Wolf Hall | |
---|---|
Genre | Historical drama |
Based on | Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel |
Written by | Peter Straughan |
Directed by | Peter Kosminsky |
Starring | |
Composers | Original music by Debbie Wiseman Tudor music by Claire van Kampen |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
No. of series | 2 |
No. of episodes | 12 |
Production | |
Executive producer | Colin Callender |
Producer | Mark Pybus |
Cinematography | Gavin Finney |
Running time | 60–65 minutes |
Production company | Company Pictures |
Original release | |
Network | BBC Two |
Release | 21 January – 25 February 2015 |
Network | BBC One |
Release | 10 November 2024 – present |
Wolf Hall is a British television series adaptation of two of Hilary Mantel's novels, Wolf Hall [1] and Bring Up the Bodies , [2] a fictionalised biography documenting the life of Thomas Cromwell.
The six-part series 1 was first broadcast on BBC Two in January 2015 and documented the rapid rise to power of Thomas Cromwell in the court of Henry VIII through to the death of Sir Thomas More, followed by Cromwell's success in freeing the king of his marriage to Anne Boleyn. It was first broadcast abroad in April 2015 in the United States on PBS and in Australia on BBC First. The first series was a critical success and received eight nominations at the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards and three nominations at the 73rd Golden Globe Awards, winning for Best Miniseries or Television Film.
The second series, adapted from the final novel in the trilogy, featured Mark Rylance, director Peter Kosminsky, and writer Peter Straughan returning; [3] it was filmed between November 2023 and April 2024, before being first broadcast on 10 November 2024. [4]
The series centres on the character of Thomas Cromwell, a lawyer who has risen from humble beginnings. The action in Series 1 opens at a point in Cromwell's career where his master, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, is about to fall from power because of his failure to secure a marriage annulment for King Henry VIII of England. [5] It proceeds through Cromwell's own rise to political power, and ends with the execution of Anne Boleyn. [6] Series 2 picks up after Anne's execution, following Cromwell's continued rise and Henry's marriage to his third and fourth queens, Jane Seymour and Anne of Cleves, the latter of which will ultimately lead to Cromwell’s fall from power and execution.
Updated from Televisual as of 4 December 2023 [7]
On 23 August 2012, BBC Two announced several new commissions, one of which was Wolf Hall. [14] According to The Guardian £7 million was to be spent on the adaptation. [15] BBC Two controller Janice Hadlow said it was "very fortunate to have the rights" to the two novels and called Wolf Hall "a great contemporary novel". [16] [17]
Peter Kosminsky, the director of the series, said: "This is a first for me. But it is an intensely political piece. It is about the politics of despotism, and how you function around an absolute ruler. I have a sense that Hilary Mantel wanted that immediacy. ... When I saw Peter Straughan's script, only a first draft, I couldn't believe what I was reading. It was the best draft I had ever seen. He had managed to distil 1,000 pages of the novels into six hours, using prose so sensitively. He's a theatre writer by trade." [15]
The drama series features 102 characters and Kosminsky began casting the other parts in October 2013. Although originally set to film in Belgium, [18] most of the filming took place on location at some of the finest British medieval and Tudor houses and buildings, including Berkeley Castle, Gloucester Cathedral and Horton Court in Gloucestershire, Dover Castle and Penshurst Place in Kent, Broughton Castle and Chastleton House in Oxfordshire, Wells Cathedral, Barrington Court, Cothay Manor and Montacute House in Somerset, Stanway House in Gloucestershire, and Sherborne School in Dorset, Bristol Cathedral in Bristol, St Donat's Castle in the Vale of Glamorgan, Hospital of St Cross in Hampshire, and Great Chalfield Manor and Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire. [19] [20] In all, 28 locations were used, mostly in the south-west of England. [21] The series was filmed from May to July 2014. The series, which was made in association with Masterpiece Entertainment and Playground Entertainment, [22] consists of six episodes and was broadcast on BBC Two in the UK from 21 January 2015.
