IAIN DE CAESTECKER TO LEAD NEW ARTHURIAN EPIC TV SERIES THE WINTER KING FOR ITVX! CHOCOLATE GETTING A NEW FRENCH TV SERIES VERSION!

  IAIN DE CAESTECKER   

TO LEAD THE WINTER KING EPIC TV SERIES AS KING ARTHUR

ITV's new streamer ITVX has announced cast for new epic TV series THE WINTER KING based on Bernard Cornwell’s Warlord Chronicles! It will follow Arthur Pendragon as he evolves from outcast to legendary warrior and leader. It is set in the 5th century long before Britain was united. In a land of

Iain de Caestecker is the new Arthur

warring factions and tribes when the world was brutal and lives were often fleeting. Featuring an exciting range of established names and new talent the cast includes: Iain De Caestecker stars as a young Arthur, who begins as an exiled bastard before becoming the greatest hope for Britain. Stuart Campbell is Derfel who transforms from left-for-dead orphan to the truest of all warlords. Ellie James is Nimue a priestess saved by Merlin because she can see the gods - he gives her power, wisdom and learning. Eddie Marsan is Uther, High King of all Dumnonia, old and battle tested. He commands incredible authority, over almost all, bar Merlin. Nathaniel Martello-White is Merlin, a politician, powerful, enlightened, and absolute. Fearless in the face of a King’s wrath he follows his connection

Stuart Campbell and Ellie James will star in the new series

to his Gods in all things. Daniel Ings is Owain one of Arthur’s closest childhood friends and like a son to High King Uther. Valene Kane is Morgan, Arthur’s half-sister and another bastard child of King Uther. She is a

Simon Merrells and Daniel Ings will also star in the series

sharp-tongued and independent minded pagan and student of Merlin. Simon Merrells is Gundleus, King of rival kingdom Siluria. Imposing and savage, Gundleus is prepared to slaughter whoever he needs to secure power.

   CHOCOLAT BECOMING  

A NEW FRENCH TV SERIES

It will be a French language series

After the 2000 movie adaptation, Joanne Harris's international bestseller CHOCOLAT will get a French TV series version as well from Miramax TV and Atlantique productions. The series, that will use both the books from Joanne's series and the film as its source material, will follow a woman and her daughter who settle down in a small town in modern-day France and disrupt the community’s social balance when they open a chocolate shop. Bill Block and Pierre-Antoine Capton will executive produce. And in other French series news, BBC Two will air Marie Antoinette during the holidays, while Foxtel is already streaming it down in Australia, with PBS releasing it in USA next March. PBS has also renewed Miss Scarlet and the Duke for fourth season today and it is already shooting over in Serbia!

NETFLIX ORDERS THE DECAMERON 14TH CENTURY SERIES BASED ON BOCCACCIO'S WORK! BERNARD CORNWELL'S THE WINTER KING WARLORD CHRONICLES TV SERIES ORDERED AT ITVX

 THE DECAMERON SERIES 

ORDERED AT NETFLIX

Netflix has ordered an eight episode series from Jenji Kohan and Kathleen Jordan loosely based on Boccaccio's THE DECAMERON! Set in 1348 when the Black Death, the deadliest pandemic in human history which killed as many as 200 million people, strikes hard in the city of Florence. A handful of nobles are invited to retreat with their servants to a grand villa in the Italian countryside and wait out the pestilence with a lavish holiday. But as social rules wear thin, what starts as a wine-soaked sex romp in the hills of Tuscany descends into an all out scramble for survival. The series examines the timely themes of class systems, power struggles and survival in a time of pandemic with a touch of levity, brought together by a charming and riotous ensemble of characters.

 WARLORD CHRONICLES 

SERIES ORDERED AT ITVX

Back in April I told you that Bernard Cornwell's Warlord Chronicles will be turned into a series and now we know it will be over at ITV's streamer ITVX. First book THE WINTER KING will be turned into a ten episode saga loosely based on the legend of King Arthur. Set in 5th century Britain, then still a landscape of warring nations, the story takes place in an era when life was brutal and fleeting. In this setting, a young Arthur Pendragon goes on a journey to become a warrior, which takes him from prodigal son to legendary leader. With Kate Brooke and Ed Whitmore adapting the books and Otto Bathurst directing, the shooting will start later this year. Epix is apparently no longer involved in the project, but the series will also air later on at regular ITV.

