Both Mikkelsen and Kaas are attached for the first time to von Trier’s hospital drama The Kingdom Exodus (Riget Exodus) - which is the third and final season.

Mikkelsen (The Witcher, Borgen, Ride Upon the Storm) is cast as chief physician Pontopidan, who is “extremely afraid of conflicts and hardly requires any further introduction", say the press notes.

Kaas is playing the burned-out resident Filip Naver. Last time he teamed up with the legendary Danish director was in 1998 with the comedy-drama The Idiots, selected that year in competition at the Cannes Film Festival.

The stellar cast also takes in Bodil Jørgensen, Ghita Nørby, Nicolas Bro, Søren Pilmark and Peter Mygind.

The final instalment in von Trier’s cult hospital series co-written again with Niels Vørsel, is currently filming on location and in a studio in the Copenhagen area, until the end of the summer.

In the 5-part TV drama, the sleepwalker Karen seeks answers to the unresolved questions of The Kingdom series, in order to save the hospital from doom. Sound asleep one night, she wanders into the darkness and ends up in front of the hospital.

The Kingdom Exodus will be launched in 2022 as a Viaplay Original, followed shortly by a premiere on Danish pubcaster DR.

Louise Vesth is producing for Zentropa Entertainments, with support among others from Nordisk Film & TV Fond. TrustNordisk handles sales.