James Norton opens up on nerves ahead of King and Conqueror role

As a seasoned cinephile with a penchant for historical epics and a soft spot for British television, I can hardly contain my excitement over James Norton’s upcoming projects in 2025. The fact that he’ll be playing Harold, Earl of Wessex in the long-awaited series “King and Conqueror” is nothing short of a dream come true.

Following his role in the Netflix film “Joy,” James Norton currently has numerous intriguing projects lined up, including potential appearances in up to three major television series slated for release in 2025, with Happy Valley’s star being one of them.

In January, he’ll start off by playing the lead role in an ITV psychological thriller titled Playing Nice on TV. Later in the year, you can catch him in Steven Knight’s Netflix series, House of Guinness, which has already finished filming.

However, among his many projects, it seems that the historical epic series “King and Conqueror” holds a special place in Norton’s affections. In this production, he will portray Harold, Earl of Wessex, opposite Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, well-known for his role in Game of Thrones, who will play William, Duke of Normandy.

He clarified that the creation of the show was quite an experience for him since he was also responsible for its production. In fact, he’s been working on it for approximately six to seven years, and throughout this time, there have been numerous discussions with directors, writers, and meetings. It has indeed been a lengthy process.

He mentioned that the concept for the show, originally proposed by its lead writer, Michael Robert Johnson, was first presented to him seven years prior. It had been awe-inspiring for him to witness its evolution, from that initial meeting with a single A4 pitch sheet, to eventually being on a mountain in Iceland, where the Saxon and Norman armies were confronting each other.

He added: “That’s another tale, surprisingly, that hasn’t been portrayed on screen before. There’s never been a Battle of Hastings movie. So, yes, it’s thrilling, it’s thrilling. I’m so pleased. And by the way, we’re actually in the process of editing it.

At this moment, we’re wrapping up the second part of the series. We’ve got a good lead and some thrilling sequences that are keeping us on our toes.

Absolutely! I’m thrilled about it and can hardly contain my excitement as I eagerly anticipate its unveiling. However, I must admit, the pressure is immense given the significance of this venture, but the long road we’ve traveled has brought us here.

Previously this month, fresh visuals unveiled Norton and Coster-Waldau portraying their roles, presenting scenes of them side by side, separately, and in a combat setting.

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I’d rephrase it like this: “I find myself immersed in a captivating series that unfolds the events leading up to the fateful encounter between two men at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. These two individuals, initially allies with no aspirations for the British throne, are compelled by fate and personal passion to wage a war over the crown’s possession.

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2024-12-19 15:34