Toronto International Film Festival has just announced its official selection for this year’s prominent line-up, and we are beyond proud to share that the highly anticipated cult series THE KINGDOM EXODUS by Lars von Trier has been selected as part of the Primetime programme, where it will have its North American Premiere (September 8- 18, 2022).
Copenhagen, 10 August 2022 – The 47th Toronto International Film Festival has just announced its official selection which includes Lars von Trier’s THE KINGDOM EXODUS, the third and final season of his epic cult series THE KINGDOM, which has been highly anticipated among the international audience. The Zentropa-produced series was only recently selected for the film festival in Venice, where the series was officially selected within the section 'Out of Competition'. THE KINGDOM EXODUS will thus have its world premiere at Venice Film Festival before it goes on to celebrate its North American Premiere at this year's Toronto International Film Festival.
Lars Von Trier has previously been selected for Toronto International Film Festival with THE FIVE OBSTRUCTIONS (2003), MANDERLAY (2005), ANTICHRIST (2009), BREAKING THE WAVES (1996) and most recently with MELANCHOLIA (2011). It is the first time he has been selected in connection with the KINGDOM.
At the series' Danish production powerhouse Zentropa, there is great joy over another prestigious selection. The series producer Louise Vesth comments on the selection:
'It is a great honor that The Kingdom Exodus has now been selected for two prominent film festivals, which will be able present the last and long-awaited final season of The Kingdom. We are very proud of the reception that Kingdom Exodus has already received. Once again, a big thank you to Viaplay and DR for the cooperation.'
A long-awaited series locally and internationally
Not only has the mystery drama series been widely popular among the audience in von Trier’s homeland, it has also been highly anticipated globally with several territories already sold. Most recently, the series have been sold to North America, the UK, Ireland, Latin America, Turkey and India (MUBI). Previous sales include Benelux (September Films), Germany and Austria (Koch Films), Spain (Filmin), Czech Republic and Slovakia (Aerofilms), Japan (Synca Creations) and South Korea (AtNine), that have all acquired the full trilogy.
Managing Director of TrustNordisk, Susan Wendt, comments on the selection:
‘We are incredibly proud to have the series selected for Toronto International Film Festival and for its North American Premiere to take place in Toronto.
This underlines that the international interest in the series continues to expand at a rapid speed - what a ride this is! We congratulate the entire team once again on yet another fantastic achievement'
A star-studded international cast
THE KINGDOM EXODUS will star an exciting range of characters from the earlier seasons and new cast members. The cast comprises Emmy Award-winning actor Lars Mikkelsen (DEVILS, 2020-22; THE WITCHER, 2019-21; RIDE UPON THE STORM, 2017-18), Nikolaj Lie Kaas (RIDERS OF JUSTICE, 2020), internationally acknowledged actor Mikael Persbrandt (SEX EDUCATION; 2019-21; THE HOBBIT, 2013-14; IN A BETTER WORLD, 2010) and Tuva Novotny (BLINDSPOT, 2018) together with David Dencik (NO TIME TO DIE, 2021; CHERNOBYL, 2019) and Primetime Emmy Award-winning Alexander Skarsgård (SUCCESSION, 2021; BIG LITTLE LIES, 2017-19) who will guest star in the series.
Other Danish heavyweights include Bodil Jørgensen, Ghita Nørby, Nicolas Bro, Søren Pilmark, Peter Mygind, Laura Christensen as well as German prolific actor Udo Kier.
Synopsis
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...
With THE KINGDOM EXODUS, Lars von Trier continues and finishes his internationally acclaimed 1990s cult series classic: The ghost story about the hospital built on top of the old bleaching ponds in Copenhagen, where evil has taken roots and the medical science faces a daily struggle with itself, where the Swedes curse the Danes, and the mysterious and inexplicable blend together in a mixture of horror and humour.
Lars von Trier has written the script in collaboration with Niels Vørsel, with whom he also wrote the previous seasons. Louise Vesth is producing for Zentropa Entertainments with NENT Group and DR as co-producers.
In connection with the production of THE KINGDOM EXODUS, seasons I & II have undergone a thorough restoration, enabling all three seasons, 13 episodes in total, to be launched as a whole in the highest possible quality for both old and new fans.
Lars von Trier’s THE KINGDOM EXODUS is presented by VIAPLAY and DR. Produced by ZENTROPA ENTERTAINMENTS in co-production with FILM I VÄST, ZENTROPA SWEDEN and GINGER PICTURES. With support from NORDISK FILM & TV FOND and tax shelter provided by BNP PARIBAS FORTIS FILM FINANCE and developed with the support of THE CREATIVE EUROPE MEDIA PROGRAMME OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. International sales are handled by TRUSTNORDISK.
THE KINGDOM EXODUS will launch locally in fall 2022 on Viaplay’s platform and will subsequently have its TV premiere on the Danish broadcast service DR.
To learn more about the series, please visit our website.
