Lars von Trier (66) has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
The Danish broadcaster DR reported on Monday, citing Zentropa, the Danish filmmaker's production company.
As a result, the director ("Idiots", "Antichrist", "Melancholia") is in a good mood despite the diagnosis.
He is being treated for the symptoms but can continue working on the mini-horror series Riget Exodus as planned.
He will only give limited interviews until the premiere later this year, according to the report.
Von Trier, who owes his surname to the fact that his foster father's ancestors once emigrated from Trier to Denmark, won the Palme d'Or in Cannes in 2000 for "Dancer in the Dark" with the Icelandic musician Björk in the leading role.
His international breakthrough came in 1996 with the award-winning drama Breaking the Waves.
The slowly progressing Parkinson's disease causes cells in the brain that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine to die.
This hinders the control of body movements and causes, among other things, the typical tremors of those affected.
Lars von Trier's health has always been an issue in recent years.
In 2018, for example, he told the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" that he was constantly tired and could hardly stay awake.
Von Trier said his life had been marked by fear, panic attacks and depression since childhood.
His psychotropic drugs, he said at the time, were now in such high doses that his hands were constantly shaking, which made it difficult for him to use his mobile phone.