Staff Reporter | On 15, May 2020

Bill Skarsgård will play Swedish criminal Clark Olofsson in a drama for Netflix.

Simply called Clark, the six-part series will see the actor best known for his role as Pennywise in the It film franchise portray the famous gangster, who has managed to escape prisons and committed robberies all over Europe.

Based on the truth and lies of Olofsson’s autobiography, the Swedish-language series will feature Clark’s early years until present day. The notorious gangster started his criminal career in the 1960s and became one of the most controversial personalities in contemporary Swedish history. Convicted of several counts of drug trafficking, attempted murder, assault, theft and dozens of bank robberies, he has spent more than half his life behind bars and has left behind a trail of trauma, heartbreak, disappointment and general devastation. In the 1970s Clark gave rise to the idea of “The Stockholm Syndrome” during a failed bank robbery in Stockholm – and has ever since kept his position as celebrity criminal fooling all of Sweden to fall in love with him. Just like he desired.

The film will be directed by Jonas Åkerlund (pictured right) and produced by Scandinavian Content Group.

“Clark is the story about the most politically incorrect man, who lived the most politically incorrect life. These are the kinds of stories I always look for,” says Åkerlund. “It’s an ultra-violent, witty, emotional, real and surreal biography to put a face to the name Stockholm Syndrome, but it isn’t just about the Norrmalmstorg Robbery. It’s about his whole life and what made him who he is, the truth and lies of his incredible career. Bill Skarsgård is the perfect match for this.”

Skarsgård adds: “Clark Olofsson is, for good and bad, one of Sweden’s most colourful and fascinating individuals. I accept this challenge with delight mingled with terror and think that with Jonas and Netflix in the back, we can tell a groundbreaking story with a pace and madness we may not have seen on TV before. Clark’s life and history

Skarsgård is no stranger to Netflix, starring in the streamer’s upcoming film The Devil All The Time.

Photos: Damon Baker / Henrik Halvarsson

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