Will Johnson
Last year we saw Netflix release David MacKenzie’s historical drama Outlaw/King, which followed Scotsman Robert the Bruce (Chris Pine) and his war against the English. Historically, Robert’s war campaign followed the capture and subsequent torture/death of William Wallace. Thus, Outlaw/King existed as a spiritual sequel, of sorts, to Braveheart, taking place only days after that film’s climax.
This year, Netflix is rolling out another royal historical drama, this time looking at Henry V, a figure most memorable perhaps from his depictions on stage (with Shakespeare’s play Henry V) and screen (with Kenneth Branagh’s directorial debut adaptation of the same play). While Chris Pine lent superstar cred to Outlaw/King, The King enters prestige territory with critical darling and Oscar nominee Timothée Chalamet in the lead role.
The synopsis for the film:
“Hal (Timothée Chalamet), wayward prince and reluctant heir to the English throne, has turned his back on royal life and is living among the people. But when his tyrannical father dies, Hal is crowned King Henry V and is forced to embrace the life he had previously tried to escape. Now the young king must navigate the palace politics, chaos and war his father left behind, and the emotional strings of his past life — including his relationship with his closest friend and mentor, the ageing alcoholic knight, John Falstaff (Joel Edgerton). Directed by David Michôd and co-written by Michôd and Edgerton, THE KING co-stars Sean Harris, Ben Mendelsohn, Robert Pattinson, and Lily-Rose Depp.”
The King had a limited release in theaters earlier in October and debuted at the Venice Film Festival in September. Via Netflix, The King will be available to stream on November 1st. Please see www.netflix.com/theking for more information on this release.
THE KING
Release Date: November 1, 2019
Directed By: David Michôd
Written By: David Michôd and Joel Edgerton
Produced By: Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Liz Watts, David Michôd and Joel Edgerton
Director of Photography: Adam Arkapaw
Production Designer: Fiona Crombie
Editor: Peter Sciberras
Costume Designer: Jane Petrie
Music By: Nicholas Britell
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Joel Edgerton, Sean Harris, Tom Glynn-Carney, Lily-Rose Depp, Thomasin McKenzie with Robert Pattinson and Ben Mendelsohn
