Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the age of 66. His long-time producer, Louise Vesth at Zentropa Entertainment, released a statement yesterday announcing the diagnosis with the Oscar-nominated writer-director’s blessing, Deadline is reporting.
“In agreement with Lars von Trier, we want to inform you that Lars was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease just before the summer holidays,” the statement revealed.
Vesth added that Trier’s receiving treatment so that he can finish his next highly anticipated project, the upcoming television series, The Kingdom Exodus. However, following the show’s production, he will be keeping a lower public profile.
The fantasy comedy-drama is the third and final installment of the Cannes Palme d’Or winning filmmaker’s rebooted 1990s cult supernatural series, The Kingdom. The new season is set to have its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival at the end of this month.
“In order to avoid any speculation about his health leading up to the premiere, Zentropa has sent out this short statement to the Danish press,” the producer also divulged in her statement. “Lars is in good spirits and is being treated for his symptoms and the work to complete The Kingdom Exodus continues as planned.”
Vesth also noted that as a result of his Parkinson’s diagnosis, Trier will do very little press for the launch of the show’s upcoming third season. “The illness means that Lars will only take part in interviews to a very limited extent,” she said.
Zentropa Entertainment has released the following official synopsis for the drama’s upcoming season: Heavily influenced by the ghostly series The Kingdom, the sleepwalker Karen seeks answers to the unresolved questions of the series in order to save the hospital from doom. Sound asleep one night, Karen wanders into the darkness and inexplicably ends up in front of the hospital. The gate to the Kingdom is opening once more.
After playing at Venice, The Kingdom Exodus will initially launch on Viaplay’s platform. It will then have its television premiere on the Danish broadcast service DR.
The series has also been acquired for release in individual European territories. Mubi has also acquired the drama for North America, the UK, Ireland, Latin America Turkey and India.
Trier is often considered to be Denmark’s most honored – and controversial – contemporary filmmaker. He has attended the Cannes for nearly four decades, during which time he screened nine films in competition, beginning with The Element of Crime in 1984.
The Golden Globe-nominated scribe-helmer also screened the Jury Prize winning political drama, Europa, at the festival in 1991. The movie was followed by another Jury Prize winner, the drama, Breaking the Waves, in 1996, as well as The Idiots in 1998; the Palme d’Or winner, Dancer in the Dark, in 2000; Dogville in 2003; Manderlay in 2005; Antichrist in 2009; and Melancholia in 2011.
Trier’s relationship with Cannes came to an abrupt end that year when he made provocative comments about Adolf Hitler. during the press conference for Melancholia. As punishment for his statements, he was banned from the festival for seven years.
He was welcomed back in 2018 for the world premiere of The House That Jack Built Out of Competition.
Beyond his personal filmography, Zentropa, which Trier created with Peter Aalbæk Jensen in 1992, has influenced much of contemporary Danish cinema, in part because of its Dogma 95 manifesto. The company has released more than 200 features since it was founded.