Bela Bajaria Chief Content Officer at Netflix | Official website
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 announcement took place 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.
The cast made a memorable entrance by arriving in cars featured 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 upcoming series: Jo Nesbø’s Harry Hole.
Created by one of crime fiction's prominent storytellers, Jo Nesbø’s Harry Hole is a whodunnit serial killer mystery led by famed anti-hero Harry Hole. Beneath its surface lies a nuanced character drama about two police officers operating on opposite sides of the law. Throughout the first season, Harry faces his long-time adversary and corrupt detective Tom Waaler. As they navigate blurred ethical lines within the criminal justice system, Harry must catch a serial killer and bring Waaler to justice before it is too late.
Tobias Santelmann expressed his enthusiasm for playing Harry Hole: “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 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 shared his thoughts on adapting his character for television: “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 Tobias Santelmann and everyone involved in this project - both in front 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 from Working Title commented: “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 our collaboration with 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 Working Title Television and will shoot on location in Oslo starting May 23.
Cast: Tobias Santelmann, Joel Kinnaman, 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
Release Date: 2026
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About Jo Nesbø:
Norwegian writer Jo Nesbø is regarded as one of the leading crime writers globally. The #1 New York Times best-selling author’s books have been translated into 50 languages; by 2024 he had sold some 60 million copies worldwide across over 180 territories. He is recognized for widening thriller scope with unusual literary qualities and ambitions alongside psychological insights into modern globalized life. His works have garnered numerous international awards.
About Working Title:
Co-chaired by Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, Working Title has produced critically acclaimed films and TV shows for 40 years—from My Beautiful Laundrette to recent hits like Ticket To Paradise—and has won multiple prestigious awards including 14 Academy Awards.
About Netflix:
Netflix is one of the world's leading entertainment services with 270 million paid memberships across over 190 countries enjoying diverse content spanning various genres and languages.
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