Netflix’s New Show May Fix a Bad Movie

Netflix has announced a fresh series based on Jo Nesbø’s detective novels, positioning itself as a corrective to the 2017 film that missed its mark. The approach mirrors Prime Video’s successful “Reacher” series, which adapted Lee Child’s books after earlier film attempts faltered over casting and plot changes.

Learning from “Reacher”

• Casting Missteps: The original Reacher film cast Tom Cruise, a decision criticized for height discrepancies with the book’s protagonist.
• Box‑Office Success vs. Quality: Despite earning $220 million on a $60 million budget, the sequel’s quality and reception lagged.
• Prime Video’s Fix: The series chose appropriate actors for each role and limited adaptations to one book per season, keeping audiences engaged.

Netflix’s Approach

• Author Involvement: Jo Nesbø himself writes the script, ensuring fidelity to the source material—something Snowman failed to achieve.
• Casting Highlights: The first trailer showcases Tobias Santelmann and Joel Kinnaman in leading roles.
• Production Quality: High‑definition action scenes and a focus on single‑book storytelling aim to surpass earlier film shortcomings.

Context: The “Snowman” Film

• Box‑Office Performance: Snowman underperformed commercially.
• Critical Reception: It received a mere 7% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, highlighting the need for better adaptation fidelity.

Outlook

While time will ultimately decide its success, early indicators suggest the new series could rival or even outshine Prime Video’s “Reacher.” By staying true to its source and delivering quality performances, it promises a compelling addition to the detective‑genre landscape.