television series
A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite television, satellite, or cable television, cable, excluding breaking news, television adverti ...
created by
Don Handfield
Don Handfield is an American filmmaker, author, and producer.
Education and acting career
Handfield studied theater and film at Ohio State University, graduating with a degree in journalism in 1993. His first job in media after college was as a ...
and
Richard Rayner
Richard Rayner (born 1955) is a British author who now lives in Los Angeles.
Early life
He was born on 15 December 1955 in the northern city of Bradford. Rayner attended schools in Yorkshire and Wales before studying philosophy and law at the U ...
for the
History channel
History (formerly The History Channel from January 1, 1995 to February 15, 2008, stylized as HISTORY) is an American pay television network and flagship channel owned by A&E Networks, a joint venture between Hearst Communications and the Disney ...
. Filmed in the
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...
and
Croatia
, image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg
, anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, capit ...
, it premiered on December 6, 2017, in the United States. On August 13, 2018, History renewed the series for a second season, which premiered on March 25, 2019. In May 2020, it was announced that the series had been cancelled.
''Knightfall'' recounts the success, fall, persecution, and suppression of the
Knights Templar
, colors = White mantle with a red cross
, colors_label = Attire
, march =
, mascot = Two knights riding a single horse
, equipment ...
, as orchestrated by King
Philip IV of France
Philip IV (April–June 1268 – 29 November 1314), called Philip the Fair (french: Philippe le Bel), was King of France from 1285 to 1314. By virtue of his marriage with Joan I of Navarre, he was also King of Navarre as Philip I from 12 ...
on October 13, 1307. The series focuses on the fictional Templar leader Landry du Lauzon, a brave warrior discouraged by the Templars' failures in the
Holy Land
The Holy Land; Arabic: or is an area roughly located between the Mediterranean Sea and the Eastern Bank of the Jordan River, traditionally synonymous both with the biblical Land of Israel and with the region of Palestine. The term "Holy ...
who is reinvigorated by news that the
Holy Grail
The Holy Grail (french: Saint Graal, br, Graal Santel, cy, Greal Sanctaidd, kw, Gral) is a treasure that serves as an important motif in Arthurian literature. Various traditions describe the Holy Grail as a cup, dish, or stone with miracul ...
has resurfaced.
Cast and characters
Main
*
Tom Cullen
Thomas Cullen (born 17 July 1985) is a Welsh actor and director. He had roles in the independent film ''Weekend (2011 film), Weekend'' (2011), as Anthony Foyle, Viscount Gillingham in the television series ''Downton Abbey'', and as Sir Landry ...
as Landry de Lauzon, a senior brother of the
Knights Templar
, colors = White mantle with a red cross
, colors_label = Attire
, march =
, mascot = Two knights riding a single horse
, equipment ...
and a veteran of the
Crusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars initiated, supported, and sometimes directed by the Latin Church in the medieval period. The best known of these Crusades are those to the Holy Land in the period between 1095 and 1291 that were in ...
, who is a noble, courageous, and headstrong knight who began his service with the Templars as Godfrey's squire – Godfrey tutored and trained him into a skilled and respected warrior monk. After the
Siege of Acre Siege of Acre may refer to:
* Siege of Acre (1104), following the First Crusade
*Siege of Acre (1189–1191), during the Third Crusade
* Siege of Acre (1263), Baibars laid siege to the Crusader city, but abandoned it to attack Nazareth.
*Siege of A ...
, Landry witnesses the failure of the Crusade, the conquest of the
Holy Land
The Holy Land; Arabic: or is an area roughly located between the Mediterranean Sea and the Eastern Bank of the Jordan River, traditionally synonymous both with the biblical Land of Israel and with the region of Palestine. The term "Holy ...
by the Saracens and the loss of the most-prized relic in all of Christendom: the Holy Grail. 15 years later, Landry has his faith shaken and frustrated by the Order's inactivity, becomes Master and Commander of the Paris Temple after Godfrey's assassination, the subsequent investigation revealing the Grail is now in France. His hope is reignited, and Landry leads his fellow Templars on a journey to uncover the reasons behind his mentor's death and location of the Grail. Harry Webster portrays a young Landry in season 1.
* Jim Carter as
Pope Boniface VIII
Pope Boniface VIII ( la, Bonifatius PP. VIII; born Benedetto Caetani, c. 1230 – 11 October 1303) was the head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 24 December 1294 to his death in 1303. The Caetani, Caetani family was of b ...
