A strong ensemble cast is coming together for Nikolaj Arcel’s and Zentropa’s upcoming feature MY FAIRYTALE LIFE (working title). Actors Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Ulrich Thomsen and David Dencik have been added to the cast. Alongside rising stars Clara Dessau, Clint Ruben, Josephine Højbjerg and Anna Søgaard Frandsen. They will join Casper Kjær Jensen who earlier this year was announced in the leading role as the icon Hans Christian Andersen in Arcel’s upcoming film.
This marks the first collaboration between Nikolaj Lie Kaas and director Nikolaj Arcel. Throughout his extensive career Lie Kaas has established himself as a versatile actor with flair for both comedies and dramas - not only locally but also internationally. Lie Kaas recently appeared in the Danish drama WAY HOME (2024), in Guillermo del Toro’s FRANKENSTEIN (2025) and he played opposite Mads Mikkelsen in Anders Thomas Jensen’s THE LAST VIKING (2025), which screened Out of Competition in Venice last year. Next up, Lie Kaas will play the male lead in the series BY THE GRACE OF GOD.
Lie Kaas will be joined by Ulrich Thomsen who, since his international breakthrough with Thomas Vinterberg’s THE CELEBRATION (1998), has starred in numerous Danish feature films including Susanne Bier’s Academy Award-winner IN A BETTER WORLD as well as international series such as BANSHEE (2013 – 2016), THE NEW POPE (2019-2020) and LANTERNS (2026-).
Added to the cast is also David Dencik who over the years has built a solid acting career in Denmark and abroad. He has previously worked with Nikolaj Arcel on A ROYAL AFFAIR (2012). Most recently Dencik played the male lead in Jeanette Nordahl’s Berlin Panorama title BEGINNINGS (2025). He has also proven his acting range internationally starring in major roles in TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY (2011), NO TIME TO DIE (2021) and the series CHERNOBYL (2019). Dencik also stars in CLAYFACE which premieres next month.
Lie Kaas, Thomsen and Dencik will be joined by a new generation of rising stars including Clara Dessau, who recently starred in Eivind Landsvik’s LOW EXPECTATIONS (2026), Clint Ruben (BULLSHIT 2024) and Josephine Højbjerg (DARK HORSE 2024), and Anna Søgaard Frandsen, who currently appears in a featured role in WOMAN UNKNOWN (2026).
MY FAIRYTALE LIFE will be Nikolaj Arcel’s 7th feature film as a director. Since his debut with KING’S GAME (2004), more than two decades ago, Arcel has consolidated his position as a visionary director with a strong grasp of genres with films of high cinematic quality that attract international acclaim and appeal widely to both critics and audiences alike. His previous film A ROYAL AFFAIR celebrated its world premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in 2012, winning the Silver Berlin Bear for Best Actor and Best Screenplay and was nominated for an Academy Award® in 2013. His latest film, THE PROMISED LAND (2023), world premiered at the Venice Film Festival, took home three awards at the European Film Awards and was shortlisted for the 96th Academy Awards®.
For his upcoming feature Arcel will team up once again with co-writer Anders Thomas Jensen (THE LAST VIKING) with whom he also wrote THE PROMISED LAND.
SYNOPSIS
Hans Christian Andersen, a socially awkward nobody, moves to Copenhagen with dreams of conquering Denmark's cultural elite and becoming a famous artist. In a colourful and merciless world of actors, playwrights and snobbish benefactors, Christian fiercely fights to get the recognition and love he so desperately craves. But his own delusions of grandeur may turn out to be his greatest weakness; the last thing he wants is to be known as a children's fairytale writer.
MY FAIRYTALE LIFE is produced by Louise Vesth and Tine Mikkelsen for Zentropa. Louise Vesth also produced Arcel’s previous films A ROYAL AFFAIR and THE PROMISED LAND.
Produced by Zentropa Entertainments in co-production with Zentropa Berlin GmbH. With support from Danish Film Institute Market Scheme, FilmFyn, The Danish Production Incentive Scheme, Eurimages - Council of Europe, MOIN Film Fund Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, FFA German Federal Film Funding, and in co-production with Film i Väst. In co-operation with TV 2, Nordisk Film & TV Fond and NRK. Co-funded by the European Union. Distribution Nordisk Film Distribution. International sales TrustNordisk.