Alexander Payne to direct story of Norwegian author’s journey to the U.S.

Alexander Payne, who is still working on his follow-up to Nebraska, has already found another project. The two-time Oscar winner will direct an adaptation of “My Saga,” a long New York Times Magazine story about a Norwegian writer’s journey to retrace the footsteps of his ancestors in North America.

“My Saga” is a long, two-piece story by author Karl Ove Knausgaard that is often funny and brutally honest. That makes it the perfect project for Payne, who has featured roadtrips in Sideways, Nebraska and About Schmidt.

Indiewire’s Thompson on Hollywood reported on Feb. 9 that the story was acquired by Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa of Bona Fide Productions. The two worked with Payne on Election and Nebraska. They will produce with Madeleine Ekman and Lizette Jonic of Zentropa Sweden.

“I think Alexander has the ideal sensibility for a comedy about cultural misunderstanding,” Berger told Variety about the director.

Payne is currently directing Downsizing, which stars Matt Damon and Reese Witherspoon, for Paramount.

Payne is an Oscar magnet. Three of his six feature films were nominated for Best Picture, including 2013’s Nebraska. He won Oscars for co-writing Sideways with Jim Taylor and The Descendants with Jim Rash and Nat Faxon.