, a warm and avuncular man and a seasoned religious leader, who acts as a stabilizing, incorruptible force within a corrupt medieval world. The Templar Knights value him as their Holy leader, and they're willing to execute his orders without question. Boniface personally appoints Landry the new Master and Commander of the Paris Temple after Godfrey's assassination and entrusts him the mission of finding the Holy Grail, hoping to use it to launch a new Crusade and reclaim the Holy Land. Simon Haines portrays the younger Father Benedetto in season 2. (main season 1, featured season 2)
*
Pádraic Delaney
Pádraic Delaney (born 6 November 1977) is an Irish actor known for playing Teddy O'Donovan in the Ken Loach film '' The Wind That Shakes the Barley'', for which he earned an IFTA nomination as well as being named Irish Shooting Star for the 20 ...
as Gawain, the greatest swordsman of the Templar Order who was crippled by a leg injury sustained in the Siege of Acre while protecting Landry. 15 years later, after Godfrey's assassination, he is told by the new Master Landry he can no longer fight. Unable to serve in the field, Landry assigns him as the training master to the Order's initiates, teaching future knights, including the commoner Parsifal. Feeling his heroism is no longer celebrated, he struggles to maintain his loyalty to the Order, just as he struggles to come to terms with his physical limitations. Gawain feels that, of all the Templars, he has the most to gain from the recovery of the Holy Grail, due to its reported ability to heal.
*
Simon Merrells
Simon Merrells is an English film, television and stage actor best known for his portrayal of Marcus Licinius Crassus in '' Spartacus: War of the Damned''.
Early life
Merrells was born in London, three years before his brother Jason Merrells. H ...
as Tancrède de Hauteville, a veteran Templar fiercely loyal to the order. Unlike most Templars, Tancrede was once married, but he gave up married life in order to join the Templars. As the steadfast, brave, and resolute knight who venerates his Templar vows above all else, Tancrede imagines himself as the heir apparent to Godfrey, the Master and Commander of the Paris Temple, although he concedes to Landry following Godfrey's assassination. With the revelation that the Holy Grail is now in France, Tancrede aids and advises Landry on his quest, and comes to understand what his role must be.
*
Julian Ovenden
Julian Mark Ovenden (born 29 November 1976) is an English actor and singer. He has starred on Broadway and West End stages, in television series in both the United Kingdom and United States, in films, and performed internationally as a concert ...
as William de Nogaret, King Philip's scheming counsellor, pragmatic lawyer and right-hand man. De Nogaret is unashamedly godless, and a calculating manipulator ahead of his time. He is driven to destroy the power of organized religion, in revenge for his parents being
burned at the stake
Death by burning (also known as immolation) is an execution and murder method involving combustion or exposure to extreme heat. It has a long history as a form of public capital punishment, and many societies have employed it as a punishment f ...
as heretics for practising
Catharism
Catharism (; from the grc, καθαροί, katharoi, "the pure ones") was a Christian dualist or Gnostic movement between the 12th and 14th centuries which thrived in Southern Europe, particularly in northern Italy and southern France. Follow ...
. Cool and supremely calculating, De Nogaret is more involved in the quest for the Holy Grail than he appears. He also secretly desires Philip's daughter, Isabella, while seeking to make her the next Queen of England. Freddie Preston portrays a young de Nogaret in season 2.
* Olivia Ross as Queen Joan (season 1), a formidable diplomat and strategist. Joan is a devoted mother who seeks to ensure her children, especially her daughter, marry for love rather than duty like she was to Philip, whom she has grown to fear. She and Philip are friends of Landry after he saved them from being murdered by brigands – against Landry's vows of
celibacy
Celibacy (from Latin ''caelibatus'') is the state of voluntarily being unmarried, sexually abstinent, or both, usually for religious reasons. It is often in association with the role of a religious official or devotee. In its narrow sense, the ...
, and without Philip's knowledge, the two pursued a secret romance and Joan is secretly pregnant with his child.
*
Ed Stoppard
Edmund Stoppard (born 16 September 1974) is an English actor. He is the son of playwright Tom Stoppard and doctor Miriam, Lady Hogg.
Life
Stoppard was born on 16 September 1974 in London, England, the son of playwright Tom Stoppard and Miriam ...
as King Philip, known for his good looks (hence the nickname “The Fair”), Philip struggles both as a King and a husband. He seeks to control his family while dealing with the politics and power moves that are an inevitable part of running his kingdom. Philip longs to be a great monarch and to transform France into the greatest power in Europe. He and Joan are friends of Landry after he saved them from being murdered by brigands, and Philip considers him a teacher, confidant and friend (although he is unaware of their secret romance).
