‘Game of Thrones' Star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, ‘Happy Valley' Actor James Norton Lead CBS, BBC Series ‘King and Conqueror'

‘Game of Thrones’ Star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, ‘Happy Valley’ Actor James Norton Lead CBS, BBC Series ‘King and Conqueror’

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (“Game of Thrones”) and James Norton (“Happy Valley”) will lead the cast of CBS Studios’ period drama series “King and Conqueror.”

Norton will play Harold, Earl of Wessex and Coster-Waldau William, Duke of Normandy, the two 11th century men destined to meet at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 – two allies with no design on the British throne, who found themselves forced by circumstance and personal obsession into a war for possession of its crown.

The eight-episode series is created, written and executive produced by Michael Robert Johnson (“Sherlock Holmes). Baltasar Kormákur (“Everest”) will direct the premiere episode and, as executive producer, will steer the creative across the series. Also serving as executive producers are Norton and Kitty Kaletsky for Rabbit Track Pictures, Kormákur for RVK Studios, Robert Taylor for The Development Partnership, Dave Clarke and Richard Halliwell for Shepherd Content, Ed Clarke, Robert Jones, Coster-Waldau and CBS Studios’ Lindsey Martin. The series will commence production next year in Iceland.

The BBC has acquired broadcasting rights for the series on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the U.K. The series will be distributed outside of this market by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

Lindsey Martin, senior VP of international co-productions and development at CBS Studios, described “King and Conqueror” as “a truly groundbreaking series with world-class talent and global reach,” adding, “Michael’s scripts offer a bold and fresh take on a story that has endured for nearly 1,000 years, and yet, the themes are as contemporary and relevant as ever. We are incredibly proud of what the team has achieved so far and can’t wait to see it all come to fruition on screen with our star-studded cast.”

Sue Deeks, head of BBC programme acquisition, said: “In the U.K. we learn about William the Conqueror, the Battle of Hastings and King Harold’s gruesome death in our school history lessons – but those headlines are all most of us can remember. ‘King and Conqueror’ will bring Harold and William to life, depicting their lives, loves and families, and the gripping, high-stakes power game that led to their fateful meeting in 1066. With incredible talent both in front of and behind the camera, I cannot wait for this exciting project to be realized.”

James Norton is represented by The Artists Partnership, WME, Johnson Shapiro Slewtt & Kole and Tapestry. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is represented by UTA, Sloane Offer Weber and Relevant.

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