Danish star Mads Mikkelsen has joined the animated feature Dreamworld, now in production at Polish production outfit Lightcraft.
The film is directed by Daniel Markowicz and Harry Potter and Matrix visual effects alumnus Maks Naporowski, with Markowicz also producing. Executive producers are Paulina Nowak, Dariush Derakhshani, Michael Roesch and Mariusz Spisz. Peter Bielicki (Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Pocahontas, Mulan) serves as art director.
Dreamworld centers on 12-year-old Jake and his friend Jenny, who confront the mysterious Vagapulga in their dreams.
Lightcraft and Germany’s Kinostar are handling international sales and launching the project at the American Film Market, screening the first five minutes for buyers. The feature is slated for delivery next year.
Mikkelsen’s career spans European arthouse cinema and major studio productions, from Another Round and The Hunt to Doctor Strange and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. He voiced Kiros in Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King (2024). His most recent credits include the Danish dramedy The Last Viking from Anders Thomas Jensen and the Lionsgate horror title Dust Bunny.
“Being one of the most versatile and best European actors, Mads Mikkelsen was our dream choice since we wrote the script,” said director and producer Markowicz. “We’re more than happy to have him on board.”
Founded as a VFX studio, Lightcraft has evolved into one of Poland’s leading production companies, producing such local-language features as Soulcatcher (2023) and Lesson Plan (2022) for Netflix.
“After years of work on the movie, it is great to get close to the finish line,” said executive producer Nowak. “We’re pleased to show the opening of the movie to studios and international buyers at the American Film Market.”
“We’re more than excited to continue our collaboration with Daniel and Paulina,” added executive producer Roesch, calling Dreamworld “one of the biggest and creatively most exciting independent animation movies in the last few years.”
Mikkelsen is represented by UTA and Copenhagen-based Art Management.