*
Sabrina Bartlett
Sabrina Lois Bartlett (born September 1991) is an English actress. She is known for her roles in the BBC One miniseries '' The Passing Bells'' (2014), the third series of the ITV drama ''Victoria'' (2019), and the first series of ''Knightfall'' ...
(main season 1) and
Genevieve Gaunt
Genevieve Wilhelmina Gaunt (born 13 January 1991) is an English actress and voice over artist known for portraying Pansy Parkinson in ''Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'' and Wilhelmina "Willow" Moreno Henstridge in '' The Royals''.
Ea ...
(recurring season 2) as Princess Isabella, Queen Joan and King Philip's daughter. Isabella is a beautiful, energetic and self-aware young woman whose youth belies a capacity to go to extraordinary lengths to get what she wants. Now of legal age, her impending marriage promises a strong political alliance for France.
* Bobby Schofield as Parsifal (season 1), a young peasant farmer who is decent and honest, although is also brash and recklessly brave, aiming to do what he feels is right, even faced with great peril. He was happily engaged to a young woman, Marie, but is left consumed with grief and a desire for vengeance when she is murdered by Godfrey's assassins. Adrift and wanting to pursue her killers, he accepts an offer from Landry to join the Templars.
* Sarah-Sofie Boussnina as Adelina (season 1), a Jewish homeless thief who previously lived in Acre, but was rescued as a child by Landry and the Templars. Now living in France with her father, she is secretly involved with the unknown forces surrounding the Holy Grail.
* Tom Forbes as Prince Louis of France (season 2), King Philip and Queen Joan's eldest son and heir
*
Mark Hamill
Mark Richard Hamill (; born September 25, 1951) is an American actor and writer. He is known for his role as Luke Skywalker in the ''Star Wars'' film series, beginning with the original 1977 film and subsequently winning three Saturn Awards f ...
as Master Talus (season 2), a veteran Templar who trains the initiates at the Chartres Temple
Recurring
* Nasser Memarzia as Draper, a Templar brother who serves as a doctor
* Marco Zingaro as Doctor Vigevano, the French court's doctor
* Jim High as Ulric, a Templar brother
*
Robert Pugh
Robert Pugh (born 11 October 1950) is a Welsh actor, known for his many television appearances, including the role of Craster in the HBO series ''Game of Thrones''.
Life and career
Pugh was born in the Tynte, Mountain Ash and grew up in Cilf ...
Jacques De Molay
Jacques de Molay (; c. 1240–1250 – 11 or 18 March 1314), also spelled "Molai",Demurger, pp. 1-4. "So no conclusive decision can be reached, and we must stay in the realm of approximations, confining ourselves to placing Molay's date of birth ...
, the 23rd and last Grand Master of the Knights Templar
* Peter O'Meara as Berenger, a Templar brother and the Master of the Chartres Temple
Season 1
*
Sam Hazeldine
Samuel Hazeldine (born 29 March 1972) is an English actor working in film, television and theatre.
He is the son of actors James Hazeldine. and Rebecca Moore.
Early life
Sam Hazeldine was born in Hammersmith, London. He is the son of actors ...
as Marcel De Caux/Godfrey, a Templar brother and the Master of the Paris Temple. Godfrey is a mentor and father figure to Landry.
* Cengiz Dervis as Roland, a brigand
*
Adam Levy
Adam Levy is a jazz guitarist who was a member of Norah Jones's band.
Career
Levy was born in Encino, California. Two of his uncles and one cousin played guitar, and his mother briefly took lessons. His grandfather, George Wyle, worked for '' ...
as Simon, a Jew and Adelina's father (as well as a survivor of Acre)
* Sabrina Barlett as Princess Isabella
*
Akin Gazi
Akin Gazi (born 15 October 1981) is a British actor.
Life and career
Gazi was born in North London, in 1981, to Turkish Cypriot parents. He attended Queen Mary, University of London studying English and Drama graduating in 2003.