The Guardian speculated that the BBC's hiring of Kosminsky with Straughan showed they wanted "a darker and grittier take on British history" than more fanciful programmes such as The Tudors or The White Queen . [15] Mantel called Straughan's scripts a "miracle of elegant compression and I believe with such a strong team the original material can only be enhanced". [15]
Kosminsky determined to undertake much of the interior filming by candlelight, this led some of the actors to collide with the scenery and to be concerned by the risk of fires. [23] Wolf Hall was filmed in two locations in Kent: Dover Castle doubled for the Tower of London, and the Long Gallery, Tapestry Room, and Queen Elizabeth Room at Penshurst Place were used as specific rooms in Whitehall (York Place), which was Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII's residence. The Long Gallery doubled as Anne Boleyn's chamber. [24] Some scenes were filmed at Stanway House in Gloucestershire. [25]
The series' executive producer, Colin Callender, stated in February 2015 that he hoped that the BBC would commission an extension of the series based on the final novel in Mantel's trilogy, The Mirror & the Light , which was published in 2020. [26] Callender said that lead performers Mark Rylance and Damian Lewis were "eager" to return. [26]
A second series of Wolf Hall was confirmed on 27 May 2019, [27] officially announced as Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light , and began filming on 24 November 2023 with Mark Rylance, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Damian Lewis, Jonathan Pryce, Kate Phillips and Lilit Lesser all reprising their roles from the previous series.
On 4 April 2024 the BBC announced that filming of the second series had been completed, [28] and revealed details of several roles that had been recast, including: Timothy Spall as the Duke of Norfolk (replacing Bernard Hill), Harriet Walter as Lady Margaret Pole (replacing Janet Henfrey), and Harry Melling as Thomas Wriothesley (replacing Joel MacCormack). [29]
No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date (BBC Two) | U.S. air date [30] | UK viewers (millions) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Three Card Trick" | Peter Kosminsky | Peter Straughan | 21 January 2015 | 5 April 2015 | 5.99 [31] | |
In 1529, as Cardinal Wolsey receives news of his dismissal as Lord Chancellor, his lawyer Thomas Cromwell reminisces about how he and Wolsey met and the events leading up to the Cardinal's downfall. | |||||||
2 | "Entirely Beloved" | Peter Kosminsky | Peter Straughan | 28 January 2015 | 12 April 2015 | 4.46 [31] | |
As 1529 draws to a close, Cardinal Wolsey moves to York while Thomas Cromwell attempts to gain support for him from King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn and, in the process, gradually wins favour for himself. | |||||||
3 | "Anna Regina" | Peter Kosminsky | Peter Straughan | 4 February 2015 | 19 April 2015 | 4.13 [31] | |
In 1531, King Henry VIII has proposed a bill which will make him the head of the Church in England and allow him to marry Anne Boleyn. However, his plans are met with a series of complications. | |||||||
4 | "The Devil's Spit" | Peter Kosminsky | Peter Straughan | 11 February 2015 | 26 April 2015 | 4.29 [31] | |
In 1533, Anne Boleyn has given birth to a daughter, much to King Henry VIII's disdain. As Anne's paranoia over her inability to produce a son grows, Thomas Cromwell tries to convince Sir Thomas More to show approval for the royal marriage. | |||||||
5 | "Crows" | Peter Kosminsky | Peter Straughan | 18 February 2015 | 3 May 2015 | 3.72 [31] | |
In 1535, King Henry VIII's becoming head of the Church in England has antagonised the Holy Roman Emperor. Meanwhile, Anne Boleyn's failure to produce a male heir leads Henry toward Jane Seymour. | |||||||
6 | "Master of Phantoms" | Peter Kosminsky | Peter Straughan | 25 February 2015 | 10 May 2015 | 3.74 [31] | |
The Exeter Conspiracy is in the works. In 1536, King Henry VIII's request that Thomas Cromwell find a way to rid him of Anne Boleyn—a sentiment supported by others who wish for Jane Seymour to take her place—leads to a series of allegations and revelations. |
No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date (BBC One) | U.S. air date | UK viewers (millions) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Wreckage" | Peter Kosminsky | Peter Straughan | 10 November 2024 | tbc | 4.06 |
