Prime Video and Nordic distribution powerhouse Scanbox Entertainment have joined forces to develop a new slate of theatrical films and streaming series based on “Hamilton,” the bestselling Swedish espionage-thriller franchise created by author Jan Guillou.
The ambitious project, which aims to relaunch one of Scandinavia’s most enduring spy franchises for international audiences, will be produced by Swedish banner Dramanation, part of Scanbox Entertainment, alongside Germany’s Odeon Fiction, which is part of Mediawan.
The deal marks a major push to capitalize on established Nordic IP across theatrical and streaming platforms. A new actor set to take on the role of Carl Hamilton, the elite Swedish intelligence officer who has previously been portrayed on screen by Stellan Skarsgård, Peter Stormare and Mikael Persbrandt.
The films and series are currently in active development, with casting, directors and other key creative attachments expected to be announced in the coming months.
Guillou’s “Hamilton” novels have sold more than 10 million copies internationally and spawned numerous film and television adaptations over the decades. The franchise follows a U.S. Navy SEAL-trained Swedish operative navigating international espionage, covert missions and shifting geopolitical alliances.
Patrick Nebout, whose credits include “Midnight Sun,” “Whiskey on the Rocks” and the previous “Agent Hamilton” television reboot starring Jakob Oftebro, will executive produce for Dramanation alongside Britta Meyermann (“Spy City,” “Deadwind,” “The Seed”) for Odeon Fiction.
“Amid ongoing global power shifts and rising chaos, Jan Guillou’s Hamilton feels more urgent and relevant than ever. He is an enduring, complex and unique Scandinavian icon with true crossover appeal worldwide,” said Nebout.
“And it’s not just a man-with-a-gun concept, there is a lot more depth, nuances and political awareness to this character. Our vision is to bring all the nuances from Guillou’s novels to the surface, and I’m thrilled to team up with Odeon and Britta Meyermann on this project.”
“The unique theatrical and streaming partnership with Scanbox Entertainment and Prime Video paves the way for many exciting iterations as we explore the vast Hamilton universe,” Nebout added.
The new adaptations will span both feature films designed for theatrical release and television series for streaming, reflecting a strategy to build a broader screen franchise around Guillou’s extensive literary universe.
Brad Morley, head of content acquisitions, Nordics, at Prime Video, said the franchise fits the streamer’s ambitions to back locally rooted stories with global appeal.
“The Hamilton franchise is exactly the kind of bold, internationally resonant storytelling we champion at Prime Video,” said Morley. “Jan Guillou created one of Scandinavia’s most compelling heroes, and we’re thrilled to bring this iconic series to a new generation of viewers alongside Scanbox, Odeon Fiction, and Dramanation.”
For Scanbox Entertainment, which is part of European distribution group Vuelta, the project represents an opportunity to leverage its theatrical distribution business alongside Prime Video’s streaming reach.
“Hamilton has been a fixture of Nordic popular culture for decades, and at Scanbox we believe the time is right to introduce him to a new audience,” said Thor Sigurjonsson, CEO of Scanbox Entertainment.
“Teaming up with Dramanation, Odeon Fiction, and Prime Video lets us give this story the scale it deserves, in cinemas and on screen at home. Jan Guillou created a character that resonates far beyond the Nordic region, and we’re committed to doing justice to that legacy.”
Annica Bellander Rune, local marketing and acquisitions manager at Scanbox, and Torben Thorup Jørgensen, the company’s chief commercial officer, will also executive produce alongside Prime Video’s Morley.
