Arise, James Norton! The Playing Nice star is taking on a royal role
If, like us, you’ve been glued to ITV1’s latest mind-bending drama Playing Nice recently, you might be craving a bit more James Norton on your screen – and thankfully, he’s not going anywhere. The actor already has another major role in the pipeline and it’s not what you might expect.
The Happy Valley star is set to take on a new royal role in the upcoming eight-part historical drama, King and Conqueror – and it sounds right up our street. The series takes us back to the 11th century (oh, how we love a period drama) and will see Norton play Harold, Earl of Wessex as he prepares to face Nikolaj Coster-Waldau’s William, Duke of Normandy, at the famous Battle of Hastings.
“I’ve been developing it for about six, seven years, and it’s been percolating. We’ve been having meetings. We’ve been talking to directors, writers. It's been a long, long journey,” James told the Radio Times.
“I can't wait for it to be seen. Although I'm very nervous because the stakes are so high, it's been a long journey!"
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Perhaps we’re biased, but we can’t think of anyone better to produce and star in an English national epic. Here’s everything else we know about the series so far…
What’s the plot of King and Conqueror?
The eight-part historical drama tells the story of a clash that defined the future of a country – and a continent – for a thousand years. The roots of the battle stretch back decades and it charts the lead-up through two interconnected family dynasties, struggling for power across two countries and a raging sea.
The two men at the fore of course were Harold of Wessex (James Norton) and William of Normandy (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and we’ll see the pair’s fateful meeting at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Though they’re allies with no design on the British throne, they find themselves forced by circumstance and personal obsession into a war for possession of the crown.
Who’s in the cast of King and Conqueror?
The cast of King and Conqueror includes:
James Norton as Harold, Earl of Wessex
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as William, Duke of Normandy
Emily Beecham as Edith Swan-neck
Clémence Poésy as Matilda
Eddie Marsan as King Edward
Juliet Stevenson as Lady Emma
Jean-Marc Barr as King Henry
Luther Ford as Tostig
Geoff Bell as Godwin
Elliott Cowan as Swey
Bo Bragason as Queen Gunhild
Bjarne Henriksen as Earl Siward
Oliver Masucci as Baldwin
Clare Holman as Gytha
Elander Moore as Morcar
Indy Lewis as Margaret
Jason Forbes as Thane Thomas
Ingvar Sigurdsson as Fitzosbern
Ines Asserson as Judith
Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson as Hardrada
Léo Legrand as Odo
When can I watch King and Conqueror?
While we don’t yet have an official release date for the series, we’re expecting it to air on BBC One and iPlayer in the spring. We’ll keep you posted as hear more.
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