The Last Kingdom (2015): serie tv BBC2/BBC AMERICA sui sassoni e i vichinghi

BBC America, 'Downton Abbey' Maker to Co-Produce Historical Drama 'Last Kingdom'




Gareth Neame

The adaptation of Bernard Cornwell's best-selling book series The Saxon Stories, which has drawn comparisons to "Game of Thrones," will air on BBC Two in the U.K.






LONDON – U.K. public broadcaster BBC said Wednesday that is has ordered historical drama The Last Kingdom for its BBC Two network.

The co-production between Downton Abbey producer Carnival Films, owned by NBCUniversal, and BBC America is an adaptation of Bernard Cornwell's best-selling book series The Saxon Stories. BAFTA-nominated writer Stephen Butchard is adapting the books, which have drawn comparisons with Game of Thrones.

Production on eight hourlong episodes is set to begin in the fall.

Cornwell is also known for his Sharpe novels that became a long-running TV series of the same name starring Sean Bean.

Set in the year 872, when many of the separate kingdoms of what is now England have fallen to the invading Vikings, the series is about the kingdom of Wessex that has been left standing alone and defiant under the command of King Alfred the Great.

Protagonist Uhtred is the son of a Saxon nobleman and orphaned by the Vikings and then kidnapped and raised as one of their own. "Forced to choose between the country of his birth and the people of his upbringing, his loyalties are ever tested," according to a show description. "What is he — Saxon or Viking? On a quest to claim his birthright, Uhtred must tread a dangerous path between both sides if he is to play his part in the birth of a new nation and, ultimately, seek to recapture his ancestral lands."

Carnival's Gareth Neame, Nigel Marchant and Butchard will serve as executive producers, with Nick Murphy (Prey, Occupation) co-executive producing and directing multiple episodes. Chrissy Skinns (Mr Selfridge) is producing the show.

"Cornwell's Saxon novels combine historical figures and events with fiction in an utterly compelling way," said Neame.

Said Ben Stephenson, controller, BBC drama commissioning: "I hope The Last Kingdom will expand BBC Two's distinctive portfolio of drama. It's an epic narrative with an extraordinary creative team. It will feel like nothing else on television, with all of the scale and intrigue of the best fantasy stories but the reality of fact."

Alexander Dreymon Lands Lead In BBC America Series ‘The Last Kingdom’
Historical drama The Last Kingdom has found its lead. I have learned that Alexander Dreymon (American Horror Story: Coven) has been tapped for the role of Uhtred in the eight-hour Game Of Thrones-esque epic series for BBC America and BBC2. From Downton Abbey producer Carnival Films, ninth century-set The Last Kingdom is based on Bernard Cornwell’s book series The Saxon The last kingdom book coverStories. It combines real historical figures and events with fictional characters during the reign of Alfred the Great, who as King of the-last-kingdom fought off a Viking invasion. The series’ protagonist and hero is Uhtred (Dreymon). When his noble Saxon parents are killed by the Vikings, the marauders kidnap him and raise him as one of their own. Forced to choose between the country of his birth and the people of his upbringing, his loyalties are continually tested. Dreymon, repped by Gersh, Silver Lining Entertainment, Independent Talent in the UK, and attorneys Carlos Goodman and Greg Slewett, recently wrapped the independent prison drama Heartlock, now in post-production.

ALEXANDER DREYMON JOINED BY

MATTHEW MACFADYEN, RUTGER HAUER IN 'THE LAST KINGDOM'
In TV news, BBC has announced the whole cast for their historical series THE LAST KINGDOM! I told you two months ago that, in the show set during the reign of Alfred the Great, who as King of Wessex fought off a Viking invasion, Alexander Dreymon will play Uhtred, who was born the son of a Saxon nobleman but is orphaned by the Vikings and then kidnapped and raised as one of their own. Forced to choose between the country of his birth and the people of his upbringing, his loyalties are ever tested. On a quest to claim his birthright, Uhtred must tread a dangerous path between both sides if he is to play his part in the birth of a new nation and, ultimately, recapture his ancestral lands. Matthew MacFadyen, Rutger Hauer, Ian Hart, David Dawson, Tobias Santelmann, will also star!

A new historical 8 x 60” drama series, The Last Kingdom is an adaptation of Bernard Cornwell’s best-selling series of books “The Saxon Stories”, by BAFTA nominated and RTS award-winning writer Stephen Butchard. The production films in Hungary and the UK.

