Pennywise The Clown Actor To Play Swedish Gangster In "Ultra-Violent" Netflix Show
Bill Skarsgard is trading in his clown costume to become a Swedish gangster for a new Netflix show about the man who is heavily associated with Stockholm syndrome.
The actor who played Pennywise the clown in the Stephen King's It movies has signed on to star as another madman--but this time a real one. Netflix has announced that Bill Skarsgard will play the Swedish gangster Clark Olofsson in a six-episode Swedish language drama series called Clark.
Among other things, Olofsson is known for his association with the term Stockholm syndrome. During the Norrmalmstorg bank robbery in 1973, Olofsson was allowed out of prison to help negotiate the release of hostages. The hostages bonded with Olofsson and the captors, and subsequent studies on the case led to the popularity of the term Stockholm syndrome.
Oloffson has been convicted of numerous crimes, including attempted murder, drug trafficking, and assault.
Jonas Akerlund, who directed the Madonna music video for "Ray of Light" and earned a Grammy award for it, is directing the Clark TV show. Akerlund also directed the Mads Mikkelsen movie Polar.
Clark is based on Olofsson's autobiography, Vafan var det som hände, and will contain both the "truth and lies" contained within the book that chronicles his early life up until the present day. Olofsson is currently 73 years old.
"Clark is the story about the most politically incorrect man, who lived the most politically incorrect life," Akerlund said in a statement. "These are the kinds of stories I always look for. 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."
Skarsgard said in his own statement that Olofsson is one of Sweden's "most colorful and fascinating individuals." He added: "Clark's life and history is so incredible and screwed that it would even make Scorsese blush."
The music for Clark is being composed by Mikael Åkerfeldt, who is the lead singer and guitarist for the Swedish metal band Opeth.
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