Category: Series

The Winter King: First Look & US Home

Iain De Caestecker as Arthur Pendragon and Nathaniel Martello-White as Merlin

ITVX has finally revealed a first look at The Winter King, the new series based on Bernard Cornwell‘s Warlord Chronicles, “a bold and revisionist take on well-loved Arthurian legends” which is set to be released later this year on the new British streaming service.

Deadline further announced that MGM+ has boarded the 10-part adaptation and will launch the series on Sunday, 20 August 2023 in the USA. MGM+ Head Michael Wright described The Winter King as a “cinematic and imaginative reinterpretation of the Arthurian legend.”

Jordan Alexandra as Guinevere, Emily John as Ceinwyn, Iain De Caestecker as Arthur Pendragon

The Winter King is set in the fifth century, long before Britain was united, in a brutal land of warring factions and tribes, where lives were often fleeting. The series follows Arthur Pendragon as he evolves from outcast to legendary warrior and leader.

Filming took place in Wales and the West Country between August 2022 and January 2023. Otto Bathurst (His Dark Materials, Peaky Blinders) serves as lead director and executive producer, alongside Toby Leslie. Bernard Cornwell’s original material was adapted for the small screen by adapted by Kate Brooke (A Discovery Of Witches, Medici) and Ed Whitmore (Manhunt) for Bad Wolf Productions.

Stuart Campbell as Derfel, Ellie James as Nimue

The series stars Iain De Caestecker as Arthur Pendragon, alongside Eddie Marsan as High King Uther, Ellie James as Nimue, Nathaniel Martello-White as Merlin, Stuart Campbell as Derfel, Daniel Ings as Owain, Valene Kane as Morgan, Jordan Alexandra as Guinevere and Simon Merrells as Gundleus. 

The ensemble cast also features Steven Elder as Bishop Bedwin, Andrew Gower as Sansum, Aneirin Hughes as Gorfydd, Emily John as Ceinwyn, Tatjana Nardone as Ladwyss, Ken Nwosu as Sagramor, and Billy Postlethwaite as Cadwys.

Iain De Caestecker as Arthur Pendragon, Eddie Marsan as High King Uther

(Photo credit: ITVX)

The Last Kingdom star shares advice for The Winter King cast

Alexander Dreymon as Uhtred of Bebbanburg in Netflix’s The Last Kingdom

As the Netflix hit series The Last Kingdom has come to a final conclusion with the release of the film Seven Kings Must Die, it is time for the cast to pass on the torch to the next adaptation. The Winter King is a 10-part returning series based on the best-selling Warlord Chronicles, a re-telling of the Arthurian legend, by The Last Kingdom author Bernard Cornwell.

In a recent interview with Radio Times Alexander Dreymon, who played The Last Kingdom‘s lead character Uhtred of Bebbanburg, gave some advice to the actors following in his footsteps:

I would say, if there’s any chance for him to meet with and hang out with Bernard Cornwell, I would jump on that chance. First of all, he’s such a wonderful man and great fun to hang out with, but he’s [also] such a wealth of resources. And to build your character, it is such a luxury to have him in your corner.

Radio Times

The Winter King is produced by Bad Wolf for ITVX and is expected to hit the British streaming service in late 2023 / early 2024. The cast includes Iain De Caestecker (Arthur), Jordan Alexandra (Guinevere) and Stuart Campbell (Derfel Cadarn).

Twitter user @todbristol shared this first look at Andrew Gower who plays Sansum the Priest, a character who Andrew described as “the Bill Gates of Christianity. He starts out as a nobody with just a seedling of an idea and, I think to a lot of people’s surprise, he becomes a somebody.” (Book of Man Interview)

Carnival Row 2×08 Facta Non Verba

Carnival Row 2×08 Facta Non Verba

Imogen (Tamzin Merchant), Agreus (David Gyasi) and Ezra (Andrew Gower) have escaped the fighting in Ragusa. Since their boat was destroyed in the attack, they are now trying to reach The Burgue by land. They have to cross Pact land and Ezra suggests to seek help from Pact soldiers as their two countries are now allies, but Imogen rejects his proposal because it’s risking Agreus’s life. 

Their hike brings some secrets to light as Ezra reveals to Agreus why his sister was still unmarried when he met her. Agreus’ dark past is also exposed and proves to be even more sinister than that of the siblings. When the trio come across a group of Pact soldiers, Ezra attempts to force his sister and her lover to surrender. A fight ensues trying to disarm and silence him and Ezra is killed.

Soon after, Imogen and Agreus are captured by New Dawn soldiers and taken to Kastor (George Georgiou) and Leonora (Joanne Whalley), who offers them a deal: As a Burgish citizen of good standing and property, Imogen has the right to speak in front of Parliament. Leonora tells them to deliver a peace treaty to The Burgue on behalf of New Dawn.

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Carnival Row 2×07 Kindred

Carnival Row 2×07 Kindred

Imogen (Tamzin Merchant) and Agreus (David Gyasi) have fully endorsed comrade life and celebrate the anniversary of New Dawn whole-heartedly – or so it seems. In truth Imogen is only distracting Kastor (George Georgiou) in order to help Agreus and her brother Ezra (Andrew Gower) sneak away. Their escape plans are thwarted, however, when the Pact attacks Ragusa, and they are left fighting for their survival.

Because the Pact is now at war with New Dawn, they withdraw their troops from the land of the fae, Tirnanoc – good news for all the fae still on lockdown in Carnival Row. The prospect of leaving The Burgue lifts everyone’s spirit including Vignette (Cara Delevingne) and Tourmaline’s (Karla Crome). Philo (Orlando Bloom) has an idea and joins Runyan Millworthy (Simon McBurney) at the chancellor’s funeral to seek his help.

