We all know a version of the story of King Arthur. Whether it is about him pulling a sword from a stone; or causing hijinks with his roundtable knights; or even as performed by the Monty Python lot.
The story of King Arthur has been told countless times in countless ways, but it is in MGM+’s new series The Winter King – where we find the latest (and arguably most compelling) retelling of the well-loved Arthurian legends.
Based on Bernard Cornwell’s The Warlord Chronicles trilogy (first published in 1995), The Winter King is set in Post-Roman, Dark Age Britain, the story follows Arthur Pendragon, the exiled, illegitimate son of King Uther, as he returns to his homeland of Dumnonia to keep the peace until his infant brother is old enough to take the throne.
Iain De Caestecker dons the armour in the lead role, a decade after he made his Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. debut as the fan favourite Doctor Leo Fitz. Here, the Scottish actor sits with Esquire Middle East to tell us all about how life imitates art on the set of The Winter King, and how that results in a unique take on the iconic tale…
ESQUIRE: So, you’re stepping into the role of King Arthur – a character that has existed since the seventh century and whose story has been adapted and readapted countless times. There’s bound to be high expectations. How did you manage the pressure of it all?
IAIN DE CAESTECKER: You’re totally right, I think the first thing you think about is: “God what is it about this version that’s going to be new and unique? And how can I fit into in some way?” It’s certainly never been a part that I ever thought I would have the luxury of being able to take hold of and jump into. So there is pressure on it, but there is also a giddy feeling about it, and that is the really fun part.
I didn’t think I was in the archetypal casting bracket for this character, so it instantly made me think they must be trying to do something slightly different with this part. So, there is pressure on it – that still runs true for me – but I think you just have to remind yourself that whoever is playing this part will bring something unique to it and just focus on the fact that you’re going to bring something individual too.
ESQ: Despite not believing you were the “archetypal casting bracket” for this role, Julie Gardner (Executive Producer) has sung your praises, saying you were a “great leader of the company” much like Arthur was to his band of knights. Are there any characteristics of Arthur’s that you see in yourself?
IDC: That’s very nice to hear! I think sometimes the lines get blurred a little bit, between reality and the fantasy of the show and you sort of adopt the position of trying to take a leadership role on set and try and set an example. When you’ve got all the bells and whistles on and you’ve got your costume and your make-up and you’re sitting on top of a horse in a majestic landscape, it does feed into your own psyche of a level of composure and poise that this character needs. All those things add up.
But I definitely think there are lots of things about Arthur that are very far away from me. I mean, he’s got such a confidence in himself and he’s got such a determination and a strength that sometimes I think is very enviable. He’s very principled and he doesn’t ever veer away from the path that he believes is right; he always finds a way to do the right thing. There’s lots about him that is very admirable, qualities that I can probably work on.
ESQ: The Winter King takes a much more grounded, more human approach to the tale, in contrast to previous adaptations that were very fantastical and felt more lighthearted. What can you tell us about this approach and the elements that make this adaptation unique?
IDC: Well, I think my memories of the older ones from when I was growing up was they were a bit more cartoony and fantastical and big swirling balls of magic. I think the magic is a prime example of the way we’ve tried to make this version of it more real world and believable: there’s no big swirling balls of fire, the magic is much more subjective in this show.
Something that always really fascinated me is focusing on the real world implications of what it means to be a leader. You get to see behind closed doors with Arthur, the mental and physical toll that being a leader takes on him. You get to see the sacrifices he has to make and the literal life and death choices he has to decide on.
In the first episode, we very early get to see someone who spent his life being all but rejected by his father and he’s ultimately, brutally and quite savagely, banished from the kingdom by his father in this horrible public act of abuse. One thing the show delves into is Arthur as a man trying to reconcile with some of that childhood trauma and trying to find a way to come out from under the shadow of it. I think that is a very human side of this character that I had never seen before.
ESQ: With it being quite a dark, gritty book to TV adaptation, it’s garnered the inevitable comparisons to Game of Thrones: what are your thoughts on that?
IDC: I mean… I understand why they’re there. I get it. I would say it’s a very, very, very different show from Game of Thrones. I can understand why people would put them in the same box or genre, but it’s a very different show. But also: yes, the show is really down to earth and yes, it is really gritty, but I think I would make the point to say that we were really searching for a reality to it, to try and find a believablity to it. Yes, there are these sort of universal themes to it like death and trauma and loss and violence and hate. But there’s also love and friendship and family. It does have the light with the shade.
ESQ: What is the most random skill that you’ve had to learn for one of your roles?
IDC: I mean swordfighting is a pretty random skill. I can’t – fingers crossed – ever think of a reason I’m gonna have to whip that out of the bag. At least I hope not. It’s certainly not something I do around the house ever, I wouldn’t want to injure my cats. I learnt to play the accordion once for something, and I’ve never touched one since.
ESQ: You’re just waiting for the right moment to pick it back up.
IDC: Just to whip it out, yeah. I mean there’s never the right moment to take out an accordion! [Laughs] I’ve always got one just in case.
ESQ: The show was shot in some pretty harsh winter conditions. Here in Dubai we’re sort of known for the opposite: our unbearable summers. But that hasn’t stopped some of the biggest films from being shot here, like Star Wars and Dune. Could we potentially see a Summer King in the future?
IDC: Hey! I would be first on board for a Summer King! But not quite yet…
The Winter King is sort of metaphorical but it was really cold at times. And also you would end up just covered in blood and guts and dirt all day, so it was kind of a fun game at the end of the day to get in the bath and see what color that bath water would go that night. That was usually the best part of the day. [Laughs] Again, I think that idea of life imitating art and blurring the lines between reality and fantasy is some of the arduous journey of it, like the weather and the tough locations; it sort of bled into the character in lots of ways as well.
ESQ: So there is some hope in you being here at some point…
IDC: Fingers crossed!
ESQ: You’ve played a doctor, a high school teacher, and now a king – what’s next?
IDC: It’s really hard to plan ahead in terms of what you would like to do. Right now I’m just really excited for the show to come out. We worked really hard on it, I can’t wait to see what people think of it. I love it. I also know that the writers are back busily writing season two. Nothing is confirmed yet but we’re all really excited about the prospect of getting back on the saddle, literally and metaphorically.
But keep on with the movement of Summer King! I’m definitely keen on the idea.
ESQ: We’ll get to writing that script for you.
IDC: Great, I’ll leave that with you!
The Winter King starring Iain De Caestecker is available to watch on Fridays at 20:00 MECCA/ 21:00 UAE on beIN SERIES 2.