How Jo Nesbø Changed His Own Detective Hole Story For Netflix’s New Crime Thriller

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I’m really excited that Jo Nesbø is finally bringing Harry Hole to life with his new series! What I appreciate is that he’s not being overly precious about it – he’s willing to adapt his own novel and isn’t rigidly sticking to every single detail, which I think will make for a better viewing experience.

The new Netflix series is based on Jo Nesbø’s popular crime novels and follows the story of a detective struggling with his sobriety. He’s haunted by the death of a fellow officer during a chase after dangerous bank robbers, and is determined to bring them to justice. As he investigates, he begins a relationship with a single mother named Rakel and tries to build a connection with her teenage son, Oleg.

Inspired by The Devil’s Star, Detective Hole follows Harry as he investigates a series of murders in Oslo. Each victim has a small, pentagram-shaped gem placed under their eyes, providing a recurring clue. While solving the murders, Harry also uncovers new information about a previous bank robbery and moves closer to exposing and arresting his nemesis, the corrupt police officer Tom Waaler.

Tobias Santelmann, known for The Last Kingdom, stars as the lead detective in the new series Detective Hole. The cast also includes Joel Kinnaman (For All Mankind), Peter Stormare (Until Dawn), Ingrid Bolsø Berdal (Westworld), and Anders Baasmo Christiansen. Since its debut on March 26th, the show has received very positive reviews, earning a 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This is a significant improvement compared to the reception of the film adaptation of The Snowman, which starred Michael Fassbender.

I was really interested to read the recent ScreenRant interview with Jo Nesbø, Tobias Santelmann, and Joel Kinnaman about the upcoming Detective Hole series on Netflix. It was fascinating to hear Jo Nesbø talk about adapting his own book for the screen. He said it was ‘exciting,’ but he also admitted it wasn’t something he ever felt strongly about – he’s always focused on the novels themselves, and bringing them to life visually wasn’t a big priority for him.

So, when we started working on Detective Hole season one, adapting those books by the author of The Devil’s Star, he had a really interesting approach. He basically said it wasn’t about sticking to the exact plot of the novels. What mattered to him was capturing the feel of his stories on screen – that unique vibe. He even admitted he wasn’t precious about the original storylines, which gave us a ton of creative freedom when we were developing the series. It was a cool advantage to have, honestly.

As the original author, I had a unique advantage when adapting my own book. I wasn’t afraid to change things – I have no reverence for the source material! Plus, I’m quite forgetful, so revisiting the novel felt like discovering it anew. I could pick and choose what worked for the adaptation and discard the rest, effectively allowing me to create something fresh and original.

Santelmann & Nesbø Found The Perfect Harry Hole Performance Together

ScreenRant asked Tobias about playing Harry, noting that while the character is famous, he also keeps a lot hidden, hinting at a troubled inner life. They wanted to know how he finds the right balance between those two sides of Harry in each scene.

We really had to work together to find the subtle moments of vulnerability. Once the camera is close up on someone, it picks up on everything – even just a fleeting thought. So, we focused on finding those small cracks in the character’s composure. We shot multiple takes, sometimes holding back emotionally, and other times letting a bit more show. We did this intentionally, giving the editors options to choose the most impactful moments. It was a collaborative process. Personally, I enjoy exploring darker emotions. I’m generally a happy person, so getting to delve into a different, more shadowed mindset is a lot of fun.

Jo Nesbø pointed out a powerful moment in the story where the contrast between the characters really shines. Tobias is portrayed as kind and understanding, while Harry is much more detached and troubled, constantly battling his inner demons. There’s a scene where Harry, holding a gun, asks a colleague what could drive someone to shoot innocent people. The colleague suggests madness, then turns the question back to Harry. Harry’s response – “To silence the voices” – is delivered in a close-up, revealing just how close he is to the edge. Nesbø found this incredibly chilling, feeling like it showed Harry fully embracing his darker side, to the point where he felt disconnected from the actor playing him.

Tobias Santelmann: Oh, wow.

ScreenRant noted the compelling back-and-forth between Harry and Tom, describing it as a psychological game of cat and mouse. They asked Tobias about his experience working with Joel to develop this dynamic. Then, they turned to Jo, asking about the process of writing this interaction and how it evolved after seeing Harry and Tom perform the scenes.

