Nurmijärvi-born film and music-video director Antti J Jokinen, best known for his previous films Flowers of Evil [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film] (2016), The Midwife [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film] (2015) and Purge [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film] (2012), is now developing two 90-minute features, entitled Omerta 6/12 [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film] and Omerta 7/12, alongside a six-part TV series set in the same universe, entirely based on Ilkka Remes’ 2006 novel 6/12. All of the projects, commissioned by Sweden's C More, will commence principal photography in autumn-winter 2020. The story has been adapted for the big and small screen by the director himself along with co-writer Mika Karttunen (the Vares [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film] saga).

In detail, the series follows a top European special unit called “Omerta” and their operations taking place in Helsinki, Moscow, Brussels and Minsk. It kicks off as a hostage-thriller, when a Serbian terrorist group carries out a coordinated attack on the presidential reception ball on Finland’s Independence Day. Furthermore, the three projects will be shot in Finnish, Swedish, English and Serbian.

The main international cast includes actors Jasper Pääkkönen (who will play Finnish agent Max Tanner), Ville Virtanen (X&Y [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Anna Odell
scheda film]), Pekka Strang (Dogs Don't Wear Pants [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: J.-P. Valkeapää
scheda film]), Krista Kosonen (Blade Runner 2049 [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film]), Peter Franzén (Ashes in the Snow), Eero Aho (The Unknown Soldier [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film]), Tommi Korpela (Force of Habit) and Eero Milonoff (Border [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Ali Abbasi
scheda film]).

Speaking about the project, writer Ilkka Remes said: “I am very happy that 6/12 will take shape on the big screen, especially since the story itself came into being in a special way. That autumn, I had spent all my time writing another book, when, just before the Finnish Independence Day, the idea of a hostage-thriller during the presidential reception suddenly came to me. In a heartbeat, I started sketching out the storyline and couldn't stop until it was complete. Maybe 6/12 is my most widely read book because of its beginning, which is already so highly energetic. I hope that my story creates a solid foundation for the films to be built upon.”

Meanwhile, Jokinen added: “I am in a great position, as I have the opportunity to work with the most highly valued actors in Finland. Being entrusted with this project is a great honour for me. Having recently directed emotional dramas, it is thrilling to move on to directing features based on the renowned Ilkka Remes bestsellers and to entertain wide audiences. As a filmmaker, it is a real pleasure to move from one genre to another.”

The three projects are being produced by Stockholm-based SF Studios (Sweden) and Jokinen's firm Cinematic (Finland). The films Omerta 6/12 and Omerta 7/12 will be released in the autumn of 2021 and 2022, respectively. SF Studios is in charge of the Nordic distribution and international sales.