Anders Weidemann is attached to adapt Thumbs, a live-action drama based on the bestselling graphic novel written by Sean Lewis with art by Hayden Sherman. Weidemann will write the adaptation of the story, which follows 17-year-old Charlie “Thumbs” James, gamer and social outsider, who enters an esports tournament hoping to win a scholarship from tech billionaire Adrien Camus’ gamer academy so he can get his ticket out of his neighborhood. But soon he finds himself fighting real life-and-death battles in a covert war between Camus’ teenage army and a neo-fascist anti-tech movement that is about to take over the U.S.

Thumbs is one of two projects on the initial development slate of McFarlane Film’s just launched TV production unit, which will be overseen by Todd McFarlane, the comic book creator behind Spawn, and his President of Television, Sean Canino.

Weidemann, McFarlane and Canino will executive produce Thumbs, along with Allard Cantor and Jarrod Murray through Epicenter, with Sean Lewis on-board as a producer.

Please click the “read more” button below to read the article in Deadline Hollywood.

HBO’s Beartown, based on the novel of the New York Times No. 1 bestselling author Fredrik Backman and adapted for television by Anders Weidemann, is nominated for a Swedish Emmy – a Kristallen award – for ‘Best Drama’. Also in the running for the award is Netflix’s Snabba Cash, written by Oskar Söderlund and directed by Jesper Ganslandt, both creators and show runners of the series. Jens Lapidus is the author behind the internationally bestselling novel that inspired the series, also titled Snabba Cash.

The Kristallen Gala will take place on August 27th in Stockholm, Sweden.

In February, Beartown premiered on HBO Max in the U.S. and Canada to great praise, including being picked by Time Magazine as one of the five best new shows.

The celebrated series is based on Fredrik Backman’s novel of the same name, directed by Peter Grönlund, and written by Anders Weidemann, Antonia Pyk and Linn Gottfridsson.

“Beartown on HBO Max is an outstanding, unsparing work that transcends Scandinavian noir.”
-Paste Magazine, US

“A patient portrait of a stiflingly small place with a long memory; an investigation into the perils of masculinity; an icy Scandinavian take on Friday Night Lights.”
-Time Magazine, US

“A brilliant, bracing hockey drama that resonates hard. /…/  For all its elements of disillusion and despair, it is thrilling, wrenching drama, at times unforgettable, like the best of hockey can be, even while human nature drags it down to the worst of us.”
-The Globe and Mail, Canada

“It’s the combination of the adaptation of the novel, Peter Grönlund’s well-done direction and some excellent performances, particularly from its main stars, that makes Beartown a winner.”
-Under the Radar Magazine, US

“Stunning examination of rape and toxic masculinity. /…/ The series proves instantly gripping, thanks to vivid storytelling that lays out the interpersonal dynamics of its many players.”
-The Daily Beast, US

“Beartown /…/ takes the honesty of Friday Night Lights to an even deeper and much darker level. [Beartown] floored me with its realism, as it digs into the people of a struggling community.”
-Boston Globe, US

The TV series Beartown, based on the novel of the same title by Fredrik Backman, and created for television by Anders Weidemann, had its initial premiere on HBO Europe on October 18 last year. An official release date has now been announced for the US market, where the show will be available on HBO Max, February 22.

This weekend Beartown premiered on HBO to fantastic reviews. The acclaimed series is based on Fredrik Backman’s novel of the same name, directed by Peter Grönlund, and written by Anders Weidemann, Antonia Pyk and Linn Gottfridsson.

Beartown has among else been praised by the largest Swedish newspapers Aftonbladet, Dagens Nyheter, Svenska Dagbladet, and Expressen.

“Beartown is a home run. Hallelujah! HBO Nordics’ Beartown, based on Fredrik Backman’s novel, is unquestionably the best Swedish TV series of the year so far. /…/ The result is outstanding. A Swedish production that is powerful, heavy, and beautiful like a bear, keeping a high quality in every aspect, and a tight hold on the viewer from start to finish.” ★★★★
– Aftonbladet

“The best Swedish series right now. /… / So well-acted and engaging that you can feel the ice burn your cheeks.” ★★★★
– Dagens Nyheter

“Chilling drama from start to finish. The grand scale production Beartown is a well-made series about ice hockey and toxic masculinity.” ★★★★
– Svenska Dagbladet

“One of this year’s best Swedish TV experiences. /…/ With Beartown, Peter Grönlund and the screenwriters Anders Weidemann, Antonia Pyk and Linn Gottfridsson succeed in crafting a moral story that never runs out of steam. /…/ Big parts of the series feel like highly credible pieces cut from reality.” ★★★★
– Expressen

Interrogation, created by Anders Weidemann and John Mankiewicz, premiered earlier this year on CBS All Access to fantastic reviews lauding its innovative format and gripping story. The true crime drama stars Peter Sarsgaard and Kyle Gallner, both praised for their layered performances.

