Tobias Santelmann is stepping into the iconic shoes of Harry Hole, Jo Nesbø’s celebrated detective. But the casting process wasn’t straightforward, revealing a fascinating glimpse into the evolving landscape of literary adaptations and the pressures of bringing beloved characters to the screen. This news, coupled with the upcoming Netflix series and a new novel on the horizon, signals a significant moment for the Harry Hole franchise – and points to broader trends in the entertainment industry.
Nesbø and Netflix have been tight-lipped about the TV series, but today they are releasing new details:
- The series “Jo Nesbø’s Harry Hole” will premiere on March 26, 2026.
- A modern and dark Oslo will be the setting for the 9-episode series based on Nesbø’s book “The Redbreast”.
A wide range of star actors are on the cast list, and Jo Nesbø, who is showrunner for the series, is happy to finally share the first image and premiere date.
“It will be a dark and intense journey,” says Jo Nesbø.
Nesbø: – Is He Too Handsome and Nice?
But he tells VG that when it comes to the lead role, there was some back and forth before the choice fell on Tobias Santelmann. Initially, the inclination was towards another actor for the role of Harry Hole.
“Tobias Santelmann was actually too ‘good looking’ for the role, and we also wondered if he was tough enough. We thought: Is he too handsome, sympathetic, and nice?”
He explains that Santelmann was one of the first to be called in for the casting process.
“We were probably a bit strict with him – because he was almost too obvious. So we had several other actors in, who were fantastic, and we had actually intended to choose someone else. But right at the end, we wanted to test Tobias one more time.”
“And then he did such a fantastic audition that we all just looked at each other: OK, let’s not fool around. It’s Tobias, it has to be Tobias,” says Nesbø.
The author, who has sold over 60 million books worldwide, says that the series marks a new chapter for the character that many have a relationship with.
“It has been incredibly exciting to see Tobias interpret the role of Harry, and I look forward to sharing his interpretation with the audience.”
