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King & Conqueror
2025 historical drama television series From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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King & Conqueror is a historical drama television series created by Michael Robert Johnson for BBC One and starring James Norton as Harold Godwinson and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as William the Conqueror, depicting the events leading up to the Norman Conquest of England. It premiered on 24 August 2025.
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Premise
In 11th-century Britain, the King of England, Harold Godwinson, faces a threat to his throne from an ambitious Norman, William.[1]
Cast and characters
Main
- James Norton as Harold Godwinson
- Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as William the Conqueror
- Emily Beecham as Edith
- Clémence Poésy as Matilda
- Geoff Bell as Godwin
- Clare Holman as Gytha
- Ingvar Sigurdsson as Fitzosbern
- Elliot Cowan as Sweyn
- Luther Ford as Tostig
- Bo Bragason as Queen Gunhild
- Bjarne Henriksen as Earl Siward
- Jean-Marc Barr as Henry I of France
- Léo Legrand as Odo
- Juliet Stevenson as Lady Emma
- Eddie Marsan as King Edward
- Oliver Masucci as Baldwin
Supporting
- Elander Moore as Morcar
- Calum Sivyer as Tallifer
- Vigdís Hrefna Pálsdóttir as Cécile
- Jason Forbes as Thane Thomas
- Joakim Nätterqvist as Thorolf
- Indy Lewis as Margaret
- Sveinn Geirsson as Baron Montgomery
- Valdimar Örn Flygenring as Baron George
- Björgvin Franz Gíslason as Baron Richard
- Ines Asserson as Judith
- Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson as Hardrada
- Stormur Jón Kormákur Baltasarsson as Alain of Brittany
- Þorsteinn Bachmann as Baron of Brittany
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Episodes
Production
Summarize
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The series premiere is set to be directed by Baltasar Kormákur. Other episodes will be helmed by Erik Leijonborg and Bálint Szentgyörgyi.[3] James Norton is an executive producer through Rabbit Track Pictures and stars as Harold Godwinson. Other executive producers include Kormákur for RVK Studios, Robert Taylor for the Development Partnership, Dave Clarke and Richard Halliwell for Shepherd Content, Ed Clarke, Robert Jones, and CBS Studios' Lindsey Martin.[4] Also in November 2023, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau was announced to portray William the Conqueror.[5] Norton initially wanted to portray William, but due to contract restrictions from his role in HBO's The Nevers, he took the part of Harold, as HBO only permitted him to take on a character written to die.[6]
In March 2024, Clémence Poésy and Emily Beecham joined the series.[7] Later that month, the cast was rounded out to include Eddie Marsan, Juliet Stevenson, Bo Bragason, Luther Ford, and Joseph Mawle, amongst others.[8] In July 2024, it was announced that Ingvar Sigurdsson had taken over the role of Fitzosbern from Mawle.[9] Further cast members were revealed, including Elander Moore, Indy Lewis, Jason Forbes, Ines Asserson, Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson, and Léo Legrand.[10]
Filming began in March 2024 in Iceland,[11][12] at locations that included Heiðmörk and around Reykjavík.[13] It wrapped up in July 2024.[14] During production, Norton was injured while on set after falling from his horse.[15]
In discussing the series, Norton stated that, "I wasn't aware of the relationship Harold and William had before the battle, that they were friends and allies for many years before they realised that, because of the way Europe was being carved up, they would both inevitably end up on a battlefield — and one of them would have to die."[16] He also noted that the show portrays the participants of both sides in a fair light and as equals.[17] Waldau described the programme as being partly fictionalised, with some characters and events created for dramatic purposes.[18]
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Broadcast
The series premiered on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the United Kingdom on 24 August 2025.[19][20] Paramount Global Content Distribution will handle worldwide distribution.[21] In August 2025, Paramount announced that it had sold the series to various broadcasters, including Amazon Prime Video in the United States; HBO Max in the Nordics, Iberia, Southeast Asia, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, and Taiwan; SBS in Australia; Jiohotstar in India; Showcase and StackTV in Canada; M-Net in Africa; Streamz and Be TV in Belgium; Cosmote TV in Greece; yes and Hot in Israel; Sky in New Zealand; and LRT in Lithuania.[22]
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See also
References
External links
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