He is married ...
as Rashid, the leader of the Brotherhood of Light
*
Joey Batey
Joey Batey (born 1989) is an English actor, musician, singer, and songwriter. He is known for portraying the bard Jaskier in the Netflix fantasy series ''The Witcher'', where he sang " Toss a Coin to Your Witcher", as well other songs featured in ...
as Pierre, a Templar initiate
*
Raymond Waring
Raymond Waring (born 21 July 1977) is an English actor. He was born in Liverpool and grew up in Runcorn, Cheshire, where he attended St. Chad's Secondary School. In 1994, he was accepted into the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain and, i ...
as Daniel
* Ben Bradshaw as Chamberlain Marigny
* Roy McCrerey as Charles, the Royal Steward
* Marcos Franz as Prince Lluis of
Catalonia
Catalonia (; ca, Catalunya ; Aranese Occitan: ''Catalonha'' ; es, Cataluña ) is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a ''nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy.
Most of the territory (except the Val d'Aran) lies on the north ...
*
Enrique Arce
Enrique Javier Arce Temple (born October 8, 1972) is a Spanish television and film actor.
Biography
Arce was born in Valencia, Spain on 8 October 1972. He originally went to university to study law, but during his fourth year, he decided to mo ...
as Rodrigo of Catalonia, the Catalan Ambassador
* Edward Bourne as Nicholas, De Nogaret's assistant
*
Oliver Maltman
Oliver Maltman is an English actor notable for his appearances in the TV series ''Star Stories'', ''The Kevin Bishop Show'', '' No Heroics'' and '' Clone''. He has also appeared in Mike Leigh's films '' Happy-Go-Lucky'' in 2008, '' Another Year ...
as Robert, Earl of Oxford, the English Ambassador
* Amelia Clarkson as Sophie, Queen Joan's handmaiden
*
Claudia Bassols
Claudia Bassols Alonso (, ; born October 3, 1979) is a Spanish actress from Barcelona, Spain. (filmed October 2007)
Career
Bassols graduated from the American School of Barcelona in 1997, earned a degree in Musical Comedy from Coco Comín in ...
as Queen Elena of Catalonia
* Jack Sandle as Malraux
* Lourdes Faberes as Altani
*
Gina McKee
Georgina "Gina" McKee (born 14 April 1964) is an English actress. She won the 1997 BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress for ''Our Friends in the North'' (1996), and earned subsequent nominations for ''The Lost Prince'' (2003) and ''The Street'' (2 ...
as Landry's mother
* Thomas Coombes as Anthony, a Templar
* Ben Lamb as Dominic, a Templar
* Tony Pritchard as Ballard
Season 2
* David Bowles as Gerard, a Templar brother
* Daniel Campbell as Kelton, a Templar initiate who is later admitted as a brother
* Brian Caspe as Angus, a Templar brother
* Michael James as Quentin, a Templar initiate who is later admitted as a brother
* Joseph Ollman as Vasant, a Templar initiate who is later admitted as a brother
* Dean Ridge as Rhone, a Templar initiate who is later admitted as a brother
* Jirí Weingärtner as Othon, a Templar brother
* Stephen Fewell as Archbishop Raymond DeGoth and, later, Pope Clement V
*
Claire Cooper
Claire Elizabeth Cooper (born 26 October 1980) is a British actress, best known for portraying Jacqui McQueen in Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', a character she played from 2006 to 2013.
Cooper co-owns clothing rental boutique The Closet ...
as Sister Anne
* Clementine Nicholson as Queen Margaret, the wife of Prince Louis.
* Salóme R. Gunnarsdóttir as Lydia, a victim of Louis' plot
* Louise Bond as Grecia
* Grace Carter as Camille
Notable guests
*
Ryan Early
Ryan may refer to:
People and fictional characters
*Ryan (given name), a given name (including a list of people with the name)
*Ryan (surname), a surname (including a list of people with the name)
Places Australia
* Division of Ryan, an elector ...
as Reynard (season 1), a mercenary in De Nogaret's employ
* James Coombes as Governor De Rouvray of Navarre (season 1)
*
Pavel Bezdek
Pavel Bezdek (born 1965) is a Czech actor and stunt performer. He has had minor roles in a handful of well-known action movies, as well as being a stunt coordinator in others. He usually takes work for sequences filmed at sets in Prague, a popular ...
Ben Starr
Benjamin Starr (October 18, 1921 – January 19, 2014) was an American television producer, creator, writer and playwright.
Biography
Born in Manhattan, New York, to Jewish Russian immigrants, Starr grew up in Brooklyn and worked in his par ...
as Philippe (season 2)
Episodes
Season 1 (2017–18)
Season 2 (2019)
Production
Development
In January 2016, History announced it had picked up ''Knightfall'' for a 10-episode straight-to-series, executive produced by Jeremy Renner. The series was conceived by Renner's production partner
Don Handfield
Don Handfield is an American filmmaker, author, and producer.
