The legendary Danish director’s official medical condition was announced August 8 by Zentropa producer Louise Vesth, as his mini-series The Kingdom Exodus is due to world premiere in Venice.

In her statement, Vesth said: “In agreement with Lars von Trier, Zentropa has chosen to publish that Lars has been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. This is to counter any speculation about his health leading up to the premiere of The Kingdom Exodus.”

“Lars is in good spirits and is being treated for his symptoms, and the work to complete The Kingdom Exodus continues as planned,” added the producer in a reassuring note, while explaining that due to the director’s illness, press interviews will be limited, until the series’ premiere later this year.

The enfant terrible of Danish cinema - now aged 66 - and co-founder of the Dogme 95 manifesto, has created some of Denmark’s biggest film exports and master works, such as Breaking the Waves, Europa, Dancer in the Dark and Melancholia.

His latest work The Kingdom Exodus - third and final instalment in his cult hospital series from the 90s, is due to world premiere in Venice August 31 at an Out of Competition Series slot, ahead of its national premiere on Viaplay later this year and subsequently on DR.

The five-part eery and humorous story about the Copenhagen hospital ‘The Kingdom’, where evil has taken roots, Swedes and Danes battle and the mysterious and inexplicable collide, was co-written by von Trier and Niels Vørsel, also attached to the previous seasons.

The all-star Scandinavian cast includes Mikael Persbrandt, Lars Mikkelsen, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Tuva Novotny, Bodil Jørgensen, Ghita Nørby, Nicolas Bro, Søren Pilmark, Alexander Skarsgård, David Dencik among others.

In connection with the production of The Kingdom Exodus, seasons I & II (first launched on DR in 1994 and 1997) have been fully restored and the new versions are premiering today August 9 on Viaplay. The date for the subsequent launch on the Danish pubcaster has not yet been set.

TrustNordisk has sold the trilogy to numerous broadcasters and platforms, such as MUBI for North America, the UK, Ireland, Latin America, Turkey and India, Benelux (September Films), Germany and Austria (Koch Films), Spain (Filmin), Czech Republic and Slovakia (Aerofilms), Japan (Synca Creations) and South Korea (AtNine).

The Kingdom Exodus was produced by Zentropa Entertainments in co-production with Film i Väst, Zentropa Sweden, Belgium’s Ginger Pictures, and support among others from Nordisk Film & TV Fond​.