Oscar-nominated Norwegian drama Kon-Tiki’s star Tobias Santelmann has been cast as the lead in Elite Film Produktion’s English-language historical action adventure Northmen - A Viking Saga. 

“After seeing Kon-Tiki it was clear for me that only Tobias could give a powerful lead to our Viking tale. He reminds me of Kirk Douglas in The Vikings,” said Ralph S. Dietrich of Ascot Elite Entertainment. “We’ll also be rounding up a strong ensemble cast within the next few weeks.”

Claudio Faeh (Hollow Man 2) will direct from a screenplay co-authored by Mattias Bauer and Bastian Zach, with Elite Film co-producing with Berlin’s Kaminski.Stiehm.Film, and Hanover-based Jumping Horse Film. 

Principal photography is set to commence in September at locations in Bulgaria.

International sales will be handled by The Salt Company, with Entertainment One distributing in UK, France, Scandinavia, South Africa and Australia and New Zealand, and Ascot Elite releasing in Germany, Austria and Switzerland in 2014.