William the Conqueror and King Harold on the Big Screen
By Mali Elfman
Are you ready to get Conquered!? God that’s a bad line. I hope they use it!
It looks like epic script-monger extraordinaire William Nicholson (Gladiator, Elizabeth: The Golden Age) will be blasting back to the past yet again to bring William the Conqueror and King Harold to the big screen. Time for a little Norman conquest drama.
The script allegedly “focuses on the relationship between the two great warriors of the age. King Harold of England and William The Conqueror were initially comrades, becoming bitter enemies destined to fight to the death at the climactic Battle of Hastings.”
Sounds interesting.
Nicholson unveiled the crux of his story: “In 1066, character is revealed above all in battle, which gives me the thrilling chance to craft an epic action story that delivers on a human scale.” Despite only being in the development stages, the film is being fast-tracked, with producers hoping to begin filming this year.
Sounds good! I personally like Nicholson’s epics. They’re big ORIGINAL movies based on history. Nicely done!
What do you think, are you game for a 1066 flashback? And who would you like to see play WillianWilliam the Conqueror m and Harold on screen?
Source: Empire
Thursday, January 29, 2009 7:05AM
I'm a history nut, and the Battle of Hastings is a great moment in military and social history. I can't wait.
Saturday, July 11, 2009 2:48PM
Being a descentant of William the Conqueror, I'm very excited to hear they are making a movie about him. I just hope they stick to the historical facts.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009 4:41PM
Quite.
My dream cast for this movie:
William- Bruce Willis (if he can do a good norman accent)
Odo- Rufus Sewell
Harold Godwinson- someone with a lot of panache and who looks awesome in a long mustache
Edward the Confessor- Christopher Lee
Mathilde- America Ferrera–think about it for a second. She's perfect, yeah? (Assuming she can get a good Flemish accent and dye her hair golden blonde.)
My only fear is that they will stuff this thing full of anachronisms, like so many period movies. This was in the 1000's, not the high middle ages. If it looks like Errol Flynn's Robin Hood, I'm going to be upset. The only thing I don't mind if they leave out: the Norman/Picard haircut as seen in the Bayeux Tapestry. That reverse mullet/shaved-in-the-back-do will not translate well to film.
And they better do justice to the scene where they cross the river Couesnon and Harold pulls the men from the quicksand. It could be such a great part of the movie.
Sunday, January 3, 2010 11:04PM
When is this coming out? I see a lot about it but not an opening date. Will it be available in the U.S?
Monday, November 29, 2010 5:08AM
It's sounds interesting. Where can I get the script for William the Conqueror?
Saturday, August 6, 2011 11:21AM
I have once played a game which features William of Normandy. It is a decent story of building up an army by traveling village to village, taking up challenges and then finally defeating the Harold Godwinson in the battle of Hastings. Almost a rags to emperor story.