The Last Kingdom is a British period drama television series based on Bernard Cromwell's series of novels The Saxon Stories which combines real historical figures and events with fiction, re-telling the history of King Alfred the Great and his desire to unite the many separate kingdoms into what would become England.
It is a contemporary story of redemption, vengeance and self-discovery set against the birth of England.
Set in the 9th century AD, many of the separate kingdoms of what we now know as England have fallen to the invading Vikings, only the great Kingdom of Wessex stands defiant under its visionary King Alfred the Great (David Dawson). It is the last kingdom.
Against this turbulent backdrop lives Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon). Born the son of a Saxon nobleman, he is orphaned by the Vikings and then kidnapped and raised as one of their own.
Forced to choose between the country of his birth and the people of his upbringing, his loyalties are ever tested. What is he — Saxon or Viking?
On a quest to claim his birthright, Uhtred must tread a dangerous path between both sides if he is to play his part in the birth of a new nation and, ultimately, recapture his ancestral lands.
The Last Kingdom is a show of heroic deeds and epic battles but with a thematic depth that embraces politics, religion, warfare, courage, love, loyalty and our universal search for identity.
Combining real historical figures and events with fictional characters, it is the story of how a people combined their strength under one of the most iconic kings of history in order to reclaim their land for themselves and build a place they call home.
Alexander Dreymon (American Horror Story) heads up the international cast from 11 different countries. Emily Cox (The Silent Mountain) stars as Brida, David Dawson (Peaky Blinders) as King Alfred, Rune Temte (Eddie the Eagle) as Ubba, Matthew Macfadyen (Ripper Street) as Lord Uhtred, Rutger Hauer (Blade Runner) as Ravn, Ian Hart (Boardwalk Empire) as Beocca, Tobias Santelmann (Point Break) as Ragnar the Younger, Peter Gantzler (Italian For Beginners) as Earl Ragnar, Adrian Bower (Mount Pleasant) as Leofric, Joseph Millson (Penny Dreadful) as Aelfric and Henning Valin Jakobsen (The Bridge) as Storri.
The historical drama comes from BBC America, BBC Two and the Golden Globe and Emmy award-winning producers of Downton Abbey, Carnival Films.
Starring
Alexander Dreymon
as
Uhtred of Bebbanburg
Tobias Santelmann
as
Ragnar
Thomas W. Gabrielsson
as
Guthrum
Joseph Millson
as
Alferic
Simon Kunz
as
Odda the Elder
Harry McEntire
as
Aethelwold
Brian Vernel
as
Odda the Younger
Charlie Murphy
as
Queen Iseult
with Matthew Macfadyen
as
Lord Uhtred