Education and acting career
Handfield studied theater and film at Ohio State University, graduating with a degree in journalism in 1993. His first job in media after college was as a ...
and Los Angeles-based British writer and journalist
Richard Rayner
Richard Rayner (born 1955) is a British author who now lives in Los Angeles.
Early life
He was born on 15 December 1955 in the northern city of Bradford. Rayner attended schools in Yorkshire and Wales before studying philosophy and law at the U ...
. British writer-producer
Dominic Minghella
Dominic Minghella (born 1966) is a British television producer and screenwriter. His most successful project has been the creation of the ITV network comedy-drama series ''Doc Martin'', starring Martin Clunes, which began in 2004. The main chara ...
served as
showrunner
A showrunner (or colloquially a helmer) is the top-level executive producer of a television series production who has creative and management authority through combining the responsibilities of employer and, in comedy or dramas, typically also th ...
for the first season. ''Knightfall'' recounts the fall, persecution, and burning at the stake of the
Knights Templar
, colors = White mantle with a red cross
, colors_label = Attire
, march =
, mascot = Two knights riding a single horse
, equipment ...
, as orchestrated by
King Philip IV of France
Philip IV (April–June 1268 – 29 November 1314), called Philip the Fair (french: Philippe le Bel), was King of France from 1285 to 1314. By virtue of his marriage with Joan I of Navarre, he was also King of Navarre as Philip I from 1 ...
on October 13, 1307. Minghella said that the
Swedish
Swedish or ' may refer to:
Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically:
* Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland
** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...
film ''
Arn – The Knight Templar
''Arn: The Knight Templar'' ( sv, Arn: Tempelriddaren) is an epic film based on Jan Guillou's trilogy about the fictional Swedish Knight Templar Arn Magnusson. The film was released to cinemas in Sweden on 17 December 2007 and the sequel, '' Ar ...
'' was one of the main inspirations for the series.
A Czech-American co-production presented by History, the first season of ''Knightfall'' was developed and produced by A+E Studios. Dominic Minghella,
Josh Appelbaum
Josh Appelbaum is an American television writer, screenwriter, showrunner and producer.
Biography
Appelbaum is from a Jewish family.Andre Nemec,
Jeff Pinkner
Jeff Pinkner (born November 16, 1964) is an American television and movie writer and producer.
Life and career
Born to a Jewish family,Scott Rosenberg, Barry Jossen,
Jana Bennett
Jana Eve Bennett (6 November 1955 – 11 January 2022) was an American-born British media consultant; member of the board of the British Library; member of the board of the Headlong Theatre Company; and Adviser to Ozy Media. Previously she was ...
,
Douglas Mackinnon
Douglas Mackinnon is a Scottish film and television director from Portree, Isle of Skye.
He has directed many episodes of television drama and at least three television films. His work includes '' Bodies'', ''Gentlemen's Relish'', ''Robin Ho ...
, Jeremy Renner, Don Handfield, Richard Rayner, and Sonny Postiglione are credited as executive producers, while Philip G. Flores acted as co-executive producer. The season was produced by Michael Wray for the first four episodes and Gideon Amir for the last six episodes. Jason Grote, Alex Shevchenko, David Minkowski and Matthew Stillman acted as co-producers, while David Elliot served as supervising producer.
The production team for the first season includes casting director Debbie McWilliams, costume designer Diana Cilliers, composer Andrew Price, production designer Ondrej Nekvasil, editors Nathan D. Gunn for the first, sixth and tenth episodes, Stephen Mark for the second episode, John Coniglio for the third and seventh episodes, Patrick McMahon for the fourth and eighth episode, Peter Mergus for the fifth and ninth episode, and Joe Sawyer for the fifth and sixth episodes, and cinematographer Christopher Manley.
On August 13, 2018, it was announced that ''Knightfall'' was renewed for a second season.
Aaron Helbing
Aaron Helbing and Todd Helbing are American sibling screenwriters who had formerly worked as a team. They are known for their work on the Starz series ''Spartacus'' and '' Black Sails'', and for The CW superhero drama '' The Flash''. They stop ...
was hired as executive producer, writer and
showrunner
A showrunner (or colloquially a helmer) is the top-level executive producer of a television series production who has creative and management authority through combining the responsibilities of employer and, in comedy or dramas, typically also th ...
for the second season, replacing Dominic Minghella. ''Knightfall'' actor
Simon Merrells
Simon Merrells is an English film, television and stage actor best known for his portrayal of Marcus Licinius Crassus in '' Spartacus: War of the Damned''.
