| King and Conqueror | |
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| Genre | Period drama |
| Created by | Michael Robert Johnson |
| Directed by | Baltasar Kormákur |
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| Original language | English |
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King and Conqueror is an upcoming historical television drama series for BBC Studios and CBS from Michael Robert Johnson, starring James Norton as Harold Godwinson and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as William the Conqueror. Production started in 2024.
In 11th-century Britain, the King of England, Harold, faces a threat to his throne from an ambitious Norman, William. [1]
The project was announced in November 2023.[ citation needed ] The season 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 appear as William the Conqueror. [4] 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. [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]
The series will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the United Kingdom in 2025. Paramount Global Content Distribution will handle worldwide distribution. [14]