‘The Karate Kid,’ ‘Agent Cody Banks’ Director Harald Zwart Preps Animation Debut ‘ViQueens,’ Headed To AFM

Norwegian filmmaker Harald Zwart, whose live-action credits include The Karate Kid (2010), The 12th Man, and Agent Cody Banks, is making his first voyage into animation with ViQueens, a large-scale, CG-animated family adventure that will launch sales at the American Film Market through Sola Media.

Produced by Veslemoey Ruud Zwart of Zwart Arbeid, ViQueens reimagines Viking mythology through a fresh, light-hearted lens. The film centers on two fearless Viking girls, Ingrid and Hedvig, who defy tradition to return a stowaway boy to China. Their odyssey carries them from the icy fjords of Scandinavia through Byzantine intrigues and along the fabled Silk Road—an ambitious cultural and visual journey that blends Norse grit with ancient Chinese wisdom and a touch of magic.

Of this new career step, Zwart explained:

I was often urged to make a Viking film, but the typical dark, violent portrayals never appealed to me. When Veslemøy brought me the idea for ViQueens, it offered a fresh perspective – a story about how Norway, once feared, is now best known for awarding the Nobel Peace Prize. That transformation, imagined through the journey of two brave young girls, completely captivated me. It was the Viking story I had been waiting to tell.

The film’s production team brings together an impressive mix of European and international talent. Executive producers include Torgeir Sanders (Troll), Robert Chandler (The Amazing Maurice), Peter Clausen (Lilyhammer), Andrew Williams (Vamonos), and Solveig Langeland of Sola Media. Gimpville, the Oslo-based studio behind Troll and Troll Hunter, is handling visual production. The score will be composed by Christophe Beck, whose work on Frozen and Frozen II is known worldwide.

Voice performances are led by Ella Purnell (Arcane, Fallout) and Rita Ora (Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight), joined by Steve Speirs, Anton Lesser, and Alan Carr.

Sola Media will unveil an exclusive teaser during AFM, with delivery slated for late 2026 and a home release in Norway on December 26. Langeland describes the film as “fresh, fun, and emotionally resonant”—a spirited animated adventure designed to travel globally.