The idea for a new “Doctor Glas” was born when Calmroth read Söderberg’s classics and wondered “what would they be like if they lived in our society today?” It was during the filming of the TV series “Ondskan”, in which Calmroth played opposite Christian Fandango and Thea Sofie Loch Næss, and which was directed by Erik Leijonborg. The gang reunited shortly afterwards for the new “Doctor Glas”.
From pastor to medium
The story revolves around a doctor who wants to save a woman from her unhappy marriage. In the new version, the doctor's rival Gregorius is no longer a pastor but a sexting, cocaine-snorting medium.
"It has been fantastic to portray such a complex role," says Christian Fandango, who plays Gregorius.
Gregorius' wife Helga has transformed into a fashion designer. From the outside, the couple has the perfect marriage.
"It's a facade, but inside the relationship the boundaries are not respected," says Thea Sofie Loch Næss, who plays Helga.
Isac Calmroth wanted to develop Helga into a more complex female character, something that Loch Næss welcomed.
"Helga in the book was sort of between erotic glances from two men who are obsessed with her. Where is she? Then I thought it was so incredibly cool when I read Isac's script and saw that she exists, a real person!"
“Watching porn”
Doctor Glas is similar to the original, but with access to pornography. He is an adult virgin who lives alone and cultivates a manic infatuation.
"He's like a feminist in the book, but he also puts Helga on the worst pedestal. I think it's consistent with how guys today call themselves feminists but watch porn," says Isac Calmroth.
A major update is that Gabriel (as Doctor Glas is called in the new version), Gregorius and Helga are about to end up in a threesome together.
"I think it's everyone's favorite scene," says Isac Calmroth, and the team agrees.
They emphasize that it required a lot of rehearsal and preparation. Not only did everyone need to be comfortable, but the scene also needed to be true to the original story. For director Erik Leijonborg, one goal was to try to portray Hjalmar Söderberg's taboo thoughts.
"If you boil down humanity, desire and the search for identity into this, those types of situations on film become really interesting to explore," says Leijonborg.
Kristoffer Viita/TT
Facts: “Doctor Glass”
TT
Title: "Doctor Glass".
Directed by: Erik Leijonborg.
Screenplay: Isac Calmroth.
Producer: Patrick Ryborn.
Starring: Isac Calmroth, Thea Sofie Loch Næss, Christian Fandango and others.
Prelude: Even before the premiere, the film has become the subject of a debate on the culture pages after Jack Hildén in Aftonbladet - without having seen it - claimed that Hjalmar Söderberg wants to "dig himself out of his grave" because of the new version.
Premiere: February 27, 2026.
