We have another addition to the growing cast of Guy Ritchie‘s retelling of the classic Arthurian mythology with the Warner Brothers film Knights of The Roundtable: King Arthur.
According to Variety Aussie actor Eric Bana (Deliver Us From Evil, Lone Survivor, Black Hawk Down, Troy, Chopper, Star Trek) has taken the role of King Uther who is the father of Arthur. Director Guy Ritchie had been previously considering Liam Neeson (Kingdom of Heaven, Taken) for the role but circled back to Bana.
Neeson had played Gawain in the 80’s film and I have to assume Ritchie wanted to include him as an homage to Excalibur. Gabriel Byrne (The Usual Suspects, Miller’s Crossing) played Uther in the 80’s film.
King Uther is kind of a prick in Excalibur which might be a similar story with Ritchie’s new inturpation because of his lust he puts his entire kingdom into shambles as he is the one who places the sword in the stone, leaving the realm without a ruling king. The role isn’t likely to be that large and might be relegated to an opening sequence since Arthur never knew his father.
The rest of the cast includes Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy, Pacific Rim, Crimson Peak) as Arthur, Astrid Berges-Frisbey (Pirates of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) playing Guinevere, and Jude Law (Sherlock Holmes, Dom Hemingway, The Grand Budapest Hotel) is wanted for the role of the villain.
Idris Elba had been linked for the role of Arthur’s mentor in the film. However, Elba’s participation is a bit unknown at this point but has previously worked with both Guy Ritch on RockNRolla and Hunnam on Pacific Rim.
King Arthur is said to be the first film in six-part franchise with it’s release date set for July 22nd, 2016.
SOURCE: VARIETY