Tommy Wirkola: Last News

Violent Night – check out the first trailer below.The actor, best known for roles in Stranger Things and Marvel’s Black Widow, takes on a weary, vengeful version of Saint Nick in the action-comedy directed by Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters).A synopsis reads: “When a team of mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage, the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint.”Violent Night is written by Patrick Casey and Josh Miller (Sonic The Hedgehog), and also stars John Leguizamo (Carlito’s Way) as leader of the mercenaries, Ben, and Beverly D’Angelo (American History X) as the matriarch, Gertrude.The film is produced by 87North, the production company founded by director David Leitch and Kelly McCormick, which has previously worked on action films Nobody and Bullet Train starring Brad Pitt.The film is set to have its world premiere at New York Comic Con on October 7. It will be released in cinemas worldwide on December 2, 2022.Harbour is set to star in a film adaptation of the PlayStation racing game series Gran Turismo, helmed by director Neill Blomkamp (District 9, Elysium).

A new release date and title is lurking for Sony Pictures‘ shark thriller starring Bridgerton alum Phoebe Dynevor. The pic formally known as Beneath the Storm from director Tommy Wirkola now is titled Shiver and is set for summer 2026.

Jack Dunn In a series of changes to its slate of upcoming films, Sony has removed its “Street Fighter” film adaptation, originally set for a March 20, 2026 debut, from its release calendar and shifted Tommy Wirkola’s shark thriller “Beneath the Storm,” now titled “Shiver,” from August 2025 to July 2026. “Street Fighter” will be co-produced and developed by Capcom, the Japanese videogame developer who launched the original franchise in 1987, and Legendary, who scooped up the TV and film rights for the prolific game series in 2023. Further details about the film, such as plot, cast, director and writer, are all currently unknown.

Bridgerton's Phoebe Dynevor is set to star in a new shark thriller, Beneath The Storm. The film, which was confirmed back in May, has now been given a release date of August 1, 2025, for the USA, with a UK release date yet to be announced.

Phoebe Dynevor is about to go swimming with sharks!

Katcy Stephan “Violent Night” director Tommy Wirkola‘s next project is shaping up. His shark thriller has now been titled “Beneath the Storm” and is set to be released theatrically Aug.

EXCLUSIVE: Djimon Hounsou has joined the cast of Sony Pictures‘ untitled thriller from producers Adam McKay and Kevin Messick. Phoebe Dynevor and Whitney Peak are also starring, with Tommy Wirkola writing and directing.

Alex Ritman “Spermageddon,” the Norwegian animated sex musical comedy that became one of the most talked about titles at this year’s Annecy Film Festival, has been acquired for France. Originals Factory, the distributor that has released the likes of “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” “The Whale” and “20 Days in Mariupol,” has picked up the film, which has already been bought for territories around the world following its premiere last month.

EXCLUSIVE: Bridgerton and Fair Play actress Phoebe Dynevor has inked with WME for representation in all areas, we can tell you.

Marta Balaga The “Spermageddon” is coming. Leading indie sales agent Charades has closed deals with Telepool and Square One Entertainment for rights to the CG-animated film for Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Co-directed by Rasmus A.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Sony Pictures’ untitled shark movie, to be directed by Norway’s Tommy Wirkola, will shoot in Melbourne, Australia, it has been confirmed. The picture, which begins production from July, is expected to star “Bridgerton” heroine Phoebe Dynevor. Confirmation of the location win for the state was revealed by Creative Victoria and VicScreen, which said that the production will tap into Victoria state’s Victorian Screen Incentive financing package.

Michaela Zee Phoebe Dynevor is in talks to star in an untitled shark thriller at Sony Pictures with Tommy Wirkola (“Violent Night”) directing, Variety has confirmed. While plot details are being kept under wraps, production is set to begin in Australia this summer.

Phoebe Dynevor has landed a new role amid the return of Bridgerton.

Bridgerton breakout Phoebe Dynevor is in talks to star in an as-yet-untitled shark thriller that Tommy Wirkola (Violent Night) wrote to direct for Sony Pictures, Deadline can confirm.

