KING & CONQUEROR: FURTHER CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR BBC PERIOD DRAMA
The BBC and CBS Studios have announced further casting for the new eight-part period drama, King & Conqueror, written by Michael Robert Johnson (Sherlock Holmes) and based on the iconic 11th century figures Harold of Wessex and William of Normandy.
As previously announced, the series stars James Norton (Happy Valley, Bob Marley: One Love) as Harold, Earl of Wessex, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones) as William, Duke of Normandy.
Emily Beecham (1899, Little Joe) will play Edith Swan Neck, the wife of Harold Godwinson (James Norton), and Clémence Poésy (In Bruges, The Tunnel) will play Matilda, the wife of William of Normandy (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau).
Further cast announced today include Eddie Marsan (The Power, Ray Donovan) as King Edward, Juliet Stevenson (Truly, Madly, Deeply, Riviera) as Lady Emma, Jean-Marc Barr (The Big Blue, American Translation) as King Henry, Luther Ford (The Crown) as Tostig, Joseph Mawle (Game of Thrones, The Rings of Power) as Fitzosbern.
Plus Geoff Bell (Absentia, Top Boy) as Godwin, Elliot Cowan (Black Cake, Foundation) as Sweyn, Bo Bragason (Renegade Nell, The Jetty) as Queen Gunhild, Bjarne Henriksen (The Hunt, Borgen) as Earl Siward, Clare Holman (Inspector Morse, Lewis) as Gytha and Oliver Mascucci (Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, Look Who’s Back) as Baldwin.
Filming has begun in Iceland and is produced by The Development Partnership, Rabbit Track Pictures, Shepherd Content, RVK Studios and CBS Studios, in association with the BBC.
King & Conqueror is the story of a clash that defined the future of a country – and a continent – for a thousand years, the roots of which stretch back decades and extend out through a pair of interconnected family dynasties, struggling for power across two countries and a raging sea.
Harold of Wessex and William of Normandy were two men destined to meet at the Battle of Hastings in 1066; two allies with no design on the British throne, who found themselves forced by circumstance and personal obsession into a war for possession of its crown.
Lindsey Martin, Sr. Vice President, International Co-Productions & Development, CBS Studios, says: “We are thrilled to partner with James, Nikolaj, Baltasar, and the entire creative team on King and Conqueror, a truly groundbreaking series with world class talent and global reach...
"Michael’s scripts offer a bold and fresh take on a story that has endured for nearly 1,000 years, and yet, the themes are as contemporary and relevant as ever. We are incredibly proud of what the team has achieved so far and can’t wait to see it all come to fruition on screen with our star-studded cast.”
Sue Deeks, Head of BBC Programme Acquisition, says: “In the UK we learn about William the Conqueror, the Battle of Hastings and King Harold’s gruesome death in our school history lessons – but those headlines are all most of us can remember. King and Conqueror will bring Harold and William to life, depicting their lives, loves and families, and the gripping, high stakes power game that led to their fateful meeting in 1066. With incredible talent both in front of and behind the camera, I cannot wait for this exciting project to be realised.”
The series is created and executive produced by Michael Robert Johnson.