King and Conqueror

{{Short description|Upcoming historical television drama series}}

{{Infobox television

| image =

| genre = Historical drama

| creator = Michael Robert Johnson

| based_on =

| writer =

| screenplay =

| story =

| director = Baltasar Kormákur

| starring = {{Plainlist|

| music = Högni Egilsson

| country = {{plainlist|

United Kingdom
United States

}}

| language = English

| num_series =

| num_episodes =

| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|

Kitty Kaletsky
James Norton
Robert Taylor
Richard Halliwell
Baltasar Kormákur
Lindsey Martin
Dave Clarke
Ed Clarke

}}

| producer =

| editor =

| cinematography =

| runtime =

| company = {{Plainlist|

BBC Studios
CBS Studios
The Development Partnership
Shepherd Content
Rabbit Track Pictures
RVK Studios

}}

| budget =

| network = {{plainlist|

BBC One (UK)
CBS (US)

}}

| first_aired =

| last_aired =

}}

King and Conqueror is an upcoming historical drama television series created by Michael Robert Johnson for BBC One and starring James Norton as Harold Godwinson and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as William the Conqueror.

Premise

In 11th-century Britain, the King of England, Harold, faces a threat to his throne from an ambitious Norman, William.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/11/james-norton-nikolaj-coster-waldau-cast-cbs-studios-series-king-and-conqueror-1235639955/amp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128143243/https://deadline.com/2023/11/james-norton-nikolaj-coster-waldau-cast-cbs-studios-series-king-and-conqueror-1235639955/amp/|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 November 2023|accessdate=28 November 2023|date=28 November 2023|title= James Norton & Nikolaj Coster-Waldau to Lead New CBS Studios Drama Series 'King and Conqueror'|first=Rosy|last=Cordero}}

Cast and characters

{{cast listing|

James Norton as Harold Godwinson
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as William the Conqueror
Clémence Poésy as Matilda
Emily Beecham as Edith
Luther Ford as Tostig
Ingvar Sigurdsson as Fitzosbern
Eddie Marsan as King Edward
Juliet Stevenson as Lady Emma
Jean-Marc Barr as Henry I of France
Geoff Bell as Godwin
Elliot Cowan as Sweyn
Bo Bragason as Queen Gunhild
Bjarne Henriksen as Earl Siward
Oliver Masucci as Baldwin
Clare Holman as Gytha
Jason Forbes as Thane Thomas
Joakim Nätterqvist as Thorolf
Elander Moore as Morcar
Indy Lewis as Margaret
Ines Asserson as Judith
Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson as Hardrada
Léo Legrand as Odo
Þorsteinn Bachmann as Baron of Brittany
Louise Kim Salter as Agnes

}}

Production

The project was announced in November 2023.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}} The season premiere is set to be directed by Baltasar Kormákur. Other episodes will be helmed by Erik Leijonborg and Bálint Szentgyörgyi.{{cite web|title=Nikolaj Coster-Waldau & James Norton's King and Conqueror Just Got a Major Update |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/nikolaj-coster-waldau-james-norton-s-king-and-conqueror-just-got-a-major-update/ar-BB1q2SDy |website=msn.com |date=15 July 2024 |access-date=30 July 2024}} James Norton is an executive producer through Rabbit Track Pictures and stars as Harold Godwinson. Other executive producers include Kormákur for RVK Studios, Robert Taylor for the Development Partnership, Dave Clarke and Richard Halliwell for Shepherd Content, Ed Clarke, Robert Jones, and CBS Studios' Lindsey Martin.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2023/king-and-conqueror-james-norton-nikolaj-coster-waldau|title=New historical drama King and Conqueror, starring James Norton and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, to premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer|publisher=BBC}} Also in November 2023, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau was announced to appear as William the Conqueror.{{cite web|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/nikolaj-coster-waldau-king-and-conqueror-james-norton-1235680774/|first=James|last=Hibberd|date=28 November 2023|accessdate=18 March 2024|title= Nikolaj Coster-Waldau to Play William the Conqueror in 'King and Conqueror' TV Series |website=Hollywood Reporter}} Norton initially wanted to portray William the Conqueror, but due to contract restrictions from his role in HBO's The Nevers, he took the part of Harold, as HBO only permitted him to take on a character written to die.{{cite web|title=HBO Only Allowed James Norton to Join Middle Ages Drama Series 'King and Conqueror' on Condition His Character 'Must Die' |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/global/king-amp-conqueror-james-norton-nikolaj-coster-waldau-rabbit-track-1236230785/ |website=variety.com |date=4 December 2024 |access-date=8 December 2024}}

