SF Studios boards film adaptation of Youtube-sensation IJustWantToBeCool's novel The Villain of Villains
SF Studios has boarded the feature film adaptation of The Villain of Villains, based on the best-selling book series by the Swedish YouTube group IJustWantToBeCool. The film is directed by Alain Darborg with a screenplay by Jessika Jankert. Strive Stories produces the film in collaboration with SF Studios and SVT. The film is expected to premiere in Swedish theaters in January 2026. SF Studios will distribute the film across the Nordic region. REinvent handles international sales.
The Swedish YouTube group IJustWantToBeCool, comprising of Joel Adolphson, Emil Beer, and Victor Beer, has been active for over a decade, creating comedy sketches on YouTube and amassing over 1 million subscribers. In 2022, they released the first book in The Villain of Villains novel series, which since then has sold over 300,000 copies.
“Bringing the Villain of Villains to the big screen is a dream come true for us”, says IJustWantToBeCool. “We never imagined anyone in Sweden would be crazy enough to try to convert the world we’ve built in the books to film. But if anyone can do it, it’s Alain Darborg, who will direct the film. His understanding of our humor and his vision will make it into something truly unique in Sweden, and we’re incredibly excited.”
“SF Studios is immensely proud and excited to back this phenomenal IP and bring it to a broad audience. The world of the Villain of Villains promises a fresh cinematic universe for adventure-lovers both young and old. We foresee many film adventures with this team in the coming years”, says Yaba Holst, Head of Nordic Acquisition at SF Studios.
“IJustWantToBeCool’s monumental success on platforms like YouTube is virtually unmatched. With their best-selling the Villain of Villains book series, they’ve proven to be brilliant storytellers. Adapting their books into a major theatrical release feels fantastic”, says Nicklas Wikström Nicastro, producer at Strive Stories.
The Villain of Villains follows 12-year-old rebellious Stephanie, who dreams of becoming a superhero like her late mother but fails the entrance exam to the Hero School. She gets a second chance if she infiltrates the Villain School to retrieve a powerful artifact that’s been stolen. At the Villain School, her loyalty is tested, and her search leads her to the Villain of Villains, a malevolent creature threatening the future of both heroes and villains.
The film is directed by Alain Darborg (The Master Plan) and written by Jessika Jankert (Forever). Joel Adolphson, Emil Beer, and Victor Beer from IJustWantToBeCool will appear as actors and executive producers. The film is produced by Nicklas Wikström Nicastro (A Man Called Ove) for Strive Stories inc collaboration with SF Studios and SVT, and is backed by the Swedish Film Institute. REinvent handles international sales.
Filming will take place in Stockholm and Lithuania during the spring of 2025, with a planned Swedish theatrical release in January 2026. SF Studios is handling distribution in the Nordic countries.
For more information, please contact:
Yaba Holst, Head of Nordic Acquisition, SF Studios, yaba.holst@sfstudios.se, +46 73 411 95 35
Nicklas Wikström Nicastro, Producer, Strive Stories, nicklas.wikstromnicastro@strivestories.se, 0709-42 95 42
About SF Studios
SF Studios, established in 1919, is one of the world’s oldest film companies. Today SF Studios is the leading film studio in the Nordic region with its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden and offices in Oslo, Copenhagen and Helsinki. The company is producing and distributing feature films and TV series as well as providing the streaming services SF Anytime and Blockbuster. SF Studios is part of the leading Nordic media company Bonnier.
About Strive Stories
Strive Stories is an independent production company based in Stockholm that produces feature films and TV dramas for all platforms. The company was founded by best-selling author Jens Lapidus and award-winning producer Nicklas Wikström Nicastro with the aim of creating captivating and engaging stories with strong themes, appealing to both local and global audiences.
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