It's a big day for fans of Netflix's The Last Kingdom as the long-awaited feature-film, Seven King Must Die, has launched on the streaming service. The film, which is almost two hours long, is essentially a finale to the Danish/Saxon story which was told over five series.
The Last Kingdom is a highly-rated adaptation of Bernard Cornwell's book series, The Saxon Stories. In the Seven Kings Must Die, Lord Uhtred of Bebbanburg, played by Alexander Dreymon, returns in the leading role.
Also among the returning cast list is Harry Gilby as Aethelstan, James Northcote as Aldhelm and Mark Rowley as Finan. New cast members include Danish warrior‐king Anlaf, played by Pekka Strang, while Agnes Born takes on the role of Anlaf's daughter, Astrid.
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A synopsis for the Seven Kings Must Die feature film reads: "For a century war has raged through the land between its inhabitants and the Danish invaders. But now a peace has settled with the country nearly united – only Lord Uhtred of Bebbanburg, ruling over Northumbria, is yet to pledge his land to the throne.
"But when King Edward dies the peace is threatened as his two potential heirs, Aethelstan and Aelfweard, battle to claim the crown. When Uhtred hears that Aethelstan – once his ward and protégé ‐ is to fight, he rides to help him secure victory, but the young prince has fallen under a dark influence and is not the same boy Uhtred once knew. And when Aethelstan’s actions threatens the life Uhtred has known, Uhtred must decide where his loyalties lie – with the king, or with his homeland.
"Meanwhile, a new threat has reached these shores – the Danish Warrior‐King Anlaf has arrived, hoping to wreak chaos and use the discord for his own ends. As Aethelstan’s actions make enemies across the British Isles, Anlaf brings the king’s enemies together in a great alliance that threatens the vision of uniting England. And when the alliance comes seeking Uhtred’s help in their plans, Uhtred faces a choice between those he cares for most, and the dream of a united kingdom."
How long is the Seven Kings Must Die?
The Last Kingdom feature film is just short of two hours long at one hour and 51 minutes. It launched on the streaming service Netflix at 8am on Friday, April 14 in the UK.
All five season of The Last Kingdom are still available to watch on the platform for those that want to revisit the series.
Seven Kings Must Die full cast list
Finan - Mark Rowley
Anlaf - Pekka Strang
Brand - Ingrid García Jonsson
Astrid - Agnes Born
Queen Eadgifu - Elaine Cassidy
Aldhelm - James Northcote
Edmund - Zak Sutcliffe
Pyrlig - Cavan Clerkin
Uhtred - Alexander Dreymon
Ingrith - Ilona Chevakova
Lady Wassa - Steph Bramwell
Sihtric - Arnas Fedaravicius
Osbert - Jacob Dudman
Aethelstan - Harry Gilby
Ingilmundr - Laurie Davidson
Aelfweard - Ewan Horrocks
Dunstan - Tom Christian
Constantin, King Of Scotland - Rod Hallett
Domnal - Ross Anderson
Owain, King Of Strathclyde - John Buick
Hywel, King Of Wealas - Steffan Rhodri
Eamon - Nick Wittman
King Of Orkney - Zsolt Páll
King Of Shetland - Attila Árpa
King Of Man - Laurent Winkleragnes Born
Why isn't there a season six of The Last Kingdom?
At MCM London Comic Con last year, Alexander Dreymon said the plan was always to end the series with season five. This was because when the series first aired back in 2015, there were only 10 books that Bernard Cornwell had written.
The actor explained: "When we started shooting the show there were ten books that Bernard Cornwell had written. And we had structured the show in a way that season five was always going to be the last season."
However following the publication of extra books, executive producer Nigel Marchant told RadioTimes last year that the team spoke to Netflix fairly early about whether they could "tell that end piece of the jigsaw so that it would feel complete".
Nigel said: "It was felt that the movie version was the right format to do that. Season 5 does feel like the end of the TV series, and the movie will be much more standalone.
"It'll be an extra treat for the fans of the TV series, but you could also watch it even if you've never seen the TV show." For more showbiz and television stories get our newsletter here.
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