Guy Ritchie & Charlie Hunnam’s $148M Movie Finds New Streaming Home After Shared Universe Fiasco

In 2017, Guy Ritchie and Charlie Hunnam collaborated on a grand film. After initially struggling to establish a shared universe for this movie, it has found a new platform for streaming. Charlie Hunnam gained prominence as Jax Teller in the critically acclaimed crime drama TV show “Sons of Anarchy,” which enjoyed a successful run for seven seasons. Even during his time on “Sons of Anarchy,” Hunnam took on roles like those in Guillermo del Toro’s science fiction monster film “Pacific Rim” and the gothic romance movie “Crimson Peak,” both directed by del Toro. Following his departure from the world of Charming and motorcycles, Hunnam starred in these films.

Following his stint on “Sons of Anarchy”, Hunnam primarily delved into film roles. After collaborating with Del Toro, he appeared in the adventure drama “The Lost City of Z” and Guy Ritchie’s “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword”. More recently, Hunnam portrayed Kai in “Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire”, and is slated to star as Ed Gein in Ryan Murphy’s “Monster” season 3. To date, Hunnam hasn’t been involved in a shared cinematic universe, though he nearly was with “King Arthur” in 2017; unfortunately, it didn’t take off and missed the opportunity to establish an intriguing shared universe.

Guy Ritchie & Charlie Hunnam’s King Arthur Movie Was Supposed To Launch A Shared Universe

There Were Big Plans For King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword

Drawing influence from Arthurian tales, Guy Ritchie’s film King Arthur: Legend of the Sword focuses on its titular hero, portrayed by Hunnam, as he confronts the villainous King Vortigern, played by Jude Law. Vortigern aims to eliminate Arthur due to a bitter familial rivalry, as Arthur is his nephew and the true king by right of lineage. Boasting an intriguing plot, talented director, distinguished cast, and striking visuals, King Arthur unfortunately faced both commercial and critical failure, causing significant repercussions for its planned future. The film was intended to initiate a shared cinematic universe, encompassing six movies.

The concept behind the planned King Arthur cinematic universe drew inspiration from the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s success, aiming to replicate its format. However, similar to other attempts, it failed to achieve the same level of success. Along the way, the production of King Arthur encountered several hurdles during its pre-production phase. Warner Bros. endeavored to create a fresh take on the Arthurian legend, but their efforts were unsuccessful until they devised a plan for a shared universe comprising six movies. As reported by The Telegraph, this plan intended for each movie to focus on distinct characters, eventually leading to their collaboration, much like how the MCU has approached its storytelling.

Although it attempted to create sequels, spinoffs, and an extensive universe, King Arthur failed to achieve the necessary success to expand further. With a worldwide gross of $148.7 million against a production budget of $175 million, it became one of the biggest box office flops of the decade. Consequently, plans for a shared universe were abandoned, and the project was among Ritchie’s least memorable works.

What Happened To King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword: Why It Flopped

King Arthur Didn’t Live Up To Its Potential

The film titled “King Arthur” was both a commercial and critical disappointment, falling short of its budget and receiving only a 31% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes compared to a 69% score from the popcornmeter. Despite being commended for its action sequences and Jude Law’s performance, it had more weaknesses than strengths. Critics often felt that Ritchie’s visual and storytelling approach was mismatched with the Arthurian legend, and the alterations to the narrative proved unhelpful.

One significant point of contention was the lack of depth in the characters and the slow tempo of the movie, making it difficult for viewers to relate to them. The characters were perceived as being too plain and insufficiently developed. Additionally, alterations to the plot were deemed dull, unnecessary, and even disrespectful to the original story. Many critics simply stated that the film wasn’t a good fit for Guy Ritchie. In simpler terms, King Arthur failed to captivate audiences as a strong foundation for a shared universe, and it became one of the major disappointments of the decade.

Legend Of The Sword Could’ve Been Better, But It’s Still A Fun King Arthur Movie

King Arthur Achieves Its Goal Of Being Entertaining

Although King Arthur didn’t live up to expectations as an interpretation of the Arthurian legend, it effectively embodied the signature style of director Guy Ritchie. Known for his fast-paced action, a blend of drama and suspense, and sometimes lacking in character development, these elements are all evident in King Arthur. While the story may not perfectly align with the setting or legend at times, overall, it’s an enjoyable movie. Despite its aspirations for a larger cinematic universe, King Arthur didn’t have a long-lasting impact, but that doesn’t diminish its entertainment value.

Read More

2025-05-01 15:39