Timothee Chalamet to take on Laurence Olivier's Henry V in The King: Based on the plays by William Shakespeare

Timothee Chalamet to star as Henry V

“Once more unto the breach.’’ Indeed, another Shakespearian adaptation is getting underway in Britain with Timothee Chalamet in the storied role of Henry V—a role made famous to cinematic audiences by Laurence Olivier, with Kenneth Branagh and Tom Hiddleston already following in his footprints—in a film they’re calling simply The King. 

Basically, a major role for the young actor who got our attention with his Oscar-nominated work in Call Me By Your Name. While there is nothing new under the sun this latest iteration is headed, not for the movie theater, but your home screen via Netflix. The film starts shooting in the UK on June 1st  and also stars Joel Edgerton—who co-wrote and produces— as Falstaff.

Joel Edgerton will play Falstaff

According to Deadline, “The King is based on is based on classic Shakespeare plays Henry The IV [Parts 1 and 2] and Henry V, in which a young disgraced prince Hal inherits the crown at a particularly turbulent time in English history and must learn what it means to be a king, guided by his one true friend, Falstaff. The plays take place before, during and after England’s military conflict with France at the famous Battle Of Agincourt in 1415, part of the ‘Hundred Years’ War’ between the two nations.’’

The cast includes Robert Pattinson as the French prince The Dauphin 

Ben Mendelsohn will play King Henry IV

Lily-Rose Depp is the French Princess Catherine, who goes on to marry Henry V 

Yes, Depp is the daughter of Johnny and French singing star Vanessa Paradis and yes, she’s gorgeous.

The cast of The King also includes Sean Harris (Lucifer) as William, Tom Glynn-Carney (Dunkirk) as Hotspur and Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie (Leave No Trace) as Henry V’s younger sister Philippa.

Joel Edgerton and director David Michod wrote the script.
With a little help, one supposes from the bard. Time to brush up your Shakespeare? Plenty of time. Plenty of time for us to ponder how true to the bard’s own words the script will be. The King won’t hit Netflix until sometime in 2019. What do you think of that casting?! Pretty spectacular in my opinion.

I’m 99% sure there that outside of Shakespeare himself, there is not an Englishman—or woman—in the bunch, but Shakespearean drama will always be British by default. Hence, I’m connecting with Joy Weese Moll’s British Isles Friday.