industri article)
The Snabba Cash producer secures half a billion (SEK).
He produced the Snabba Cash films and the Hollywood version of “A Man Called Ove”. Now Fredrik Wikström Nicastro is picking up half a billion SEK to produce more English-language blockbusters.
What does distribution look like?
“In many cases, the films will be in cinemas for a few weeks and premiere on a streaming platform shortly afterwards. ‘A Man Called Otto’ was seen by 12 million cinemagoers and over 50 million viewers on Netflix.”
When do you need to raise more money?
“We are in a start-up phase, so we are constantly looking at how to raise new money.”
(full article link below)
https://www.di.se/digital/snabba-cash-producenten-tar-in-halv-miljard-for-nya-filmer/
Aaron Paul, Jacob Tremblay Join Adaptation of Jo Nesbo Horror ‘The Night House’ for ‘Insidious’ Producer, Protagonist Launching at EFM (VARIETY Exclusive)
Aaron Paul, Jacob Tremblay Join Adaptation of Jo Nesbo Horror ‘The Night House’ for ‘Insidious’ Producer, Protagonist Launching at EFM
Aaron Paul and Jacob Tremblay are set to battle spooks and scares in upcoming elevated horror “The Night House,” adapted from Jo Nesbø’s bestselling novel.
The feature comes from genre maestro Steven Schneider (“Split,” “Insidious,” “Paranormal Activity”) who has teamed with Hope Studios’ Fredrik Wikström Nicastro (“A Man Called Otto,” “Borg vs. McEnroe”) and director Jesper Ganslandt (“Falkenberg Farewell,” “The Ape,” “Snabba Cash”).
Protagonist Pictures is launching international sales on the at the European Film Market in Berlin. WME Independent and UTA Independent Film Group are co-repping U.S. rights.
(full article link below)
https://deadline.com/2024/09/jo-nesbo-the-night-house-movie-snabba-cash-man-called-otto-1236094168/
Jo Nesbø, ‘Snabba Cash’ Director & ‘A Man Called Otto’ Producer Team For U.S.-Set Horror Movie ‘The Night House’ (Deadline exclusive)
Jo Nesbø, ‘Snabba Cash’ Director & ‘A Man Called Otto’ Producer Team For U.S.-Set Horror Movie ‘The Night House’
EXCLUSIVE: Scandi crime master Jo Nesbø is adapting his recent novel The Night House, a Stephen King-esque tale set in small town America in the mid-eighties, into a horror movie to film next spring.
The project combines Nesbø with veteran producer Fredrik Wikström Nicastro (A Man Called Otto) of Hope Studios and writer and director Jesper Ganslandt, co-creator and director of hit Netflix show Snabba Cash. Ganslandt will direct, and co-script with Nesbø.
(full article link below)
https://deadline.com/2024/09/jo-nesbo-the-night-house-movie-snabba-cash-man-called-otto-1236094168/
‘The Little Mermaid’ Screenwriter David Magee to Pen Feature Adaptation of Fredrik Backman’s Novel ‘Anxious People’ for Hope Studios (EXCLUSIVE)
‘The Little Mermaid’ Screenwriter David Magee to Pen Feature Adaptation of Fredrik Backman’s Novel ‘Anxious People’ for Hope Studios (VARIETY EXCLUSIVE)
Fredrik Backman’s bestselling novel “Anxious People” is set to be adapted into a feature film by “The Little Mermaid” screenwriter David Magee.
Fredrik Wikström Nicastro’s Hope Studios is producing the project.
“’Anxious People’ is a heartwarming and uplifting comedy about a group of strangers that get caught up in an unusual hostage situation on Thanksgiving,” reads the logline. “A story about compassion, connection, second chances, and eight extremely anxious strangers who find they have more in common than they ever imagined.”
(full article link below)
https://variety.com/2024/film/global/david-magee-fredrik-backman-anxious-people-film-1235926487/
Fredrik Wikström Nicastro Launches Film & TV Outfit Hope Studios With Black Bear Deal (Deadline article)
Fredrik Wikström Nicastro Launches Film & TV Outfit Hope Studios With Black Bear Deal (Deadline article)
EXCLUSIVE: Longtime SF Studios executive and Scandinavian producer Fredrik Wikström Nicastro is launching Hope Studios, which will develop, finance, produce and sell international films and TV for the global market with backing from a group of private equity financiers and banks.
Nicastro has spent 18 years at Nordic powerhouse SF Studios where he produced recent Sony pic A Man Called Otto starring Tom Hanks, the remake of Swedish Oscar nominee and box office hit A Man Called Ove, on which he was an executive producer.
Hope Studios will develop original content but focus primarily on adaptations of fiction and non-fiction novels and projects inspired by true stories.
(full article link below)
