Focus Features announced today production will begin on Baltasar Kormákur’s upcoming romantic drama, Touch, on October 9th in London. Touch is based on the Icelandic best-selling novel by Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson published by Ecco/Harper Collins in the U.S August 2022. The film is co-written by Ólafsson and Kormákur. RVK Studios’ Kormákur and Agnes Johansen are producing Touch alongside Good Chaos’ Mike Goodridge. Carlen Johnson will oversee production on behalf of Focus. Focus is distributing Touch domestically, with Universal Pictures International handling international distribution (excluding Iceland).
A romantic and thrilling story that spans several decades and continents; Touch follows one widower’s emotional journey to find his first love who disappeared 50 years ago, before his time runs out.
The film features a robust cast of performers including, Egill Olafsson, Kōki, Masahiro Motoki, Palmi Kormakur, Sigurdur Ingvarsson, Yoko Narahashi, Masatoshi Nakamura, Meg Kubota, Maria Ellingsen, Eiji Mihara, Ruth Sheen and Benedikt Erlingsson.
Kormákur's latest film, action thriller BEAST starring Idris Elba, is currently in cinemas through Universal Pictures. His credits include the epic EVEREST starring Jason Clarke and Jake Gyllenhaal, 2 GUNS with Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg and CONTRABAND with Wahlberg and Kate Beckinsale. His celebrated Icelandic films include 101 REYKJAVIK(2000), JAR CITY (2006), THE DEEP(2012) and THE OATH(2016).
Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson is the author of the novels Absolution, The Journey Home, Walking into the Night, Restoration, One Station Away, The Sacrament, and Touch, and a story collection, Valentines.
Kormákur is represented by WME and Rich Cook at Range. Ólafsson is represented by Gloria Loomis of Watkins Loomis Agency.