Scandinavian powerhouse TrustNordisk has picked up $10m Norwegian war drama Max Manus directed by Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg.

The duo was also behind Bandidas, starring Penelope Cruz and Salma Hayek and produced by Luc Besson.

National release is December 19th. Nordisk Film will handle distribution in the Nordic Countries.

Max Manus was central member of the so-called Oslo Gang - a Norwegian resistance group during World War II.

His most famous deeds were probably when he helped sink the notorious transport ship Donau in the winter of 1945, and his participation in blowing up the personnel archive in the Norwegian Ministry of Employment.

This was done in order to stop the Nazis from potentially recruiting Norwegian youth for the Eastern front.

The film is is produced by John M. Jacobsen and Sveinung Golimo, Filmkameratene AS. Max Manus is financed with support from Norwegian Fim Fond, Eurimage, Nordisk Film and TV Fond and The Danish Film Institute. Co Producers are B & T Film GMBH (Germany) and Miso Film AS (Denmark).

Shooting started in February 19th and a significant share of the budget has been devoted to the rebuilding of Oslo as it appeared in 1940-45. It was here Max Manus wrote himself into history as one of the most famous and colorful members of the Norwegian resistance.

Aksel Hennie plays Max Manus.

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