Filming kicks off on May 22 for ARNE GOES TO SPACE, the star-studded feature debut from Lars Vega—a northern Swedish sci-fi film starring Rolf Lassgård (A Man Called Ove, The Hunters), Lennart Jähkel (The Hunters, Pistvakt, As It Is in Heaven), and Kiran Shah (Star Wars, Narnia, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter). The film is produced by Nexiko and will be distributed in the Nordic countries by NonStop Entertainment.
A lost spacecraft crash-lands behind brothers Arne and Stefan’s woodshed. Where the space journey ends, a new story begins—about a small community in northern Sweden, a struggling hunting team, and two brothers racing against time to meet their firewood deadline.
“What a fantastic year—the ‘90s are making a comeback!! Luleå Hockey wins the Swedish Championship, the Gallagher brothers from Oasis reunite, and so do the brothers from the ‘90s classic The Hunters. Except this time it’s a comedy. They’re a bit older and a lot funnier than last time we saw them!” says director Lars Vega.
“In this film, we play with contrasts and the unexpected. The everyday northern Swedish world meets outer space and Hollywood. Lo-fi meets sci-fi. Helping us tell the story are three incredible stars and, behind the camera, a highly talented crew led by pitch-perfect director Lars Vega. It’s going to be epic and down-to-earth, touching and funny—all at once. With Arne Goes to Space, we want to surprise Swedish cinema audiences with something they’ve never seen before,” says the film’s producer Anette Brantin of Nexiko.
“Lars Vega’s eye for composition, timing, and northern Swedish grit, combined with the dream duo Rolf Lassgård and Lennart Jähkel—and our alien—promise something truly unique,” adds Jakob Abrahamsson, CEO of NonStop Entertainment.
“Filmpool Nord is very excited! Lars Vega is a great example of a talent we’ve supported for years, and who now finally gets to make his feature film debut. This debut has all the potential to be his big breakthrough and a chance to bring a northern Swedish story to a wide audience,” says Sandra Warg, CEO of Filmpool Nord.
ARNE GOES TO SPACE is directed by Lars Vega, from a screenplay by Lars Vega and Theodor Österberg. The film is produced by Anette Brantin at Nexiko (The Last Trip by Filip Hammar and Fredrik Wikingsson), in co-production with Filmpool Nord, SVT, and NonStop Winning Formula, with support from the Swedish Film Institute and Moving Sweden. NonStop Entertainment is handling Nordic distribution. Filming will take place in Norrbotten starting May 22, 2025.
About the Director:
Lars Vega was born in 1989 in Luleå and trained as a director at the National Film School of Denmark. He has also worked as a car salesman, marine biologist, and hairdresser. He has created several acclaimed short films portraying life in rural Sweden, often featuring Lennart Jähkel in the lead role.
About the Actors:
Rolf Lassgård is a six-time Guldbagge nominee and two-time Guldbagge-winning Swedish actor born in 1955 in Östersund. He had his breakthrough with My Big Fat Father, for which he received a Guldbagge Award. He has since played countless beloved roles, most notably the lead in A Man Called Ove, which earned him his second Guldbagge.
Lennart Jähkel is a multiple Guldbagge-nominated Swedish actor born in 1956 in Piteå. Equally skilled in drama and comedy, he is a beloved figure in Swedish cinema, with notable roles in films like The Hunters and As It Is in Heaven, as well as TV series such as Pistvakt and C/o Segemyhr.
Kiran Shah is a British-Kenyan actor and stuntman born in 1956 who has become a legendary figure in the industry. He has worked with some of the world’s greatest directors, including George Lucas, James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson, and Ridley Scott. As an actor, he has appeared in countless blockbusters, including The Chronicles of Narnia and multiple Star Wars films, including The Force Awakens. He is also a sought-after stuntman, famously doubling for Elijah Wood’s Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings films. He holds the Guinness World Record as the world’s shortest stuntman and has been honored with a British Empire Medal for his contributions to the film industry.
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