Finally Mads Mikkelsen is starting to gain some attention outside of his native Denmark. The Dutch actor has been one of the best for a very long time, getting his biggest breaks in Nicolas Winding Refn's Pusher and in After the Wedding. Lately he's been everywhere, winning Best Actor at Cannes for The Hunt and starring in A Royal Affair, Denmark's entry for the foreign Oscar. To most he's still just the bad guy from Casino Royale, but that will likely change once they see him in NBC's Hannibal series. Phew!
That's not even the half of it, though, and Mikkelsen is striking the iron while it's hot. The Wrap reports he's being targeted for an adaptation of Our Kind of Traitor, an espionage novel from the great John Le Carre(Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy). Not only that, but Jessica Chastain and Ralph Fiennes may be in the running as well. Directed by Justin Kurzel and written by Drive's Hossein Amini, the story follows a young English couple who become acquainted with a Russian businessman, not realizing he's a money launderer with plans to defect before his rivals kill him. They get caught up in his schemes which lead to a deadly chase spanning Marrakesh, London, France, and the Swiss Alps.
Now, no deals are in place for any of them just yet, and Chastain's reps have made it clear she hasn't even seen an offer. So in other words this may or may not happen. It'd be awesome if it does, though!