Alexander Dreymon (American Horror Story, Blood Ransom) heads up the cast, which also includes Rutger Hauer (True Blood, Blade Runner), David Dawson (Ripper Street, Road to Coronation Street), Emily Cox (The Silent Mountain, Circle of Life), Matthew Macfadyen (Anna Karenina, MI-5), Ian Hart (Boardwalk Empire, The Bridge), Tobias Santelmann (Kon-Tiki, Hercules-The Thracian Wars), Thomas W. Gabrielsson (A Royal Affair, The Killing III), Peter Gantzler (A-klassen, Italian For Beginners), Joseph Millson (Penny Dreadful, 24:Live Another Day), Alexandre Willaume (Deadline, Over the Edge), Rune Temte (Ulykken, Johan Falk: Organizatsija Karayan), and Henning Valin Jakobsen (The Bridge, The Killing). Young cast members include Tom Taylor, Jocelyn Macnab and Madeleine Power.

9th century AD; many of the separate kingdoms of what we now know as England have fallen to the invading Vikings, only the great Kingdom of Wessex stands defiant under its visionary King Alfred the Great (Dawson). It is the last kingdom. Against this turbulent backdrop lives our hero, Uhtred (Dreymon), born the son of a Saxon nobleman, he is orphaned by the Vikings and then kidnapped and raised as one of theirown. Forced to choose between the country of his birth and the people of his upbringing, his loyalties are ever tested. What is he - Saxon or Viking? On a quest to claim his birthright, Uhtred must tread a dangerous path between both sides if he is to play his part in the birth of a new nation and, ultimately, recapture his ancestral lands.

The Last Kingdom, made by Carnival Films (Downton Abbey), is a show of heroic deeds and epic battles but with a thematic depth that embraces politics, religion, warfare, courage, love, loyalty and our universal search for identity. Combining real historical figures and events with fictional characters, it is the story of how a people combined their strength under one of the most iconic kings of history in order to reclaim their land for themselves and build a place they call home.

Gareth Neame, Nigel Marchant and Stephen Butchard will serve as Executive Producers with Nick Murphy (Prey, Occupation) co-executive producing and directing multiple episodes. Chrissy Skinns (Mr. Selfridge, Marchlands) will produce the show. Commissioned by Ben Stephenson, Controller of BBC Drama Commissioning, the Commissioning Editor is Polly Hill for the BBC. Richard De Croce, SVP Programming, will oversee the series for BBC AMERICA.

“Cornwell's Saxon novels combine historical figures and events with fiction in an utterly compelling way,” says Gareth Neame. “In the hands of Stephen Butchard we believe it willmake original and engrossing television drama. In part the epic quest of our hero Uhtred, it is also a fascinating re-telling of the tale of King Alfred the Great and how he united the many separate kingdoms on this island into what would become England. Our cast has been drawn together from eight different European countries, providing us with the unique opportunity to create a truly international show, tap into a rich seam of talent, and bringthem to a new global audience.”

Kim Shillinglaw, Controller of BBC Two adds: "BBC Two has a great reputation for distinctive, surprising drama - I'm delighted we are doing The Last Kingdom, an epic piece from a highly regarded creative team."

Ben Stephenson, Controller of Drama Commissioning, BBC, says, “I hope The Last Kingdom will expand BBC Two’s distinctive portfolio of drama. It’s an epic narrative with an extraordinary creative team. It will feel like nothing else on television, with all of the scale and intrigue of the best fantasy stories but the reality of fact.”

John Lunn has been tapped to score the upcoming historical drama series The Last Kingdom. The show stars Alexander Dreymon, Rutger Hauer, David Dawson, Emily Cox, Matthew Macfadyen, Ian Hart, Tobias Santelmann, Thomas W. Gabrielsson, Peter Gantzler, Joseph Millson, Alexandre Willaume, Rune Temte and Henning Valin Jakobsen. The 8-parter based on Bernard Cornwell’s best-selling novels The Saxon Stories is set during the reign of Alfred the Great, who as King of Wessex fought off a Viking invasion and follows the son of a Saxon nobleman who is orphaned by the Vikings and then kidnapped and raised as one of their own. Stephen Butchard has adapted the material for the small screen. Nick Murphy (The Awakening, Blood) is directing multiple episodes and is also executive producing the BBC America, BBC Two and Carnival Films production with Butchard, Gareth Neame (Rome) and Nigel Marchant. Lunn is also scoring the hit drama Downton Abbey for Carnival Films and the producers, for which he received two Emmy Awards. The show just had its fifth season premiere in the U.S. last night on PBS. The Last Kingdom is expected to air later in 2015.