This year, Denmark selected historical epic The Promised Land as its official submission for the 96th annual Academy Awards. The feature stars Mads Mikkelsen as Captain Ludvig Kahlen, an 18th century war hero.

Check out the trailer for The Promised Land below.

Here’s the official synopsis for the film from Magnolia Pictures:

In 18th century Denmark, Captain Ludvig Kahlen (Mikkelsen) – a proud, ambitious, but impoverished war hero — sets out to tame a vast, uninhabitable land on which seemingly nothing can grow. He seeks to start farming crops, build a colony in the name of the King, and gain a noble title for himself. This beautiful but forbidding area also happens to be under the rule of the merciless Frederik De Schinkel, a preening nobleman who realizes the threat Kahlen represents to his power.

Struggling against the elements and local brigands, Kahlen is joined by a couple who have fled the clutches of the rapacious De Schinkel. As this group of misfits begins to build a small community in this inhospitable place, De Schinkel swears vengeance, and the confrontation between him and Kahlen promises to be as violent and intense as these two men.

In addition to Mikkelsen, the film also stars Amanda Collin, Gustav Lindh, and Melina Hagberg. It comes from writers Anders Thomas Jensen and Nikolaj Arcel, with Arcel also directing. Mikkelsen, Jensen, and Arcel previously collaborated on 2020’s Riders of Justice. Mikkelsen’s credits include roles in huge franchises like Star Wars, Marvel, Harry Potter, and Indiana Jones. He also led fan-favorite series Hannibal for three seasons on NBC.

The Promised Land has already garnered plenty of praise and accolades during its run on the festival circuit. The feature was an official selection at Venice, Telluride, Toronto, Zurich, and Chicago international film festivals, just to name a few. It also took home three European Film Awards: Actor for Mikkelsen, Cinematography (Rasmus Videbaek), and Costume Design (Kicki Ilander).

US audiences can catch The Promised Land in theaters February 2, 2024.

What did you think of the trailer? Let us know in the comments below.

Meanwhile, for more updates on this season’s awards contenders, check back to THS.

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