“Heartbeats,” the bestselling memoir of tennis legend Björn Borg, is set for a stylish adaptation with popular Swedish director Jonas Åkerlund on board to direct.
Banijay Entertainment labels Jarowskij/Yellow Bird and Mastiff Sweden are co-developing the scripted project with Åkerlund, who’s best known for his groundbreaking music videos for Madonna, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and The Rolling Stones, as well as films such as “Polar,” “Spun,” “Lord of Chaos” and the Netflix series “Clark.”
Currently in development, the screen adaptation will chart Borg’s meteoric rise to tennis stardom, including his unprecedented five consecutive Wimbledon titles, and his shocking decision to retire at just 26 years old. Published by Norstedts under its original title, Hjärtslag, the memoir delves into Borg’s life beyond the tennis court, starting from his childhood and shedding light on years of financial collapse, media scrutiny and ultimately, his personal reinvention.
“I’ve spent my entire life in matches – both on and off the court,” Borg said. “Jonas wants to explore both sides, and I feel the time is right for that. He has the eye, the energy, and the courage to tell my story in his own way,” he continued.
Åkerlund, meanwhile, said, “Everyone knows Björn Borg for his legendary moments on the court, for his fierce, unparalleled power as an athlete and icon.”
“With his book, we finally dipped a toe into his enigmatic mind. But with this project, we’re canon-balling into the deep end,” Åkerlund continued.
The ambitious project reflects Banijay Entertainment’s growing expansion in sport storytelling, following the launch of Banijay Sports.
Mattias Olsson, Mastiff Sweden’s head of creative, and Elin Kvist, Jarowskij/Yellow Bird’s CEO, said “We are incredibly proud to have been entrusted with this unique story, about one of the greatest sports heroes of all time, Björn Borg,” they said in a statement. “There’s only one person who can tell it, and that’s the cultural force of Jonas Åkerlund. This is going to be a memorable biopic that must be seen.”
Borg was previously the subject of a 2017 film by Janus Metz which explored his rivalry with John McEnroe. Borg was played by Sverrir Gudnason while McEnroe was played by Shia LaBeouf.
Mastiff Sweden’s roster of ambitious formats includes the recently announced TV4 culinary showdown “100 Knives,” co-developed with Banijay Americas label Bunim/Murray Productions, as well as a long running local version of “Survivor,” and “Love is Blind Sweden,” serving as the production partner for multiple Netflix adaptations.
Jarowskij/Yellow Bird, meanwhile, has delivered hit scripted productions like “Diary of a Ditched Girl,” “A Nearly Normal Family,” “Millennium,” The Restaurant, and is working on the reboot of “Wallander.”
Banijay Entertainment is home to over 60 labels, producing more than 110 titles annually, including “House of Guinness,” “Half Man” and the “Culpa” trilogy. The Nordic slate includes
“Fallen,” “My Brother,” “Billionaire’s Island,” “Still Breathing,” “Supporting Actor” and “Murder
in Hanko.”
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