‘The Winter King’: Iain De Caestecker, Eddie Marsan & More Cast In ITVX Arthurian Legend Drama

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ITVX has announced the cast for ‘The Winter King‘, their upcoming “re-imagined” Arthurian legend series based on Bernard Cornwell’s Warlord Chronicles.

A bold and revisionist take on the well-loved Arthurian Legends, ‘The Winter King’ follows Arthur Pendragon as he evolves from outcast to legendary warrior and leader. The drama is 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.

Iain De Caestecker (‘The Control Room’, ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D’) leads the cast as a young Arthur, who begins as an exiled bastard before becoming the greatest hope for Britain. Eddie Marsan (‘The Thief, His Wife and The Canoe’, ‘Ray Donovan’) plays Uther, High King of all Dumnonia, old and battle-tested. He commands incredible authority, over almost all, bar Merlin.

The drama also stars Nathaniel Martello-White (‘Small Axe’, ‘I Hate Suzie’) as Merlin, a politician, powerful, enlightened, and absolute. Fearless in the face of a King’s wrath he follows his connection to his Gods in all things; Ellie James (‘Giri/Haji’, ‘I May Destroy You’) as Nimue a priestess saved by Merlin because she can see the gods – he gives her power, wisdom and learning; Stuart Campbell (‘SAS Rogue Heroes’, ‘Clique’) as Derfel who transforms from a left-for-dead orphan to the truest of all warlords; Daniel Ings (‘I Hate Suzie’, ‘The Crown’) as Owain one of Arthur’s closest childhood friends and like a son to High King Uther; Valene Kane (‘The Fall’, ‘Gangs of London’) as Morgan, Arthur’s half-sister and another bastard child of King Uther. She is a sharp-tongued and independent-minded pagan and student of Merlin; And Simon Merrells (‘Good Omens’, ‘Knightfall’) as Gundleus, King of the rival kingdom Siluria. Imposing and savage, Gundleus is prepared to slaughter whoever he needs to secure power.

The series comes from Kate Brooke (‘Bancroft’, ‘A Discovery of Witches’, ‘Mr Selfridge’) and Ed Whitmore (‘Manhunt’, ‘Silent Witness’, ‘Viewpoint’) who will adapt Bernard Cornwell’s Warlord Chronicles. They also Executive Produce alongside Otto Bathurst (‘Halo’, ‘Peaky Blinders’, ‘His Dark Materials’) who will be the lead director and Executive Produce with Toby Leslie. Executive Producers are Julie Gardner, Lachlan MacKinnon, Sherry Marsh, Shelley Browning and Kenneth Browning and the drama is produced by Catrin Lewis Defis.

Produced by Bad Wolf (‘A Discovery of Witches’, ‘His Dark Materials’, ‘Doctor Who’) in association with Bathurst’s One Big Picture and distributed by Sony Pictures Television, ‘The Winter King’ has been commissioned for ITVX by Head of Drama, Polly Hill. Polly will oversee the commission on behalf of the channel.

‘The Winter King‘ does not yet have a premiere date, but filming has begun in Wales and the West Country and will premiere on ITVX in the UK. If you want to keep track of this or any other show, you can add it via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date.