Working with Joel was an amazing experience. He’s similar to Tom in that he’s very unpredictable – he’d often do things you wouldn’t expect and was a fantastic improviser. I never quite knew what he’d bring to a scene, which made every day fun and full of surprises, whether it was a wild idea, an improvisation, or just a funny moment or expression. He was much more open than Harry, who tends to keep to himself and doesn’t reveal much. While I wanted to be playful and funny too, I had to adapt to his energy.

Jo Nesbø: And he knew –

Tobias Santelmann: He knew, yeah, “I could do whatever I want.”

Jo Nesbø: What was it about that thing on the toy on your desk? Yeah,

Tobias Santelmann: Yeah, there was a little toy that had these cymbals…

ScreenRant: The wind-up monkey.

You know, it’s funny—there was this little detail that wasn’t even planned. Tobias Santelmann mentioned that during one scene, he spontaneously picked up a prop and started playing with it. It wasn’t written into the script at all, but the director loved it enough to keep it in the final cut. It’s those little, unexpected moments that often make a scene really come alive, don’t you think?

Jo Nesbø: He put it in front of you. And you could tell –

Tobias Santelmann: I was really irritated.

Jo Nesbø: You were annoyed for real.

Tobias Santelmann described someone saying, “I’m on the phone, can you see me?” and found it incredibly annoying. He added that the person seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Kinnaman Will Keep Exploring Swedish-Infused Works After Detective Hole

ScreenRant asked how it felt to use his Swedish language skills again on screen, noting it had been a while since he’d had the chance, and if he enjoyed reconnecting with that part of his background for the series.

Joel Kinnaman recently realized it had been 15 years since he first started working, which made him reflect on his career. He felt a renewed sense of creative freedom while filming in Swedish, discovering a deeper level of relaxation and playfulness he hadn’t accessed in English. While he thought he’d adapted to performing in English after moving to the States, returning to Sweden reminded him of his childhood, growing up imitating people and dialects with friends. This connection felt different and more natural. Because of this experience, he’s committed to regularly working on Swedish projects in the future. Filming in Oslo also brought back fond memories, as he lived there for a year at 19, working to save money for travel. It felt good to return to a place with such positive associations.

ScreenRant asked how the series marked a good starting point for working in Sweden, and if the interviewer was familiar with the original novels, or a fan of the franchise.

I was already a fan of Jo Nesbo, but I hadn’t actually read his Harry Hole books before starting this project. I first connected with the story through the script, which then led me to read all the books. I really enjoyed ‘Headhunters’ and other adaptations of his work. This script, though, was particularly exciting. Diving into the dark world of Tom Waaler was fantastic – it was incredibly rich material for an actor. I think Tom is one of Jo’s best characters. He’s written so much, so I might be biased, but Tom is incredibly complex, with so many layers. It’s hard to understand his motivations or what drives him, and Jo doesn’t offer easy answers, which I think is intentional. Tom isn’t a stable character who knows what he wants. He’s led by instinct and internal conflict, often using sex to control others, fueled by a desire for power and sadistic tendencies. However, beneath that, there’s a sense of a damaged, vulnerable person – someone who experienced trauma early in life. He’s a paradox; capable of empathy but often acting without it. All these conflicting elements made playing the role incredibly engaging.

ScreenRant asked about the challenge of playing Tom, knowing his character is secretly corrupt. They wondered if I focused on hinting at the scandalous side the audience is already aware of, or if I emphasized the tension of him trying to hide his true nature from people like Harry.

I focus on the character’s inner truth, not just what the story requires. With Tom, he often acts in ways that aren’t in his best interest, driven by things like his desires and need for control. That’s something you see in some psychopaths, although Tom isn’t one. They can be overconfident and impulsive, which can actually lead to their downfall, especially if they’re a more dangerous type. It’s really enjoyable to play a character whose motivations aren’t always clear, even to me.

Be sure to dive into some of our other Detective Hole coverage with:

  • Jo Nesbø confirming a new Harry Hole novel is on the way and sharing the first plot details
  • Nesbø on how he picked which books to start with in Detective Hole season 1
  • Joel Kinnaman breaking down Waaler’s fate in Detective Hole season 1’s ending
  • Kinnaman breaking down season 1’s major opening death and how it impacts Harry and the other characters

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2026-04-07 22:44