OTTO BATHURST TURNING BERNARD CORNWELL'S THE WINTER KING INTO ARTHURIAN EPIC TV SERIES. DEADLINE THRILLER SERIES STARTS TONIGHT WITH JAMES D'ARCY, CHARLIE MURPHY. SEA OF TRANQUILITY SF SERIES AT HBO

 WARLORD CHRONICLES 

TO BECOME EPIC TV SERIES

If you are wondering what on Earth will we watch after The Last Kingdom, don't worry as new medieval fun is coming up soon. As Variety reports,

The series is done by Sony Television

WARLORD CHRONICLES from Bernard Cornwell will be adapted by Bad Wolf into a ten episode THE WINTER KING series. The series, which will begin shooting this year in UK, presents a revisionist take on the Arthurian legends, circling around Arthur Pendragon as he evolves from outcast son to legendary warrior and leader. The books are set in the 5th century, long before Britain was united, in a land of warring factions and tribes when the world was brutal and lives were often fleeting. Halo's Otto Bathurst is coproducing and directing as well. The series, originally announced at Epix, is envisioned as having more seasons. 

  SEA OF TRANQUILITY  

TO GET TV ADAPTATION 

Television adaptation also awaits Emily St. John Mandel's novel SEA OF TRANQUILITY, whose Station Eleven you are currently

The book is out on your spy's birthday

watching on HBO, also for HBO Max. Out April 12th, it is a novel of art, time, love, and plague that takes the reader from Vancouver Island in 1912 to a dark colony on the moon three hundred years later, unfurling a story of humanity across centuries and space. When Gaspery Jacques Roberts, a detective in the black skied Night City, is hired to investigate an anomaly in the North American wilderness, he uncovers a series of lives upended: The exiled son of an earl driven to madness, a writer trapped far from home as a pandemic ravages Earth, and a childhood friend from the Night City who, like Gaspery himself, has glimpsed the chance to do something extraordinary that will disrupt the timeline of the universe.

 

  DEADLINE TV SERIES  

READY TO START TONIGHT

Starting from tonight, Tuesday April 5th, British Channel 5 will air their new thriller mini series DEADLINE in four consecutive nights. It follows elusive widow Natalie Varga (Charlie Murphy) who stands accused of murdering her husband in cold blood and the court of public opinion has already decided she’s guilty as charged. But Natalie is a difficult woman to get a handle on as she’s perfected the art of adapting to her surroundings. After surviving a traumatic childhood, Natalie studied at Cambridge University and having escaped her roots she’s become adept at switching from warm to aloof and from relatable to untouchable. James Aiden (James D’Arcy) is an investigative journalist with one serious black mark on his career copybook already. He’s now looking for redemption and decides to interview Natalie for his documentary. However he soon falls for the very femme fatale he’s supposed to be profiling and loses his grip on reality. Can James unravel fact from fiction or will his own feelings prove to be the barrier to the truth?

MEET THE CHARACTERS OF THE LAST KINGDOM EPIC TV SERIES SEASON 4 WHICH STREAMS FROM TODAY OVER AT NETFLIX

  'THE LAST KINGDOM'

ALL ABOUT THE EPIC SEASON 4

Season 4 streams on Netflix from today!

I don't want to be a wet blanket or frighten you, my spylings, but this could very well be the last of the big epic shows we will be able to see till Autumn if not even longer. As of today, you can stream the fourth season of everybody's favourite historical saga THE LAST KINGDOM over at Netflix. Unlike the first and second seasons which had just eight episodes, this one has ten of them just like the third season had, so you get more time to enjoy brave warrior Uhtred and his merry bunch of misfits.

The Last Kingdom
based on Bernard Cornwell’s The Saxon Stories series of novels set in the 10th century, will have its season four set after the death of King Alfred

Alexander Dreymon is brave Uhtred!

(David Dawson) with the alliances between the smaller kingdoms of old Anglia fractured. Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon) believes the timing is right to challenge his uncle Aelfric (played by Joseph Millson), and take back his ancestral home, Bebbanburg from which he was driven away in the first season. However fate shifts in a different direction, leading Uhtred to realise that his destiny is tied to Alfred’s dream of a united land. This, and Uhtred’s feelings for Alfred's daughter Aethelflaed (Millie Brady), drive him back into the politics that threaten to break out into war.