2 | "Obedience" | Peter Kosminsky | Peter Straughan | 17 November 2024 | tbc | tbc |
3 | "Defiance" | Peter Kosminsky | Peter Straughan | 24 November 2024 | tbc | tbc |
4 | "Jenneke" | Peter Kosminsky | Peter Straughan | 1 December 2024 | tbc | tbc |
5 | "Mirror" | Peter Kosminsky | Peter Straughan | 8 December 2024 | tbc | tbc |
6 | "Light" | Peter Kosminsky | Peter Straughan | 15 December 2024 | tbc | tbc |
Critics have been "almost unanimous" in their praise of the series, with particular reference to the attention to period detail, the faithful adaptation of the source novels, Kosminsky's direction, and the performances of the leading cast members, particularly Rylance as Cromwell and Foy as Boleyn. [32] Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gave the show a 98% rating based on 53 reviews with an average rating of 8.4/10. The website's critical consensus states, "Beautifully filmed and brilliantly acted, Wolf Hall masterfully brings Hilary Mantel's award-winning novels to life." [33] Sam Wollaston in The Guardian called it "sumptuous, intelligent, event television." [34] Will Dean in The Independent felt that it did not compare favourably with the stage adaptation of the book, yet he predicted that it would "secure a devoted following." [35] James Walton in The Daily Telegraph gave the first episode five stars out of five, commenting: "it’s hard to see how this one could have been done much better." [36] Mick Adam Noya from the television review show Channel Crossing called Wolf Hall "the best show of 2015". [37]
A few dissenting voices found some flaws. The Daily Telegraph alleged that there was a substantial drop in ratings between the first and second episodes, despite all the following episodes holding high and consistent ratings. [38] Simon Schama stated concerns about how the series depicted historical figures. [39] Emily Nussbaum of The New Yorker cited "small weaknesses", but wrote "the show’s deliberately paced six hours turn out to be riveting, precisely because they are committed, without apology or, often, much explanation, to the esotericism of their subject matter." [40] Sophie Gilbert of The Atlantic wrote, "Magnificent...a tour de force." [41]
The lighting design, which used historically accurate natural light sources (such as candlelight for evening scenes) prompted criticism from viewers who felt parts of the series appeared too dark. [42]
For the 5th Critics' Choice Television Awards, the series received four nominations: Best Limited Series, Mark Rylance for Best Actor, Jonathan Pryce for Best Supporting Actor, and Claire Foy for Best Supporting Actress. [49]
Jane Boleyn, Viscountess Rochford was an English noblewoman. Her husband, George Boleyn, Viscount Rochford, was the brother of Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII, and a cousin to King Henry VIII’s fifth wife Catherine Howard, making Jane a cousin-in-law. Jane had been a member of the household of Henry's first wife, Catherine of Aragon. It is possible that she played a role in the verdicts against, and subsequent executions of, her husband and Anne Boleyn. She was later a lady-in-waiting to Henry's third and fourth wives, and then to his fifth wife, Catherine Howard, with whom she was executed.
Thomas Brodie-Sangster is an English actor. As a child actor, he gained recognition for his roles in the commercially successful films Love Actually (2003) and Nanny McPhee (2005). He voiced Ferb in the first four seasons of Phineas and Ferb (2007–2015), and subsequently gained wider attention with his roles as Jake Murray in Accused (2010–2012), Jojen Reed in Game of Thrones (2013–2014) and Newt in the Maze Runner trilogy (2014–2018). Continued acclaim ensued with the independent films Nowhere Boy (2009), in which he portrayed Paul McCartney, Bright Star (2009), and Death of a Superhero (2011).
Mark Smeaton was a musician at the court of Henry VIII of England, in the household of Queen Anne Boleyn. Smeaton – together with the Queen's brother George Boleyn, Viscount Rochford; Henry Norris, Francis Weston, and William Brereton – was executed for treason and adultery with Queen Anne.
Sir David Mark Rylance Waters is an English actor, playwright and theatre director. He is known for his roles on stage and screen, having received numerous awards including an Academy Award, three BAFTA Awards, two Olivier Awards and three Tony Awards. In 2016 he was included in the Time 100 list of the world's most influential people. In 2017 he was made a knight by Queen Elizabeth II.
