Daniel Wagner’s BiFrost Pictures will finance and produce The Swimmer starring Ben McKenzie of TV hits Southland and The O.C.

Richard L Fox will direct from a screenplay by Bard Ivar Engelsas about an extreme swimmer who must overcome inner demons in his bid to conquer one of the wildest rivers in Norway.

The Swimmer is an official selection of the US- Norway Film Development Project founded in 2011 by Lisa G Black of Garnet Girl and Brandi Savitt of Senza Pictures in collaboration with the regional film funds of Norway.

Agnes Kittelsen and Kristoffer Joner will also star. Wagner is producing the project with Black and Savitt alongside Sweet Films of Norway.

Production is scheduled to commence principal photography in Northern Norway in June 2014.

“BiFrost has been looking at European co-productions for some time now, but when I read Bard’s script I immediately knew this was the one,” said Wagner. “It is a compelling look into the world of extreme swimming, but also a story about family and what is most important in life. We look forward to working with Lisa and Brandi as we bring this picture to audiences around the world.”

BiFrost recently came on to finance and produce Paul Bettany’s directorial debut Shelter starring Jennifer Connelly and Anthony Mackie that is set to shoot in New York later this month.

Wagner’s slate includes The Girl Who Conned The Ivy league and The World Made Straight.