Uhtred's Trusted Followers

As before, Uhtred will be able to use the help of his courageous and also gorgeous friends, warriors Finan (played by Mark Rowley) and freshly married Sihtric (played by Arnas Fedaravičius) whose wife has been left in Wessex. Alfred's bastard son Osferth (Ewan Mitchell) is also still with them as a monk turned warrior.

The Kingdom of Wessex

With the sickly king Alfred now dead and his young and inexperienced son Edward (Timothy Innes) on the throne, Wessex has never been more vulnerable, which makes his mother, flimsy and often evil queen Aelswith (Eliza Butterworth) very nervous. Edward's sister Aethelflaed (Millie Brady) who is both the princess of Wessex and the queen of Mercia, will be Uhtred's love interest in this season.

The Kingdom of Mercia

Mercia is still ruled by treacherous and slimy King Aethelred (played by Toby Regbo) who is still married to Alfred's daughter, whom he wanted to kill in the previous season, but has a new love interest in lady Eadith (played by Stefanie Martini) the sister of his new right hand man Eardwulf (played by Jamie Blackley)!

Who Else Is Back With Us?

Beside his brave sidekicks Finan and Sihtric, Uhtred can still also count on his childhood guardian father Beocca (played by Ian Hart), who was a part of King Alfred's court but is now expelled from the crown’s inner circle because queen Aleswith does not trust him and is now also a widower after his wife was burned alive, and on the warrior nun Hild (played by Eva Birthistle). The new season will also bring us grown up Uhtred's daughter Stiorra (Ruby Hartley). Treacherous Dane Cnut is also back played by Magnus Bruun joined by Eysteinn Sigurdarson as Sigtryggr!

EPIX TO MAKE EPIC TV SERIES OUT OF BERNARD CORNWELL'S ARTHURIAN SAGA THE WINTER KING AND A COLUMN OF FIRE SEQUEL TO KEN FOLLETT'S PILLARS OF THE EARTH AND WORLD WITHOUT END

   EPIX TO MAKE EPIC SERIES

OUT OF THE WINTER KING AND A COLUMN OF FIRE NOVELS

Epix has announced a number of new projects that they will be developing in the future and among them is TV series adaptation of A COLUMN OF FIRE Elizabethan Era set novel from Ken Follett which follows his previous

Bad Wolf is producing The Winter King

two epic adaptations The Pillars of the World and World Without End, and also a TV series adaptation of THE WINTER KING Arthurian novels from another great epic writer Bernard Cornwell on whose works The Last Kingdom saga is based on.

Bad Wolf will produce the adaptation of Cornwell's trilogy of novels The Warlord Chronicles which consist of three books set in Arthurian Britain mixing history and legends THE WINTER KING, Enemy Of God and Excalibur. The protagonist of the series is Derfel Cadarn, a Saxon brought up as a Briton by Merlin, the greatest of all Druids. In the course of the story, he becomes a

A Column of Fire will be produced by Snowed In

great warrior and one of Arthur's warlords in his war against the Saxons. Derfel is one of Arthur's closest advisers and friends.

Meanwhile, A COLUMN OF FIRE from Ken Follett follows the romance between Ned Willard and Margery Fitzgerald beginning in 1558 and spanning half a century of political intrigue and turmoil as well as the political intrigue of the royal courts of England, France, and Scotland, and the oft-times violent conflict between supporters of the Catholic Church and the rising Protestant movement in the late 16th century. Unlike the two previous novels in this series, a large portion of the plot takes place outside the town of Kingsbridge, utilizing such far-flung settings as Paris, Seville, Geneva, Antwerp, and the Caribbean, and involving many major characters who have no direct connection with the town.

