BBC One’s “King and Conqueror” to Star James Norton & Nikolaj Coster-Waldau

Today, CBS Studios unveiled their new eight-part historical drama series King and Conqueror. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones, Mama, Oblivion) and James Norton (Little Women, Mr. Jones, Happy Valley) will star as William, Duke of Normandy and Harold, Earl of Wessex, respectively.

In the UK King and Conqueror will debut on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The show is written by Michael Robert Johnson (Sherlock Holmes, The Frankenstein Chronicles) and episode one is directed by Baltasar Kormákur (Trapped, Everest, Adrift).

Through his production company, Rabbit Track Pictures, James Norton will also serve as an executive producer. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau will direct an episode and also serves as an executive producer. Filming is scheduled to commence in Iceland next year. Joint producers on the show include the BBC, TDP Development Partnership, Rabbit Track Pictures, Shepherd Content, and CBS Studios. Production services in Iceland will be offered by RVK Studios.

The origins of the conflict in King and Conqueror go back decades and involve two interdependent family dynasties vying for dominion over two nations and a violent ocean. The outcome of this struggle determined the destiny of an entire continent for a thousand years. The Battle of Hastings took place in 1066 between two men, Harold of Wessex and William of Normandy. Despite neither of them having any interest in the British throne, they were compelled to fight for control of the crown due to external forces and internal conflicts.

Michael Robert Johnson created and executive produces the 8×60′ series. Other producers include Rabbit Track Pictures’ Kitty Kaletsky and Robert Taylor of TDP Development Partnership (Rogue Agent, Close to Me), Shepherd Content’s Dave Clarke and Richard Halliwell, Ed Clarke of The Electrical Life of Louis Wain, Robert Jones, Coster-Waldau, Baltasar Kormákur, and Lindsey Martin of CBS Studios. In addition to directing the pilot, Kormákur will serve as executive producer and creative director for the entire series.

Paramount Global Content Distribution will handle distribution outside of the UK, while the BBC has taken over broadcasting rights in the UK.