EXCLUSIVE: Icelandic filmmaker Erlingur Thoroddsen (Rift) has set his next film, The Wastelands, at Sagafilm.
Described as a psychological survival horror with a “supernatural slant,” the English language film will be directed by Thoroddsen from a screenplay he also wrote.
The film is said to be rooted in Icelandic folklore, exploring what happens when the landscape itself becomes a force of reckoning. The synopsis reads: Blending myth, suspense, and emotional depth, The Wastelands is a haunting story about guilt, survival, and confronting one’s hidden secrets. Casting is currently underway for the film’s female lead. Producers on The Wastelands include Arnar Benjamín Kristjánsson, with Kjartan Thor Thordarson and Skarphéðinn Guðmundsson serving as Executive Producers.
Thoroddsen’s last film, Kuldi, was nominated for 6 Edda awards, including Best Screenplay. The film was the second highest-grossing Icelandic film of 2023, and was the fifth highest-grossing film overall in Icelandic cinemas that year. It’s set for a North American release in 2025. Thoroddsen’s previous film, Rokkur (aka Rift), won the Artistic Vision Award at Outfest. An English language remake of the film has been set up at MGM/Orion.
One of Iceland’s most prolific production companies, Sagafilm’s credits include Interstellar, Star Trek Into Darkness, and Batman Begins. The company recently produced Operation Napoleon, the TV series The Minister, and the upcoming Amazon Prime Video series Vaka.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled to work with Sagafilm to bring this story to life,” Thoroddsen said in a statement. “Their love of film and support of filmmakers make them the perfect partner for a project of this scale. The Wastelands draws its inspiration from a fog-drenched trek through the Icelandic Highlands. An awe-inspiring yet perilous landscape that feels like another world. That visceral experience sparked the concept of a psychological horror story set against nature’s raw power.”
Kristjánsson added: “I’ve been a fan of Erlingur’s work since his debut film, so when The Wastelands came across my desk, I knew I had to be part of it. The script is gripping, original, and emotionally powerful. Both I and everyone at Sagafilm are incredibly excited to be working with Erlingur and to help bring this story to life.”
Thoroddsen is repped by Bernard Kira of Apparent Motion, and Myman Greenspan Fox Rosenberg Mobasser Younger & Light.
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