Nikolaj Arcel is preparing My Fairytale Life, a biopic of Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, with TrustNordisk boarding sales ahead of next month’s European Film Market (EFM, February 12-18).
Arcel will re-team with Anders Thomas Jensen to write the film, with the pair having previously written 2023’s The Promised Land.
My Fairytale Life will tell the story of Andersen, a socially awkward nobody who moves to Copenhagen with dreams of conquering Denmark’s cultural elite and becoming a famous artist. But the last thing he wants to be known as is a children’s fairytale writer.
It is currently at financing stage, with casting underway; and principal photography scheduled for late 2026.
The film will be produced by Louise Vesth and Tine Mikkelsen for Denmark’s Zentropa Entertainments4, in co-production with Zentropa Berlin GmbH. Support comes from The Danish Film Institute Mark Scheme and FilmFyn in co-operation with TV2, Nordisk Film Distribution and Plaion Pictures.
Nordisk Film Distribution will release the film in Denmark.
“Through the magic of his fairytales, Hans Christian Andersen inspired children all over the world, freeing their imaginations and teaching them to be themselves. But, in yearning for recognition and wanting desperately to be seen as “normal”, he lived in constant fear of showing the world who he truly was,” said Arcel.
“The pursuit of happiness, both materialistic and spiritual, is a recurring theme in my feature films. That’s why I am fascinated with Hans Christian Andersen, the troubled genius, who spend the best years of his life desperately trying to get love and recognition from all the wrong people. It is a funny, poignant, and deeply contemporary true story, which I can’t wait for people to finally see.”
The film will be Arcel’s seventh feature, after titles including 2012’s A Royal Affair, which won the Silver Bear for best actor and screenplay on debut at the Berlinale and was nominated for the best foreign language film Oscar.
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