Longtime SF Studios Exec & ‘A Man Called Otto’ Producer Fredrik Wikström Nicastro Launches Film & TV Outfit Hope Studios With Black Bear Deal
EXCLUSIVE: Longtime SF Studios executive and Scandinavian producer Fredrik Wikström Nicastro is launching Hope Studios, which will develop, finance, produce and sell international films and TV for the global market with backing from a group of private equity financiers and banks.
Nicastro has spent 18 years at Nordic powerhouse SF Studios where he produced recent Sony pic A Man Called Otto starring Tom Hanks, the remake of Swedish Oscar nominee and box office hit A Man Called Ove, on which he was an executive producer.
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Hope Studios will develop original content but focus primarily on adaptations of fiction and non-fiction novels and projects inspired by true stories.
The company has offices in Stockholm and London and, according to Nicastro, will be able to fully finance projects up to $50M. It has also secured an overall deal with Black Bear, which will partner with the company on international sales and distribution.
During his tenure at SF Studios, Nicastro produced more than 20 films, many of which helped launch local talent, and established the company’s international film division, which he ran up until his recent departure. Among projects he shepherded were Borg vs McEnroe and the breakout hit Snabba Cash, which he produced and co-wrote. Following its success, Nicastro expanded the latter project into a film trilogy and a multi-season series at Netflix.
“Hope Studios is on a mission to bring hope and inspiration to people everywhere. Our aim is to grow into a vessel for creatives, authors and thinkers who have something important to say while sharing our passion for mainstream appeal to reach as many people as possible,” said Wikström Nicastro.
He added: “By using elevated entertainment values and storytelling that emotionally connects with a global audience, we hope to contribute to a greater understanding and care for each other and the world around us. I am incredibly grateful for the talent and the business partnerships that have joined us and look forward to welcoming many more as we embark on this journey.”
Black Bear’s President of International John Friedberg commented: “Fredrik has an enviable track record of success, perfectly illustrated by the brilliant A Man Called Otto – a story he saw the potential in from the outset and which has now generated two incredible feature films. Fredrik’s commercial sensibility is evident on the Hope Studios’ slate and we’re excited to collaborate on these upcoming projects.”
Legal representation to Hope Studios was provided by Kami Naghdi at Constance Media and Linda Lichter at Lichter Grossman Nichols Adler.
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