NETFLIX RELEASES FIRST PHOTOS FROM THE FOURTH SEASON OF THE LAST KINGDOM 9TH CENTURY EPIC SAGA AS JAMIE BLACKLEY, STEFANIE MARTINI JOIN ALEXANDER DREYMON

'THE LAST KINGDOM'

SEASON FOUR PHOTOS ARE IN

Good news, people: Netflix has released first photos of Alexander Dreymon in the fourth season of their super popular 9th century epic series THE LAST KINGDOM which is currently in production. Bad news: it seems

Alexander Dreymon returns to the role of Uhtred, the braves man in the kingdom

it won't air any time soon, but sometime next year. Alexander Dreymon is again playing Lord Uhtred of Bebanburg who, after the death of King Alfred of

The fourth season should be based on 2013 The Pagan Lord book

Wessex, will now have to lend his help and support to his son against his ruthless mother and her evil minions. As we've seen at the end of season three, she has no intention of respecting her late husband's final wish of Uhtred

The new season should arrive sometime in 2020

becoming the new king's right hand and the protector of the kingdom. The new ten episode season of the historical series is being shot over in Hungary.

Finan and Uhtred will get into new mischievous adventures no doubt

If the producers will stick to the Bernard Cornwell's books the new season should see Uhtred's grown up kids as well! Beside Mark Rowley, Ian Hart, Arnas Fedaravicius, Toby Regbo, Millie Brady and others in the old

Large battle scenes are being shoot near Budapest, Hungary

cast, we will also see Stefanie Martini as Eadith, Uhtred's new love, and always lovely Jamie Blackley as Aethelred’s new right hand Eardwulf.

DESTINY IS ALL! NETFLIX RENEWS THE LAST KINGDOM EPIC TV SAGA FOR SEASON FOUR WITH ALEXANDER DREYMON, DAVID DAWSON!

     'THE LAST KINGDOM' 

GETS SEASON 4 AT NETFLIX!

Oh, what wonderful news your trusted spy brings you in this prefestive weekend at the end of the year: Netflix has announced that they have

The third season is currently airing on Netflix

renewed their super popular historical saga THE LAST KINGDOM for the fourth season (I've heard rumours, but don't tell anyone, that they've actually secretly ordered the fifth season as well)! And you know what this means: you watched the third season, which is currently airing on Netflix, in great numbers! 

The third season was shot by Carnival Films without BBC as the co producer and has ten episodes instead of the usual eight. The season saw our hero, brave knight Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon) break his bonds with disrespectful King Alfred of Wessex (David Dawson) and also with his Danish brothers. Hopefully, the fans won't have to wait more than a year for the fourth season

The series has been a major success for the streaming network

like they did with the current one. So far, the writers have covered six novels of Bernard Cornwell’s 11 part saga the show is based upon. We can probably expect more battles for Uhtred and his merry gang of warriors and probably

Alexander Dreymon is portraying fearless Lord Uhtred in the epic TV series

not much peace for the courageous 10th century knight who still believes in his motto Destiny Is All! Will he finally win his father's land of Bebbanburg and become the lord of his own kingdom? Will he find yet another wife?

1ST TRAILER FOR NETFLIX' 'THE LAST KINGDOM' EPIC TV SERIES THIRD SEASON IS HERE WITH ALEXANDER DREYMON AND DAVID DAWSON!

   'THE LAST KINGDOM' SEASON 3

FIRST TRAILER IS FINALLY HERE!

It's here, arselings :) The first trailer for the third season of epic TV saga THE LAST KINGDOM is here! Netflix will air it November 19th with

The third season will start airing November 19th!

Alexander Dreymon returning as brave Uhtred of Bebamburgh! The series set in the 9th century when separate kingdoms were fighting against invading

New faces: Ola Rapace is Bloodhair!

Danes will also see David Dawson return as King Alfred. The series, now produced without BBC, only by Netflix, is again based on Bernard

New faces: Timothy Innes is Edward!

Cornwell's (who is set to appear in the series this season himself as one of the characters) popular historical mediaeval novels, this time the fifth and the

New faces: Thea Sofie Loch Naess is Skade!

sixth book in his Saxon Stories series - The Burning Land and Death of Kings!

Peri Baumeister is back as Uthred's wife Lady Gizela,  Eliza Butterworth

New faces: Magnus Bruun is Cnut!

as King's Alfred's evil queen Aelswith and Millie Brady as their daughter Princess Aethelflaed! Check out the first trailer below:

PREMIUM SPOTLIGHT ON THE 2ND SEASON OF MEDIAEVAL ADVENTURE SERIES 'THE LAST KINGDOM' WITH ALEXANDER DREYMON, DAVID DAWSON, TOBY REGBO! NEW CAST PHOTOS AND TRAILER!

