James Norton appears ready to defend the Anglo-Saxon throne from the French invader portrayed by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in the first look at the upcoming medieval drama series King and Conqueror.
Norton takes on the role of Harold, Earl of Wessex, as he prepares for the infamous Battle of Hastings against Coster-Waldau’s William, Duke of Normandy. Also joining the cast are Emily Beecham as Edith Swan-neck and Clémence Poésy as Matilda.
The newly released images show Norton leading an army and wearing a full suit of armor in the heart of the battlefield. Norton described the six-month shoot in Iceland as being “dirty, messy – I was covered in mud for six months.”
The official logline for King and Conqueror reads: “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.
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.”
Norton’s initial role was supposed to be William, but due to contractual obligations with HBO’s sci-fi series The Nevers — developed by Joss Whedon — he ended up portraying Harold instead.
“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 explained on Wednesday at the U.K. television conference Content London.
This decision stemmed from a contractual restriction that would prevent Norton from being part of a second season of King and Conqueror if it became successful, as he was still under contract for The Nevers.
Despite this initial hiccup, Norton ultimately grew to embrace his role as Harold. “Nikolai is so right for William,” Norton shared. “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 and directed by Baltasar Kormákur (Everest), who directs the opening episode.
The show is scheduled to premiere in the U.K. next year on BBC iPlayer and BBC One, while Paramount Global Content Distribution will manage international sales.
King and Conqueror is produced by The Development Partnership, Rabbit Track Pictures, Shepherd Content, RVK Studios, and CBS Studios, in collaboration with the BBC.