Benjamin Charles Miles is an English actor, best known for his starring role as Patrick Maitland in the television comedy Coupling, from 2000 to 2004, as Montague Dartie in The Forsyte Saga, from 2002 to 2003, as propagandist and television executive Roger Dascombe in 2005 film V for Vendetta, as Peter Townsend in the Netflix drama The Crown (2016–2017) and George in episode 8 "The One That Holds Everything" in the TV drama The Romanoffs (2018).
Dame Hilary Mary Mantel was a British writer whose work includes historical fiction, personal memoirs and short stories. Her first published novel, Every Day Is Mother's Day, was released in 1985. She went on to write 12 novels, two collections of short stories, a memoir, and numerous articles and opinion pieces.
Peter Kosminsky is a British writer, director and producer. He has directed Hollywood movies such as White Oleander and television films like Warriors, The Government Inspector, The Promise, Wolf Hall and The State.
Henry VIII and his reign have frequently been depicted in art, film, literature, music, opera, plays, and television.
Mary Boleyn, also known as Lady Mary, was the sister of English queen consort Anne Boleyn, whose family enjoyed considerable influence during the reign of King Henry VIII.
Wolf Hall is a 2009 historical novel by English author Hilary Mantel, published by Fourth Estate, named after the Seymour family's seat of Wolfhall, or Wulfhall, in Wiltshire. Set in the period from 1500 to 1535, Wolf Hall is a sympathetic fictionalised biography documenting the rapid rise to power of Thomas Cromwell in the court of Henry VIII through to the death of Sir Thomas More. The novel won both the Booker Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award. In 2012, The Observer named it as one of "The 10 best historical novels".
Bring Up the Bodies is an historical novel by Hilary Mantel, sequel to the award-winning Wolf Hall (2009), and part of a trilogy charting the rise and fall of Thomas Cromwell, the powerful minister in the court of King Henry VIII. It won the 2012 Man Booker Prize and the 2012 Costa Book of the Year. The final novel in the trilogy is The Mirror & the Light (2020).
The Mirror & the Light is a 2020 historical novel by English writer Hilary Mantel and the final novel published in her lifetime, appearing two and a half years before her death. Following Wolf Hall (2009) and Bring Up the Bodies (2012), it is the final instalment in her trilogy charting the rise and fall of Thomas Cromwell, minister in the court of King Henry VIII. It covers the last four years of his life, from 1536 until his death by execution in 1540.
"Three Card Trick" is the first episode of the BBC Two series Wolf Hall. It was first broadcast on 21 January 2015.
Playground Entertainment is a television, film and theatre production company with offices in New York and London, founded in 2012 by Sir Colin Callender, former President of HBO Films.
"Entirely Beloved" is the second episode of the BBC Two series Wolf Hall. It was first broadcast on 28 January 2015.
"Anna Regina" is the third episode of the BBC Two series Wolf Hall. It was first broadcast on 4 February 2015.
Wolf Hall Parts One & Two is a two-part play based on Hilary Mantel's novels Wolf Hall (2009) and Bring Up the Bodies (2013), adapted for the stage by Mike Poulton. Set in the period from 1500 to 1535, Wolf Hall is a sympathetic fictionalised biography documenting the rapid rise to power of Thomas Cromwell in the court of Henry VIII through to the death of Sir Thomas More.
Catherine of Aragon was Queen of England from June 1509 until May 1533 as the first wife of King Henry VIII. She has been portrayed in film, television, plays, novels, songs, poems, and other creative forms many times, and as a result, she has stayed very much in popular memory.
Thomas Cromwell was Chief Minister to King Henry VIII of England from 1534 to 1540. He played a prominent role in the important events of Henry's reign, including the king's divorce from Catherine of Aragon, the execution of Anne Boleyn, the marriage to Anne of Cleves, the Dissolution of the monasteries, and the English Reformation. These dramatic events have provided the inspiration for plays, novels and films from shortly after his death until modern times.
Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light is an historical drama television series. It is the second and final part of the adaptation of the Wolf Hall novels by Hilary Mantel, covering The Mirror & the Light, the final novel in the trilogy. It is directed by Peter Kosminsky, Mark Rylance stars in the lead role of Thomas Cromwell, and Peter Straughan wrote, all returning from the 2015 series and first part Wolf Hall. by