 'THE LAST KINGDOM'

EPIC TV SERIES SECOND SEASON

Are you excited, people? The first epic television series to hit the small screens this spring will be the second season of the mediaeval adventure THE LAST KINGDOM which will start airing at BBC Two from March 16th and on Netflix around the world. The adaptation of Bernard Cornwell's epic novel saga The Saxon Stories will be based on the third and the fourth book The Lords of the North and Sword Song set in the emotionally complex and compelling landscape of revenge, rivalry, hostility, corruption, love, sex, loyalty and friendship! The new members of the cast include Richard Rankin, Toby Regbo, Peter McDonald, Mark Rowley, Arnas Fedaravichius and Millie Brady.

FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT
Set in the year 878, the second series returns as fearless and instinctive warrior Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon) continues his fight for his native land of Northumbria. Uhtred, having given his sword to King Alfred (David Dawson), despite his upbringing by the invading pagan Danes, embarks on his voyage north to reclaim his own fate: to avenge Earl Ragnar’s death and recapture his ancestral lands of Bebbanburg. Alfred’s conviction to create a united England is stronger than ever, and he sets his sights on the wild lands of the north, which have fallen into chaos and rebellion. It is a dangerous time for Saxon and Dane alike, but Alfred champions a new king - a Christian Dane - to unite the tribes. However, this king has been enslaved, and Uhtred becomes embroiled in a rescue mission, which brings him face to face with an enemy of old.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN EPISODE ONE

In the first episode of the second season  King Alfred’s conviction to unite the separate kingdoms of England is stronger than ever and he sets his sights on the wild lands of the north, which have fallen into the control of savage Dane brothers Sigefrid (Björn Bengtsson) and Erik (Christian Hillborg). Upon receiving word from Brother Trew (Richard Rankin) and Father Beocca (Ian Hart) about a prophesied new king in the form of Christian Dane Guthred, Alfred sends the priests on a rescue mission, weighted in silver to free Guthred from the hands of slave traders. Elsewhere, Uhtred still feels the loss of Iseult and, fearful that they are straying from their journey north, Hild (Eva Birthisle) takes matters into her own hands to advance their quest. While crossing paths with Father Beocca in Eoferwic, Uhtred finds himself embroiled in a rescue mission and is brought face to face with an enemy of old. As the team enter into dangerous territory, will the exchange of ransom go to plan? 

'THE LAST KINGDOM' EPIC TV SERIES SECOND SEASON TEASER WITH ALEXANDER DREYMON! GERARD BUTLER TO JOIN 'SNOW PONIES' ACTION ADVENTURE

GERARD BUTLER 

IS ONE OF THE 'SNOW PONIES'!

After he sunned his gorgeous Scottish self as Ancient deity Set in Gods of Egypt, Gerard Butler will now freeze his royal Spartan bum, if you excuse my French: as 'Deadline' reports today, he will star in SNOW PONIES snowy action adventure.

SNOW PONIES follows a crew of seven hardened men who travel across a vicious landscape to deliver a mysterious package. Met by murderous bandits and brutal obstacles at every turn, they are forced to choose between survival and honor, loyalty and deceit — all the while wondering what secrets their precious cargo might contain.

'THE LAST KINGDOM' 

SECOND SEASON EPIC TEASER

Well, here's a juicy mediaeval weekend treat for you: the first trailer, or better to say teasing teaser, for the long awaited second season of THE LAST KINGDOM epic TV series which is returning to BBC 2 and Netflix (instead of BBC America) this spring in ten new episodes. As you can see our young hero Uhtred (played by Alexander Dreymon) is very angry, hot as usual, and ready to avenge his family and those who did him wrong.

ON THE ROAD OF VENGEANCE
If you remember in the first season he helped King Alfred (magnificent David Dawson) to secure his throne only to ride off into sunset in order to find and save his missing and captured sister somewhere in the north regions of old Anglia and to reclaim his native land. Based on Bernard Cornwell's historical novels and set in the 9th century England, divided into warring kingdoms, the second season will see Uhtred continue on his road of vengeance, justice and redemption! Season two's cast will be enriched by Richard Rankin, Millie Brady as Princess Aethelflaed, Reign's Toby Regbo as Aethelred,