Early life
Merrells was born in London, three years before his brother Jason Merrells. H ...
Rick Jacobson
Rick Jacobson is an American film director, television director and producer, and stage and television actor.
Biography
A graduate from the California Institute of the Arts film and television program, Rick Jacobson began his professional fi ...
was also working on the series. The production hired a number of European directors for the second season, including Samira Radsi and
Roel Reiné
Roel Reiné (born 15 July 1970 in Eindhoven) is a Dutch film director. Occasionally he uses the alias John Rebel (''Bear'', ''Wolf Town''). His production company is called Rebel Film.
Career
Starting off directing television series and films ...
. The second season consists of eight episodes.
A Czech-American co-production presented by History, the second season of ''Knightfall'' was developed and produced by A+E Studios. Aaron Helbing, Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec, Jeff Pinkner, Scott Rosenberg, Barry Jossen, Rick Jacobson,
Ethan Reiff
Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris are American screenwriters and producers. They are known for their work in both feature films and television.
Career 1980s
Reiff and Voris met while both were undergraduates at New York University's Tisch School of ...
, Cyrus Voris, Don Handfield, Richard Rayner and Jeremy Renner are credited as executive producers, while Russell Rothberg acted as co-executive producer. The season was produced by Michael Wray for the first three episodes and Nina Heyns for the last five episodes. David Minkowski, Matthew Stillman and Cristina Verano acted as co-producers.
The production team for the second season includes casting director Suzanne Smith, costume designer Diana Cilliers, composer
Natalie Holt
Natalie Ann Holt is a British composer who has worked on numerous film and television projects. She is primarily recognised for her work on several notable productions, including ''Paddington'' (2014) and '' Loki'' (2021). She trained at the R ...
, production designer Ondrej Nekvasil, editors Garret Donnelly for the first and fifth episodes, Sang Han for the second and sixth episodes, Debby Germino for the third and seventh episodes and Heather Goodwin Floyd for the fourth and eighth episodes, and cinematographers
Thomas Yatsko
Thomas Yatsko is an American cinematographer and television director, known for his work on television series like ''CSI: Miami'', '' Brothers & Sisters'', and ''Fringe''.
Career
In his capacity as a cinematographer, Yatsko has worked on the tel ...
for the first, fourth, fifth and eighth episodes and Boris Mojsovski for the second, third, sixth and seventh episodes.
In May 2020, it was announced that the series had been canceled.
Casting
With the series' renewal, two new main cast members were announced.
Mark Hamill
Mark Richard Hamill (; born September 25, 1951) is an American actor and writer. He is known for his role as Luke Skywalker in the ''Star Wars'' film series, beginning with the original 1977 film and subsequently winning three Saturn Awards f ...
was cast as Talus, an old Templar veteran of the
Crusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars initiated, supported, and sometimes directed by the Latin Church in the medieval period. The best known of these Crusades are those to the Holy Land in the period between 1095 and 1291 that were in ...
who lived through a decade of captivity in the
Middle East
The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabian Peninsula, Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Anatolia, Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Pro ...
, and now tasked with training younger knights. One of his ex-students is Landry, once a master himself but forced to start over after breaking his vows in the first season. Tom Forbes was cast as Prince Louis, the violent and unpredictable son of King Philip.
Genevieve Gaunt
Genevieve Wilhelmina Gaunt (born 13 January 1991) is an English actress and voice over artist known for portraying Pansy Parkinson in ''Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'' and Wilhelmina "Willow" Moreno Henstridge in '' The Royals''.
Ea ...
was cast in the recurring role of Isabella, King Philip's daughter and on her way to becoming the woman who history would call the "she-wolf of France". Gaunt replaced
Sabrina Bartlett
Sabrina Lois Bartlett (born September 1991) is an English actress. She is known for her roles in the BBC One miniseries '' The Passing Bells'' (2014), the third series of the ITV drama ''Victoria'' (2019), and the first series of ''Knightfall'' ...
Princess Margaret
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, (Margaret Rose; 21 August 1930 – 9 February 2002) was the younger daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and the younger sister and only sibling of Queen Elizabeth ...
Claire Cooper
Claire Elizabeth Cooper (born 26 October 1980) is a British actress, best known for portraying Jacqui McQueen in Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', a character she played from 2006 to 2013.
Cooper co-owns clothing rental boutique The Closet ...
as Sister Anne.
