Production is under way on Arne Goes to Space, the feature debut by Swedish director Lars Vega. Set in the far north of Sweden, the sci-fi comedy features an eye-catching trio of leads: Rolf Lassgård (A Man Called Ove [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film], The Hunters), Lennart Jähkel (The Hunters, As It Is in Heaven [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film], Pistvakt), and British-Kenyan actor and stunt legend Kiran Shah, whose credits span iconic franchises such as Star Wars, The Chronicles of Narnia, Indiana Jones and Harry Potter. Principal photography is taking place in Norrbotten and kicked off on 22 May.

The story begins when a lost spaceship crash-lands behind the woodshed of brothers Arne and Stefan. What follows is a tale rooted in the rhythm of everyday life in a small northern community, complete with a hunting team in crisis and a firewood deadline that won’t wait. The crash sets off a chain of events where the mundane meets the extraordinary, and local traditions are upended by an interstellar visitor.

Director Lars Vega, born in 1989 in Luleå and trained at the National Film School of Denmark, has made a name for himself through a series of acclaimed shorts portraying rural Swedish life – often starring Jähkel – and brings his signature deadpan tone and visual wit to this debut feature. “What a brilliant year – the 1990s are back! Luleå Hockey wins the national title, the Gallagher brothers reunite, and so do the brothers from The Hunters, this time in comedic form. They’re a bit older and a bit funnier than the last time we saw them,” Vega quips.

“We’re working with contrasts and the unexpected – the everyday Norrbotten life colliding with outer space and Hollywood, lo-fi versus sci-fi,” explains producer Anette Brantin. “With three extraordinary leads and a gifted crew led by Vega’s pitch-perfect direction, Arne Goes to Space will be epic and intimate, moving and funny, all at once. We want to surprise Swedish cinema-goers with something they’ve never seen before.”

Jakob Abrahamsson, CEO of NonStop Entertainment, echoes this enthusiasm: “Lars Vega’s feel for composition, timing and northern dryness, combined with the dream duo of Lassgård and Jähkel and our alien guest, promises something truly original.”

Sandra Warg, CEO of Filmpool Nord, adds: “We’re extremely excited. Lars Vega is a great example of the kind of talent we’ve supported over time, and this debut has everything it needs to become his breakthrough – bringing a northern Swedish story to a large audience.”

Arne Goes to Space is being produced by Brantin for Sweden’s Nexiko (which was behind Sweden’s 2025 Oscar entry The Last Journey [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
scheda film]) and will be distributed across the Nordic countries by NonStop Entertainment. Co-producers include Filmpool Nord, SVT and NonStop Winning Formula, with backing from the Swedish Film Institute and Moving Sweden. Filming will wrap on 25 June.