zlatan

Source: Дмитрий Неймырок/Football.ua/Wikimedia Commons

Zlatan Ibrahimović

Lucky Red has picked up Italian distribution rights for I Am Zlatan, the upcoming biopic of Swedish football star Zlatan Ibrahimović.

It acquired the title from Scandinavian sales outfit TrustNordisk.

The sale joins previously announced deals for Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan (Capella Film), Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia (Estin Film) and Albania, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Macedonia (Cinemania Group).

I Am Zlatan is a feature adaptation of Ibrahimović’s autobiography I Am Zlatan Ibrahimović, which he wrote with Swedish journalist David Lagercrantz. The film will follow the footballer’s journey from his childhood in a rough suburb of Malmö in Sweden, to becoming one of the greatest players in the world.

Ibrahimović has spent more of his playing career in Italy than any other country, having played for Juventus (2004-06), Inter Milan (2006-09) and AC Milan (2010-12, and 2019-present).

Jens Sjörgren (TV’s Before We Die) will direct the €5m production, which is being produced by Frida Bargo, Mattias Nohrborg and Fredrik Heinig for B-Reel Film in cooperation with Nordisk Film.

The two actors playing Ibrahimović are Dominic Bajraktari Andersson from the age of 11-13, and Granit Rushiti from 17-23. Both actors will make their screen debut; the rest of the cast is yet to be announced. 

TrustNordisk is planning a local release in autumn 2021.