Filming
Production started with three days of filming during the last week of June 2016 in
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik (), historically known as Ragusa (; see notes on naming), is a city on the Adriatic Sea in the region of Dalmatia, in the southeastern semi-exclave of Croatia. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterran ...
on
Croatia
, image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg
, anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, capit ...
's southern
Adriatic
The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Sea) ...
coast, with
Douglas Mackinnon
Douglas Mackinnon is a Scottish film and television director from Portree, Isle of Skye.
He has directed many episodes of television drama and at least three television films. His work includes '' Bodies'', ''Gentlemen's Relish'', ''Robin Ho ...
''( Outlander)'' as director. Set mainly around the
Walls of Dubrovnik
The Walls of Dubrovnik ( hr, Dubrovačke gradske zidine) are a series of defensive stone walls surrounding the city of Dubrovnik in southern Croatia."''...city's founding before the 7th century as a Byzantine castrum on a rocky island named Laus. ...
's
Fort Lovrijenac
Fort Lovrijenac or St. Lawrence Fortress, often called "Dubrovnik's Gibraltar", is a fortress and theater outside the western wall of the city of Dubrovnik in Croatia, above sea level.The Siege of Acre. PAKT Media offered their services, and over 140 Croatian film workers were involved with the production.
Mackinnon served as the principal director, handling most episodes.
Metin Hüseyin
Metin Hüseyin is a Turkish-Cypriot-United Kingdom, British television director, television and film director.
Career
Hüseyin's debut film, ''Tight Trousers'', was nominated for a BAFTA Film Award for Best Short Film in 1989, and in 1998 he r ...
and
David Petrarca
David Petrarca (born November 10, 1965) is an American director and producer of theatre, television and film.
He was director at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago from 1988 until 2005. His work as a director includes HBO's ''Boardwalk Empire'', ...
(''
Game of Thrones
''Game of Thrones'' is an American fantasy drama television series created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss for HBO. It is an adaptation of ''A Song of Ice and Fire'', a series of fantasy novels by George R. R. Martin, the first ...
'') also directed a block each. ''Knightfall'' was shot primarily in
Prague
Prague ( ; cs, Praha ; german: Prag, ; la, Praga) is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. On the Vltava river, Prague is home to about 1.3 million people. The city has a temperate ...
,
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...
, with its base at the
Barrandov Studios
Barrandov Studios is a set of film studios in Prague, Czech Republic. It is the largest film studio in the country and one of the largest in Europe.
Several major Hollywood productions have been made here, including '' Mission Impossible'', ' ...
. Several exteriors imitating medieval Paris were built in surrounding suburbs and villages, including
Průhonice
Průhonice is a municipality and village in Prague-West District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 2,800 inhabitants. It is known for Průhonice Park, which has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sit ...
, and
Doksany
Doksany (german: Doxan) is a municipality and village in Litoměřice District in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 400 inhabitants.
History
The oldest settlement dates back between 4500 and 2500 BC. In 1993, arc ...
. Streets in
Old Town
In a city or town, the old town is its historic or original core. Although the city is usually larger in its present form, many cities have redesignated this part of the city to commemorate its origins after thorough renovations. There are ma ...
and
Švihov Castle
The Švihov Castle (german: ''Burg Schwihau'') is a water castle, which was built in the Gothic period. It is located in the town Švihov in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic.
History
Švihov castle was built by the House of Rýzmberk ...
were utilized. Filming started on July 8. According to Barrandov CEO Petr Tichý, the studio was chosen partially based on the quality of the 15th-century interior they had previously built for ''Borgia''. According to
Tom Cullen
Thomas Cullen (born 17 July 1985) is a Welsh actor and director. He had roles in the independent film ''Weekend (2011 film), Weekend'' (2011), as Anthony Foyle, Viscount Gillingham in the television series ''Downton Abbey'', and as Sir Landry ...
, the main cast had a two-and-a-half week "boot camp" with French stuntman and fight choreographer Cédric Proust. Cullen had taken fencing classes in the past, but had not swung a sword in eight years. The total cost for the season was CZK 1.1 billion.
On August 26, 2016, a fire broke out at the
backlot
A backlot is an area behind or adjoining a movie studio containing permanent exterior buildings for outdoor scenes in filmmaking or television productions, or space for temporary set construction.