The Marvel blockbuster Black Panther: Wakanda Forever reminded in the top spot at the domestic box office for its fourth-straight week, totaling $17.6 million on what was a down weekend at the box office to kick off the year's final month, while the holiday horror comedy Violent Night made an impressive $13.3 million.Wakanda Forever remained in the top spot, as its made $733 million total at the global box office, with $339 million in sales overseas.The Ryan Coogler-directed movie features an ensemble cast including Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong'o, Letitia Wright and Danai Gurira. The latest: The Marvel blockbuster Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, starring Angela Bassett, reminded in the top spot at the domestic box office for its fourth-straight week, totaling $17.6 million on what was a down weekend at the box office to kick off the year's final month Violent Night - which stars David Harbour as Santa Claus and features a cast including John Leguizamo, Alex Hassell and Alexis Louder - made $13.3 million in its first frame, as it cost Universal about $20 million to make.'Violent Night had a terrific debut this weekend,' Universal Domestic Distribution Chief Jim Orr told Deadline Sunday, adding, '87North, director Tommy Wirkola, and the incomparable David Harbour as Santa crafted an incredibly original, fun, irreverent take on the ultimate superhero that thrilled audiences this weekend and will for many weeks to come.' The entertainment analytics company RelishMix reported that Violent Night was buoyed by buzz on social media.'David Harbour is the hot-trending theme in much of the chatter on Violent Night, and bringing his Stranger Things audience to the comments,' according to RelishMix.

Before Disney’s 20th Century Studios’ Avatar: The Way of Water floods the box office with a potential $200M opening on Dec.16, Universal might have a surprise this weekend in the 87North holiday action movie Violent Night, starring David Harbour. Universal is hoping for $10M, maybe $12M on the Tommy Wirkola-directed movie for a second place take. However, rivals are truly excited by it, thinking it could do much more.

This, as one of the surprised bad guys says in this new Violent Night trailer, is not your typical mall Santa.

Katie Reul editor David Harbour is boosting his resume as a badass in the first trailer for “Violent Night,” a holiday thriller featuring the “Stranger Things” star as Santa Claus. Under the direction of Norwegian filmmaker Tommy Wirkola, Harbour plays a grizzlier, more rueful version of Kris Kringle, who is anything but jolly in the trailer. On Christmas Eve, (Not-So) Saint Nick encounters a family being held hostage by a team of mercenaries and is forced to take matters into his own hands. Harbour is joined by an ensemble that includes Cam Gigandet, Beverly D’Angelo and John Leguizamo. The script was penned by Pat Casey and Josh Miller, who previously wrote the first and second live-action “Sonic the Hedgehog” movies.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentREinvent International Sales has closed major territory sales on “UFO Sweden,” a science fiction movie adventure from Crazy Pictures, a Swedish film collective whose past credits includes the 2018 hit movie “The Unthinkable.”Described as a mix between “X-Files” and “Stranger Things,” “UFO Sweden” is set in a small town and follows a teenage rebel placed in foster care, who suspects that her father is not dead, but has been kidnapped by UFOs. With the help from a UFO association, she is determined to find out the truth.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentREinvent Intl. Sales has scored sales across its slate, including Alex Herron’s horror film “Leave” and Sanna Lenken’s “Comedy Queen.”“Comedy Queen,” which world-premiered at Berlin and won the Crystal Bear in the Generation section, has sold to Benelux (In the Air), France (Les Films Du Preau), Spain (Yoda Films), Poland (Vivarto), Hungary (ADS Service), Lithuania (Scanorama) and the former Yugoslavia (Fivia).“Comedy Queen” follows Sasha, a 13-year-old girl who dreams of becoming a stand-up comedian.

Marta Balaga Finland has responded to a spike in demand for its content with a slew of new series. As revealed by Laura Kuulasmaa, executive director at Audiovisual Producers Finland (APFI), over 30 will be released this year alone, a 20% uptick on 2018.“Compared to eight, ten years ago, when there were maybe only five scripted series per year, the increase has been huge,” she tells Variety ahead of French TV festival Series Mania’s “Focus on Finland” showcase. The Film in Finland cash rebate has facilitated international investments and growth of the budgets, she notes. Matti Paunio, head of production at the Finnish Film Foundation, adds:“I think the biggest trend overall is the diversification of subjects and points of view.