Interrogation will have its Swedish premiere on C More September 18.

The highly anticipated series Beartown will premiere across all of HBO Europe during the fall of 2020. The five-part Swedish drama is based on the bestselling novel of the same name, written by internationally acclaimed author Fredrik Backman, who also serves as executive producer of the show.

The small town Beartown is slowly losing ground to the ever-encroaching trees surrounding it. The local hero and former hockey star Peter comes home to Beartown to build the junior team and secure the town’s future. Carrying the entire town’s hopes on their shoulders is a heavy burden for Beartown’s boys. When the team’s young star is accused of a horrible act, it leaves the town in chaos, leaving no resident unaffected.

Beartown explores the hopes that bring a small community together, the secrets that tear it apart, the courage it takes for an individual to go against the group and the consequences of how we raise our children.

The series is directed by Peter Grönlund, and written by Anders Weidemann, Antonia Pyk and Linn Gottfridsson. Filmlance, part of Endemol Shine Group, is producing. Starring in leading roles are Ulf Stenberg, Aliette Opheim, Tobias Zilliacus, Miriam Benthe and Oliver Dufaker. Executive producers are also Tor Jonasson and Sophie Smirnakos.

The true crime drama Interrogation, created by Anders Weidemann and John Mankiewicz, premiered on CBS All Access earlier this month and has since received great praise in American press.

“From the very first episode, Interrogation is intense and blurs the line between good and evil. /…/ Great storyline and creative presentation. /…/ A well-executed yet innovative true-crime series that leaves you guessing.”
–Awards Circuit

“A unique take on what CBS does best. /…/ A great example of how new technology can put new spins on old ideas.”
–Forbes

“This is not your ordinary binge-watch. /…/ The deeper you dig, the more Interrogation becomes an unusually compelling tragedy of a family shattered.”
–TV Insider

“The impressive cast breathes life into the story with their layered performances. /…/ The series hits all of the right notes. /…/ Engaging and thought-provoking.”
–TV Fanatic

“Interrogation is gripping, shocking, and will leave audiences wowed that it all came together.”
–Cinema Blend

Ernest Dickerson (The Wire, The Walking Dead) has been attached to direct the CBS All Access’ straight-to-series true-crime drama Interrogation, created by Swedish writer-producer Anders Weidemann in association with John Mankiewicz. Dickerson, who has worked as director of photography on many of Spike Lee’s films including Do The Right Thing and Mo Better Blues, will direct six of Interrogation’s ten episodes and will exec produce the series along with Weidemann, Mankiewicz, Henrik Bastin and Melissa Aouate.

Interrogation will star Kyle Gallner (Outsiders), Kodi Smit-McPhee (X-Men: Apocalypse), Peter Sarsgaard (The Looming Tower) and David Strathairn (Billions) and has a unique structure with nine episodes of the series released to watch in any order with the conclusive season finale released at a later date. Each episode of the series is structured around an interrogation taken directly from the real police case files, with the goal of turning the viewer into a detective.

An adaptation of Fredrik Backman’s international bestseller Beartown has been green-lit by HBO Europe. The adaptation will be produced by Filmlance International (Bron/The Bridge) and award-winning screenwriter and director Peter Grönlund (Drifters, Goliath) will direct all episodes of the five-part one-hour series, written by Anders Weidemann, Antonia Pyk and Linn Gottfridsson.

Beartown will be filmed on location in the north of Sweden, starting soon. The series will premiere on HBO Nordic and across HBO Europe territories at the same time.

For more info, please click on “Read more” below.

It was recently announced that CBS All Access has ordered the true crime drama Interrogation, created by Anders Weidemann and John Mankiewicz. CBS has now revealed that Peter Sarsgaard will play the detective on the case. Sarsgaard most recently starred in Hulu’s 9/11 series The Looming Tower.

Interrogation is based on the true story of a young man who was charged with and convicted of the brutal murder of his mother. Each episode centers on an interrogation taken directly from the real police case files. The series has an original format and will be experimenting with its release pattern. The first nine episodes of the series will be available to watch in any order, and the conclusive season finale will be released at a later date.

Weidemann is the first Swedish screenwriter to write and produce an American TV series based on his own original idea, and this news has garnered great attention in Swedish media.