| King and Conqueror | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Historical drama |
| Created by | Michael Robert Johnson |
| Written by | Michael Robert Johnson |
| Directed by | Baltasar Kormákur |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Högni Egilsson |
| Country of origin |
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| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producer | Robert Jones |
| Editor | Sigurður Eyþórsson |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network |
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| Release | 24 August 2025 |
King and Conqueror is an 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, depicting the events leading up to the Norman Conquest of England. It premiered on 24 August 2025.
In 11th-century Britain, the King of England, Harold, faces a threat to his throne from an ambitious Norman, William. [1]
The series premiere is set to be directed by Baltasar Kormákur. Other episodes will be helmed by Erik Leijonborg and Bálint Szentgyörgyi. [2] 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. [3] Also in November 2023, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau was announced to portray William the Conqueror. [4] Norton initially wanted to portray William, 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. [5]
In March 2024, Clémence Poésy and Emily Beecham joined the series. [6] Later that month, the cast was rounded out to include Eddie Marsan, Juliet Stevenson, Bo Bragason, Luther Ford, and Joseph Mawle, amongst others. [7] In July 2024, it was announced that Ingvar Sigurdsson had taken over the role of Fitzosbern from Mawle. [8] Further cast members were revealed, including Elander Moore, Indy Lewis, Jason Forbes, Ines Asserson, Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson, and Léo Legrand. [9]
Filming began in March 2024 in Iceland, [10] [11] at locations that included Heiðmörk and around Reykjavík. [12] It wrapped up in July 2024. [13] During production, Norton was injured while on set after falling from his horse. [14]
In discussing the series, Norton stated that, "I wasn't aware of the relationship Harold and William had before the battle, that they were friends and allies for many years before they realised that, because of the way Europe was being carved up, they would both inevitably end up on a battlefield — and one of them would have to die." [15] He also noted that the show portrays the participants of both sides in a fair light and as equals. [16] Waldau described the programme as being partly fictionalised, with some characters and events created for dramatic purposes. [17]
The series premiered on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the United Kingdom on 24 August 2025. [18] [19] Paramount Global Content Distribution will handle worldwide distribution. [20] In August 2025, Paramount announced that it had sold the series to various broadcasters, including Amazon Prime Video in the United States; HBO Max in the Nordics, Iberia, Southeast Asia, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, and Taiwan; SBS in Australia; JioCinema in India; Showcase and StackTV in Canada; M-Net in Africa; Streamz and Be TV in Belgium; Cosmote TV in Greece; yes and Hot in Israel; Sky in New Zealand; and LRT in Lithuania. [21]