Sunday, May 4, 2014

BBC ANNOUNCES FULL CAST FOR 'WOLF HALL' 16TH CENTURY HISTORICAL SERIES SET AT HENRY VIII'S COURT WITH DAMIAN LEWIS, MARK RYLANCE, ED SPELEERS, JONATHAN PRYCE, THOMAS BRODIE SANGSTER

WOLF HALL
NEW BBC EPIC SERIES
Earlier this week BBC has officially announced that, after almost two years after it had first been announced, they have finally rounded up the cast for their new historical TV series WOLF HALL which will start production later this year and will be ready for airing sometime in 2015! The small screen adaptation of Hilary Mantel's bestselling books WOLF HALL and BRING UP THE BODIES will depict, in a more realistic rather  than soapy way, the upheaval, bloodshed and political world of Tudor England! The six part series will see HOMELAND superstar Damian Lewis ruling the court as infamous King Henry VIII! You can find photos from the show and our lavish cast photo gallery in the special spotlight!

THOMAS CROMWELL
THE 16TH CENTURY GODFATHER
The series will dominantly focus on Thomas Cromwell, the 16th-century Godfather-like figure at the heart of all the machinations at the court of Henry VIII. Mark Rylance will play king’s chief minister, brutal fixer and disposer of royal wives, the man who was at home in courtroom or waterfront, bishop’s palace or inn yard. He could draft a contract, train a falcon, draw a map, stop a street fight, furnish a house and fix a jury! He spoke French and Italian, and because of his humble origins as son of a blacksmith, his class consciousness made him an  astute observer and reader of men and women. Cromwell was instrumental in securing the annulment of Henry’s marriage to his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, his union with the scheming Anne Boleyn, her execution and Henry’s subsequent marriage to Jane Seymour. Cromwell also had more than a hand in the split with Rome, and he ruthlessly pursued those who ill-treated his early benefactor, Cardinal Wolsey.

WOLF HALL CAST
ED SPELLERS, JONATHAN PRYCE
In the series which will have over 100 characters, Saskia Reeves will appear as Cromwell's sister-in-law Johane. Charity Wakefield (Sense and Sensibility) will play Mary Boleyn, the royal mistress and sister to Henry VIII's second wife Anne, who will be played by Claire Foy. Joanne Whalley will be Henry VIII's first wife, Catherine of Aragon. Legendary Jonathan Pryce will play the powerful Cardinal  Wolsey. Mark Gatiss will be Henry's top civil servant, Stephen Gardiner while GAME OF THRONES' Anton Lesser will play Thomas More. Another GAME OF THRONES star, Thomas Brodie Sangster, will play Cromwell's ward Rafe. ERAGON and DOWNTON ABBEY star Ed Speleers will be Edward Seymour, brother to Henry VIII's third wife, Jane! Jack Lowden will play famous poet Thomas Wyatt.

34 comments:

  1. Cromwell sounds like a clever, cunning character.

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  2. Ah, this is wonderful. I do like the choice for Cromwell. And Damian Lewis will make a good King Henry. The stage production turned out to be a huge success in Stratford, so I have high hopes for the series. :))

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    1. I don't like the female cast, but the rest ain't bad, Damian will be perfect and so will Rylance.

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    2. Yeah, I'll have to wait and see about the Anne Boleyn part. Not familiar with the actress yet.

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    3. but then again, if I got it correctly, they will more focus on the political intrigues and plots than on the love ones

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  3. WOLF HALL is a great book.

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  4. Thomas Cromwell sounds a thoroughly interesting character. I think I shall enjoy that one :)

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  5. Wolf Hall was a excellent book. I'll be interested to see what it looks like as a series.

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    1. yep, many fans of the book among our followers

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  6. Sounds great. I haven't heard of the book. I'll check that out.

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  7. Hi human Dezmond,

    I was asked to play the leading dog in Wolf Hall. Hopefully, the sound quality is better than Jamaica Bay.

    Pawsitive wishes,

    Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar! :)

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    1. and hopefully the writing is better too :) JAMAICA INN was written by that godawful woman who wrote WHITE QUEEN too

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  8. Replies
    1. I've mentioned it millions of times here over the years....

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    2. a book, a crook, a hook or a simple spook? What are you talking about? Make your choice, man!

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    3. My inability to choose often gets me into trouble. I want them all, you see? ;)

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    4. I want them all and I want them now... that's why I always think when watching SPARTACUS....

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  9. I haven't heard of the book, but the concept sounds intriguing.

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    1. she is one of the most famous writers of historical books, really a huge star

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  10. Looking forward to "Wolf Hall" although gawd knows how long it'll be until we get to see it here in Canada.

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  11. Sounds like it could be an interesting series.

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    1. hope BBC doesn't ruin it like they did with Phillipa Gregory's books

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  12. Can't wait to see Damian Lewis back on TV after last season's finale of Homeland . :(

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    1. he is always great in period set projects!

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  13. Finally, a realistic look at Tudor, England. You are right. Everything up to this point has been all sexified and soaped up.

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    1. which is not a bad thing, we like sexified shows too :))) but this might be refreshing on another lever :)

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