BETA CINEMA ANNOUNCES "OPERATION NAPOLEON – TEARS OF THE WOLF"; UNVEILS FIRST STILL
Beta Cinema announces it has teamed up with Splendid Film, Sagafilm and Take Two Studios for a sequel to the internationally successful Nordic adventure Operation Napoleon: OPERATION NAPOLEON – TEARS OF THE WOLF has started principal photography on the island of Örö, in the Archipelago Sea of Finland on September 30.
The new installment sends Kristin and her team on a gripping hunt for the “Tears of the Wolf”—a legendary stash of Nazi diamonds hidden during WWII. After witnessing a murder, Kristin uncovers the first clues and, together with Steve and Einar, deciphers fragmented wartime artifacts, lost musical notes, and encrypted codes. Their journey spans Iceland, Finland, and Germany, culminating in a high-stakes chase through Helsinki’s underground bunker system and a dramatic showdown in the Finland Archipelago. Pursued by brutal mercenaries and a deadly assassin, the trio must navigate twists, betrayals, and historical secrets buried deep in Europe’s past.
Finnish director Jyri Kähönen (Trackers, Bordertown, Ihon Alla) is helming the English-language thriller, working from a script written again by Marteinn Thorisson (Operation Napoleon, Jack Taylor, Niko). The cast features returning leads Vivian Ólafsdóttir (It Hatched, Reykjavík 112), Jack Fox (Riviera, Sanditon, Cheaters), and Icelandic acting icon Ólafur Darri Ólafsson (Severance, Trapped, True Detective, Fantastic Beasts). They are joined by Tom Weston-Jones (True Things, Warrior, Copper) and Laura Birn (Void, The Crow, A Walk Among the Tombstones, Foundation).
Following the outstanding success of Operation Napoleon, the team is excited to announce the franchise will continue with a brand-new original story. Producer Anita Elsani states, “The response to the first Operation Napoleon has been truly overwhelming. The film became a genuine box office success in Iceland, and Beta Cinema sold the title to more than 40 countries worldwide, including the US (Magnolia). On top of that, it performed exceptionally well for ZDF and across SVOD platforms. This strong national and international resonance fills us with confidence and enthusiasm for the sequel.”
Alexander Klein adds “For Splendid, Operation Napoleon was one of last year’s most successful titles, outplaying major US releases in the German VOD market. We are very much looking forward to the second part, which we have developed as an original story from the ground up.”
Principal photography takes place in Turku, the archipelago area in Finland, Iceland and Hamburg until November 21st, 2025. The fast-paced pan-European adventure is produced by Anita Elsani and Alexander Klein for Splendid Entertainment, Germany, Kjartan Thor Thordarson of Reykjavík-based Sagafilm, Iceland, alongside co-producing partners Take Two Studios and Elsani Film GmbH. The production is supported by Moin Filmfund, Business Finnland and the Iclandic Ministry of Industry and Innovation. Sam Film will release theatrically in Iceland, Splendid Film in Germany, and Beta Cinema will launch international sales at the upcoming American Film Market in Los Angeles.