James Norton looks set to defend the Anglo-Saxon throne from French invader Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in the first glimpse from upcoming medieval drama series “King and Conqueror.”
Norton plays Harold, Earl of Wessex in the series as he prepares to face Coster-Waldau’s William, Duke of Normandy at the famous Battle of Hastings.
Also starring are Emily Beecham as Edith Swan-neck and Clémence Poésy as Matilda.
James Norton in ‘King and Conqueror’ (courtesy of BBC)
The images show Harold leading an army as well as clad in a full suit of armor in the middle of the battlefield. Norton said the six-month shoot in Iceland was “dirty, messy – I was covered in mud for six months.”
“‘King and 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,” reads the logline. “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.”
Initially set to play William, Norton was forced to take the part of Harold due to contractual issues related to another series he was shooting for HBO, Joss Whedon’s sci-fi series “The Nevers.”
“HBO said very clearly, ‘You can go and shoot “King and Conquer,” especially considering you’re an EP and you’re developing it, but you must die,” Norton said on Wednesday at U.K. television confab Content London. The diktat was handed down in case “King and Conquer” was successful enough to return for a second season, with Norton contractually obligated to refrain from acting in a returning series while still optioned for “The Nevers.”
James Norton in ‘King and Conqueror’ (courtesy of BBC)
Ultimately, however, he grew to love the character of Harold. “Nikolai is so right for William,” Norton said. “I think he would say the same thing. I loved the journey I went on with Harold. And I think he did with William.”
The eight-part series is written by Michael Robert Johnson with Baltasar Kormákur (“Everest”) directing the opening episode.
The show will premiere in the U.K. next year on BBC iPlayer and BBC One. Paramount Global Content Distribution are handling international sales.
“King and Conqueror” is produced by The Development Partnership, Rabbit Track Pictures, Shepherd Content, RVK Studios and CBS Studios in association with the BBC.
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