Swedish actor Bill Skarsgård will visit Prague next week to personally present his latest film, the survival thriller Locked, at its European premiere. Skarsgård, perhaps best known for portraying the clown Pennywise in two adaptations of Stephen King’s It, will introduce the film alongside Czech producer Petr Jákl at Cinema City Slovanský dům on March 26.
The Prague debut follows the movie’s New York premiere, where both Skarsgård and Jákl are also scheduled to appear. Locked is set for wide release in Czech cinemas from Thursday, April 3.
Skarsgård has spent a lot of time in Prague in recent years, shooting The Crow in the Czech capital in 2022 and Robert Eggers‘ horror film Nosferatu in 2023. Speaking ahead of the premiere in New York, he expressed enthusiasm about returning to the Czech capital.
“I love Prague and I’m really looking forward to the premiere,” Skarsgård said. “The last time I was here was while filming Nosferatu, where I met Petr and we first started talking about working together on Locked.”
“Bill moves from one project to another, but we’ve been planning to meet for some time. This was the perfect opportunity,” said Jákl, who described Skarsgård’s personal appearance in Prague as a sign of his commitment to the film. “Having him here shows he really believes in the movie.”
Directed by David Yarovesky and produced by Jákl alongside Ara Keshishian and Sam Raimi, Locked stars Skarsgård as Eddie, a street thief who seizes the opportunity to steal from a seemingly abandoned luxury SUV parked in an empty lot. What begins as a petty crime quickly spirals into a life-or-death struggle when the vehicle’s doors lock automatically, trapping him inside.
Eddie soon realizes he is not dealing with an ordinary car owner. His captor, William—played by Oscar-winner Anthony Hopkins—has set the trap as part of a twisted game. Frustrated by repeated thefts and a lack of justice, William takes matters into his own hands, luring Eddie into a psychological battle where the rules are his alone.
For Jákl, securing Prague as the location for Locked’s European premiere is a personal victory. “It’s amazing that we managed to have the European premiere here,” he said. “I try to do this with other films I produce, but arranging schedules with actors is incredibly complicated.”
Locked adds to Skarsgård’s growing list of high-profile roles. In addition to his acclaimed performance as Pennywise, the actor has recently starred in Nosferatu, Boy Kills World, and John Wick: Chapter 4. His intense screen presence and versatility have made him a sought-after talent in Hollywood.
Jákl, known in the Czech Republic both for his stunt work and filmmaking, has similarly built a diverse international career. After starting as a stuntman and body double on films such as xXx and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Jákl transitioned into directing with titles like Kajínek and Ghoul. His most ambitious project to date, Medieval, was reportedly the most expensive Czech film ever made, with a budget of nearly CZK 500 million ($20 million).
As a producer over the past decade, Jákl has collaborated with major Hollywood names including Russell Crowe, Mel Gibson, and Morgan Freeman. With Locked, he continues his efforts to bridge international productions with the Czech film industry.