The fae are in high spirits while they get ready to return to their homeland Tirnanoc. Vignette convinces Philo to leave The Burgue with her and Tourmaline, who fails to persuade Darius (Ariyon Bakare). Tensions are rising as large crowds of Burgish people line the streets shouting insults and throwing objects at the fae. When they finally reach the harbour about to board the ships that will take them home, all hell breaks lose.

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Carnival Row 2×06 Original Sins

Carnival Row 2×06 Original Sins

Imogen (Tamzin Merchant) and Agreus (David Gyasi) argue about life in Ragusa: Imogen claims she’s happy living under the New Dawn rule and Agreus reluctantly promises to make an effort for her sake. However, after Kastor (George Georgiou) invites them to a party in the evening, the two lovers have a private moment and their true plans are revealed: they intend to escape by hiding in a supply ship which leaves that night.

When Agreus is summoned to New Dawn leader Leonora (Joanne Whalley), he is surprised to see Imogen’s brother Ezra (Andrew Gower), bound and blind-folded. Leonora hands Agreus a gun and leaves him with the decision to kill his brother-in-law or let him live.

In a flashback to the war in Tirnanoc, we meet the kind of creatures who are currently terrorizing The Burgue: Sparas are shape-shifters that are supposed to be extinct for centuries. One of them saves Philo’s (Orlando Bloom) life but later he is ordered to destroy their valley. In the present, Dombey (Jamie Harris) and Berwick seek Philo’s help to find the Sparas who they suspect to be behind all recent killings.

Vignette (Cara Delevingne) is shocked about Tourmaline’s (Karla Crome) visions and tries to persuade her former lover to run away with her. When Kaine (Jay Ali) and Phaedra (Eve Ponsonby) try to convince her to re-join the Black Raven, Vignette must make a decision.

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Tamzin Merchant & Andrew Gower – Carnival Row (Starry Mag)

Carnival Row‘s Spurnrose siblings Tamzin Merchant (Imogen) and Andrew Gower (Ezra) spoke to Starry Mag‘s editor Jamie Steinberg about their roles in Season 2 of the neo-noir fantasy drama.

Tamzin Merchant and Andrew Gower have previously worked on independent feature film Running Naked and (so far unreleased) short film Ark. Tamzin Merchant also served as an assistant producer for Gustaffson‘s video “The Jacaranda“.

Watch the interview below:

Carnival Row 2×04 An Unkindness of Ravens

Carnival Row 2×04 An Unkindness of Ravens

Mr Agreus (David Gyasi) and Imogen (Tamzin Merchant) start their life in Ragusa where they are told by block leader Kastor (George Georgiou) that everyone is required to work in an arms factory. After a day’s hard labour, Imogen bonds with Leonora (Joanne Whalley) over the fact they’re both in interspecies relationships and Leonora warns Imogen that Agreus’ life is in danger.

In the evening, Agreus makes a disturbing discovery: a woman, he had met in the morning outside their room, is suddenly gone but Kastor pretends she never existed. Meanwhile Leonora greets a newcomer to Ragusa: Ezra Spurnrose (Andrew Gower) has come with information about the arms deal between The Burgue and The Pact.

Back in the Burgue, Philo (Orlando Bloom) and Darius (Ariyon Bakare) visit Sergeant Dombey (Jamie Harris) at home to warn him about an imminent attack on his life by members of the Black Raven. Dombey manages to escape the ambush led by Vignette (Cara Delevingne) but during the subsequent fight the police arrive and Philo is arrested while the remaining fae fly away,

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Carnival Row 2×03 The Martyr’s Hand

Carnival Row 2×03 The Martyr’s Hand

The police, especially Sergeant Domboy (Jamie Harris), have little interest in investigating the death of the two members of the Black Raven, so Philo (Orlando Bloom) decides to once again take matter into his own hands. With the help of Tourmaline (Karla Crome), who confided in him about her visions, and Constable Berwick (Waj Ali), he finds the decapitated bodies of the murdered fae.

Chancellor Jonah Breakspear (Arty Froushan) is forced to partially re-open Carnival Row to allow the Fae to return to work in the factories, so The Burgue can deliver the promised weapons to The Pact. Meanwhile the leader of the opposition Sophie Longerbane (Caroline Ford) makes a visit to Row bringing food, medicine – and the press – to the suffering fae.

Ezra Spurnrose’s (Andrew Gower) life continues to crumble: while one piece of furniture after the other is removed from the house to pay for his debts, he is visited by the Pembroke siblings, Leonid (Ross Green) and Louisa (Issy Stewart), who are curious about the latest gossip at Finistere Crossing: Was Imogen (Tamzin Merchant) really forcefully kidnapped by the puck Agreus (David Gyasi) – or did they elope?

Desperate to find out more about his sister’s whereabouts, Ezra corners Agreus’ former manservant Fergus (Jim High) in a dark alley. He claims that he needs to find his sister to make amends with her as she’s the only family he has left in the world. Fergus reluctantly believes him and tells Ezra that Imogen and Agreus were last seen in Ragusa.

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Carnival Row Season 2 YouTube Interviews

Here’s a collection of interviews with the cast of Carnival Row‘s Season 2 featuring our Andrew Gower. We’ll update this post as soon as and when we find more!

Screen Rant Plus

MovieDeathblows

FabTV

Down And Nerdy Podcast

Starry Constellation Magazine

Jean BookNerd

Backstage Features

uInterview

Fanversation

Andrew Gower in Viewties Magazine (You, Carnival Row, The Winter King, Gustaffson)

Andrew Gower is the cover star at Viewties Magazine and talked to Vanesa Mirglia about balancing two careers at once and his current acting projects YOU (Netflix), Carnival Row and The Winter King.

Check out the interview below which also features some gorgeous new photos by photographer David Reiss.

Click to Read