Mads Mikkelsen’s ‘The Promised Land’ has been picked up by Icon for U.K. distribution

Icon Film Distribution has acquired The Promised Land, the Danish period drama starring Mads Mikkelsen, for distribution in the United Kingdom. Mikkelsen reunites with A Royal Affair (which scored an Oscar nomination for best international feature and propelled co-star Alicia Vikander’s career) director Nikolaj Arcel for the Nordic Western.

What is Mads Mikkelsen’s role in ‘The Promised Land’?

In The Promised Land, Mads Mikkelsen stars as Captain Kahlen in a period Danish drama based on Ida Jessen’s bestseller The Captain. The story follows a soldier’s attempt to cultivate an 18th-century heath and begin a settlement, although the local landowner, Frederik De Schinkel (Simon Bennebjerg), is determined to stop him, since he’s afraid that the arriving of settlers might diminish his position of leadership. Amanda Collin and Gustav Lindh also co-star alongside Mikkelsen. The Promised Land had its world debut in competition recently at the Venice Film Festival.

‘The Promised Land’: Success & Distribution

TrustNordisk, which is managing foreign sales for the picture, had secured a deal with Magnolia Pictures in the United States ahead of Venice. Among other areas, the title has sold to Mongrel Media in Canada, Plaion Pictures in Germany, The Jokers Film in France, Divisia Red in Spain, and Best Film in Poland.

The contract in the United Kingdom was arranged by TrustNordisk managing director Susan Wendt and Josh Thomashow, Head of Acquisitions at Icon Film Distribution. TrustNordisk has also recently unveiled the film’s English-language character posters, which include first looks for Mikkelsen, Bennebjerg, Collin, and others.