In March 2024, Clémence Poésy and Emily Beecham joined the series.{{cite web|accessdate=18 March 2024|website=Variety|date= 5 March 2024|title=Clémence Poésy, Emily Beecham Join James Norton in Period Drama 'King and Conqueror'|first=K.J. |last=Yossman|url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/global/clemence-poesy-emily-beecham-king-and-conqueror-1235930352/}} Later that month, the cast was rounded out to include Eddie Marsan, Juliet Stevenson, Bo Bragason, Luther Ford, and Joseph Mawle, amongst others.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/global/king-conqueror-cast-the-crown-luther-ford-game-of-thrones-joseph-mawle-1235944408/|website=Variety|accessdate=18 March 2024|date=18 March 2024|title= 'The Crown's' Luther Ford, 'Game of Thrones' Actor Joseph Mawle and More Join Period Drama 'King & Conqueror' (Exclusive)|first1= Ellise|last1= Shafer|first2=K.J.|last2=Yossman}} In July 2024, it was announced that Ingvar Sigurdsson had taken over the role of Fitzosbern from Mawle.{{Cite journal|url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/global/ingvar-sigurdsson-joseph-mawle-king-and-conqueror-1236072080/|title='The Northman' Star Ingvar Sigurdsson Replaces Joseph Mawle as Middle Ages Drama 'King & Conqueror' Rounds Out Cast|journal=Variety|first=KJ|last=Yossman|date=15 July 2024|accessdate=22 July 2024}} Further cast members were revealed, including Elander Moore, Indy Lewis, Jason Forbes, Ines Asserson, Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson, and Léo Legrand.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/elander-moore-indy-lewis-jason-forbes-king-conqueror-bbc-cbs-1235948567/|title=Elander Moore, Indy Lewis, Jason Forbes Join 'King & Conqueror' Series as Filming Wraps in Iceland|journal=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Lily|last=Ford|date=15 July 2024|accessdate=22 July 2024}}

Filming began in March 2024 in Iceland,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2024/king-and-conqueror-further-casting#:~:text=Filming%20has%20begun%20in%20Iceland,in%20association%20with%20the%20BBC.|website=BBC.co.uk|date=18 March 2024|accessdate=18 March 2024|title= King & Conqueror – further casting announced as filming begins on new period drama for BBC}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kftv.com/news/2023/12/01/king-and-conqueror-filming-in-iceland|website=kftv.com|accessdate=5 December 2023|title=James Norton and Nikolaj Coster-Walden historical drama sets filming date|date=1 December 2023|first=Gabriela|last=Geisinger}} at locations that included Heiðmörk and around Reykjavík.{{cite web|url=https://www.icelandreview.com/news/baltasars-new-series-recreates-battle-of-hastings-in-iceland/|title= Baltasar's New Series Recreates Battle of Hastings in Iceland|first=Ragnar|last=Tómas|date=

6 December 2023|website=Iceland Review|accessdate=18 March 2024}} It wrapped up in July 2024.{{cite web|url= https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a61597421/james-norton-new-bbc-period-drama-cast/|website=Digital Spy|accessdate=16 July 2024|title= James Norton's new BBC period drama shares update and new cast|first=Laura Jane|last=Turner|date=15 July 2024}}

Broadcast

The series will premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the United Kingdom in 2025. Paramount Global Content Distribution will handle worldwide distribution.{{cite web|url= https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/king-conqueror-series-check-out-what-we-know-about-cast-plot-episode-count-production-team-and-filming/articleshow/108246254.cms|website=Exonomic Times|access-date=18 March 2024|title= 'King & Conqueror' Series: Check out what we know about cast, plot, episode count, production team and filming|date=6 March 2024}}