James Norton reveals gruesome details about new show King & Conqueror

James Norton is all set to return to screens as he is readying up for his next big period drama King & Conqueror. As the actor stars in the show as Harold Godwinson, the last crowned Anglo-Saxon English king, he delved in deeper about his role on the show, revealing gruesome details on what shooting for it was like.

The series, shot in Iceland, went through cinematography in difficult physical conditions. Speaking to a crowd during the show's London screening, the actor said,

“I was covered in mud and blood and layers of leather, it was a brutal shoot...It took me hours every day to get ready because I had layer after layer of leather and chain mail. It paid dividends because you can see everything is so authentic."

The show is partly being directed by Baltasar Kormákur, who is known for his array of indie films. Norton expressed his appreciation for the director for helping the film to be such an authentic portrayal of the period it's adapting. The actor also added how Kormákur had a hand in elaborating on the gore in the show, and how it ended up contributing a lot to the project.

“He had a very clear vision around the tone and the aesthetic – from the very beginning he wanted to avoid this being a clean, cozy period drama."

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More details on King & Conqueror

King & Conqueror follows the tale of a conflict that has historic significance and shaped a nation's and a continent's destiny for a millennium. Its origins go back decades and are traced to two intertwined family dynasties that fought for control of two nations. The show will tell the story of Harold of Wessex and William of Normandy, who fought over the British monarchy driven by their passion for the reign and the crown. Production for the show started in March 2024 and ended in July 2024.

Michael Robert Johnson is the creator and executive producer of King & Conqueror, while Lindsey Martin of CBS Studios, Dave Clarke and Richard Halliwell of Shepherd Content, James Norton and Kitty Kaletsky of Rabbit Track Pictures, Baltasar Kormákur of RVK Studios, Robert Taylor of The Development Partnership, and Ed Clarke and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau also serve as producers for their respective studio. Baltasar will only direct the premiere episode and will be the showrunner for the episodes that follow.

Paramount Global Content Distribution is distributing the series outside of the UK, while the BBC has the rights in the UK. King & Conqueror will debut on BBC iPlayer and BBC One this year. A specific release date has not been revealed as of yet.