Uses
Some movie studios build a wide variety of ...
of Barrandov Studios, destroying the exterior sets for ''Knightfall'', with an estimated damage of 100 million CZK (US$4.5 million). Only a small part of the set, representing a medieval city, was saved. The following Monday, shooting resumed at another location in the city. The fire affected the production schedule, but the production was not to be moved to another city, and would focus on street locations. David Minkowski, a senior producer at Stillking Films, added, "In conjunction with our insurers and Barrandov construction, we are planning to rebuild the destroyed backlot set as soon as possible and complete filming in Czech Republic,. Filming for the first season wrapped in mid-December 2016.
The filming of the second season wrapped on December 19, 2018.
Other locations in the Czech Republic that were used for filming the series included the Doksany Monastery,
Točník Castle
Točník Castle lies in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. More accurately, it is in the Beroun District above the village of Točník. It was built during the reign of Wenceslaus IV at the end of the 14th century above the alread ...
,
Kost Castle
Kost Castle is a Gothic castle in Libošovice municipality in Jičín District in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It lies in the nature region of Bohemian Paradise and is owned by Kinský dal Borgo noble family.
History and d ...
near
Libošovice
Libošovice is a municipality and village in Jičín District in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 500 inhabitants.
Administrative parts
Villages of Dobšice, Malá Lhota, Malechovice, Meziluží, Nepřívěc, Podkost ...
,
Zvíkov Castle
Zvíkov (german: Klingenberg), often called "the king of Czech castles",Petr David, Vladimír Soukup, Lubomír Čech, Wonders of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia, pg. 138, Euromedia Group (2004), is a castle in Zvíkovské Podhradí municipality, abo ...
and the Medieval Open-Air Řepora museum.
Release
A teaser trailer debuted on February 1, 2017, on
History Channel
History (formerly The History Channel from January 1, 1995 to February 15, 2008, stylized as HISTORY) is an American pay television network and flagship channel owned by A&E Networks, a joint venture between Hearst Communications and the Disney ...
, depicting a bloody Templar helmet. The series premiered on December 6, 2017. The second season premiered on March 25, 2019.
The series was pre-sold to SBS in
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
.
HBO
Home Box Office (HBO) is an American premium television network, which is the flagship property of namesake parent subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is ba ...
, its subsidiary
Cinemax
Cinemax is an American pay television, cable, and satellite television network owned by the Home Box Office, Inc. subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. Developed as a companion "maxi-pay" service complementing the offerings shown on parent net ...
, and FilmBox Premium also obtained the rights in central and eastern Europe. History, which developed the original series, aired ''Knightfall'' in
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...
.
Reception
Critical reception
On review aggregation website
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is an American review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee, and Stephen Wang ...
, season 1 had an approval rating of 55% based on 20 reviews. On
Metacritic
Metacritic is a website that review aggregator, aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted arithmetic mean, weighted average). M ...
, the series has a weighted average score of 47 out of 100, based on reviews from 12 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".
For the second season, Rotten Tomatoes listed only four reviews, with three favorable; two of the reviews praised the addition of Mark Hamill with one commenting that "the barely recognizable Star Wars icon carries every scene in which he appears".
On the self proclaimed "Community Watchdog" website,
Things You Should Be Told Things or The Things may refer to:
Music
* ''Things'' (album), by Uri Caine and Paolo Fresu, 2006
* "Things" (Bobby Darin song), 1962; covered by Ronnie Dove, 1975
* "Things", a song by Joe Walsh from '' There Goes the Neighborhood'', 1981
* "Thi ...
, ''Knightfall'' was listed as second on the list of "Entertaining but Historically Inaccurate Movies & Series of All Time". Its ranking as Historically Inaccurate was second only to the movie ''Braveheart'' which coincidentally covers the same general time period and overlapping historical events and people.
44th Saturn Awards
The 44th Saturn Awards, presented by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films and honoring the best in science fiction, fantasy, horror, and other genres belonging to genre fiction in film, television, home entertainment and loca ...
.
Other media
In May 2017, it was announced that
A+E Networks
A&E Networks (stylized as A+E NETWORKS) is an American multinational broadcasting company that is a 50–50 joint venture between Hearst Communications and The Walt Disney Company through its General Entertainment Content division. The company ...
had partnered with
Titan Publishing
Titan Publishing Group is the publishing division of Titan Entertainment Group, which was established in 1981. The books division has two main areas of publishing: film and television tie-ins and cinema reference books; and graphic novels and ...
to develop original novels and an eight-part comic book series based on the series. In 2019, a tie-in novel based on the series, ''The Infinite Deep'', was released by author David B Coe.