Lars von Trier Health Issues: Renowned Director Receives Devastating Diagnosis

Director Lars von Tier has been diagnosed with a dreaded illness while working on his TV series, "The Kingdom Exodus."

von Tier's production company, Zentropa, disclosed the news on Monday. Per The Hollywood Reporter, the 66-year-old director has been diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disorder, Parkinson's disease.

The Parkinson's Foundation explains that the disorder develops slowly and that its first symptom may not be noticeable at all. The progressive disorder, however, eventually affects one's nervous system and other parts of the body controlled by nerves.

Still, it assured everyone that the filmmaker is "in good spirits and is being treated for his symptoms."

"Lars is in good spirits and is being treated for his symptoms and the work to complete The Kingdom Exodus continues as planned. The illness means that Lars will only take part in interviews to a very limited extent. Thank you for your understanding in this matter. There are no further comments," the statement went on, per Deadline.

von Trier is working on the third and final season of his horror melodrama series when he received the diagnosis. It is scheduled to premiere at the Venice Film Festival at the end of this month.

Aside from "The Kingdom Exodus," he also had his name written on the credits for "The House That Jack Built," "Nymphomaniac," "Dogville," "Dancer in the Dark," and "Melancholia."

Lars von Trier Issue

His health battle came out after the director stepped back from the spotlight already following a 2011 infamous comment about Nazis.

At that time, he told the crowd at the press conference for his film "Melancholia" that he understood Hitler, adding "I'm a Nazi."

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"What can I say? I understand Hitler. He did some wrong things, absolutely, but I can see him sitting there in his bunker at the end ... I sympathise with him, yes, a little bit," he said. "I am very much for Jews; well not too much because Israel is a pain in the ass. But still, how can I get out of this sentence ... OK I'm a Nazi."

He was banned for seven years. A police investigation was also launched due to the alleged "trivialization of the Holocaust," which was a crime in France.

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