The Hollow CrownSeason 1

Richard II, Henry IV Part I & II, Henry V

Season 2 – The War of the Roses Henry VI Part I & II, Richard III

Commissioned by the BBC and WNET / PBS

2016 will mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. The Hollow Crown brings Shakespeare’s history plays together as one

narrative arc for the first time. These rich films tell the story of a succession of English monarchs, who were heroes and villains in equal measure, during a particularly turbulent and bloody period of English history.

‘Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown’

Henry IV

The Hollow CrownCast Highlights: Season 1 & 2

Benedict Cumberbatch

Sherlock, The Imitation Game, Star Trek Into

Darkness, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Dame Judi DenchJames Bond: Skyfall,

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,

Shakespeare in Love

Hugh BonnevilleDownton Abbey,

Paddington, Notting Hill

Michelle DockeryDownton Abbey,

Non-Stop, Hanna

Jeremy IronsThe Lion King, Die Hard:

With a Vengeance, The Man in the Iron Mask

Clémence PoésyHarry Potter and the

Deathly Hallows: Part 2, 127 Hours, In Bruges

James PurefoyRome, The Following, The Philanthropist,

A Knight’s Tale

Patrick StewartStar Trek: The Next Generation, X-Men: Days of Future Past

David SuchetAgatha Christie:

Poirot, Great Expectations

Julie WaltersBrave, Harry Potter,

Calendar Girls, Billy Elliot

Ben WhishawJames Bond: Skyfall, London Spy, The Hour

John HurtV for Vendetta, Alien, Merlin,

The Elephant Man

Sophie OkenedoAfter Earth,

Hotel Rwanda, The Escape Artist

Richard II

King Richard (Ben Whishaw) is called upon to settle a dispute between his cousin Henry Bolingbroke (Rory Kinnear) and Thomas Mowbray (James Purefoy). Richard calls for a duel but then halts it just before swords clash.

Both men are banished from the realm. Richard visits John of Gaunt (Patrick Stewart), Bolingbroke’s Father, who, in the throes of death, reprimands the King. After seizing Gaunt’s money and lands, Richard leaves for wars

against the rebels in Ireland.Bolingbroke returns to claim back his inheritance. Supported by his allies, Northumberland (David Morrissey)

and the Duke of York (David Suchet), Bolingbroke takes Richard prisoner and lays claim to the throne.

“Director Rupert Goold’s Richard II has you under its spell from the opening scene, thanks in the main to outstanding performances from Ben Whishaw as an effete, out-of-his depth King and Rory Kinnear who excels as Bolingbroke... Don’t miss this. A treat.”

Observer New Review

HENRY IV PART 1

The heir to the throne, Prince Hal (Tom Hiddleston), defies his father, King Henry (Jeremy Irons), by spending his time at Mistress Quickly’s (Julie Walters) tavern in the company of the dissolute Falstaff (Simon Russel Beale) and his companions. The King is threatened by rebellion led by Hal’s rival, Hotspur (Joe Armstrong), his father Northumberland (Alun Armstrong) and his uncle Worcester (David Hayman). In the face of this danger to the state,

Prince Hal joins his father to defeat the rebels at the Battle of Shrewsbury and kill Hotspur in single combat.

“We are told, and sometimes think, that Shakespeare doesn’t work on television… The Hollow Crown refutes

such pessimism. Shakespeare is as intimate as television and as out sized as its widest screen.”

The Times Saturday Review

HENRY IV PART 2

In the aftermath of the Battle of Shrewsbury, Northumberland (Alun Armstrong) learns of the death of his son. The Lord Chief Justice (Geoffrey Palmer) attempts on behalf of the increasingly frail King

(Jeremy Irons) to separate Falstaff (Simon Russell Beale) from Prince Hal (Tom Hiddleston). The rebels continue to plot insurrection. Falstaff is sent to recruit soldiers and takes his leave of his mistress,

Doll Tearsheet (Maxine Peake). The rebel forces are overcome. This brings comfort to the dying King, who is finally reconciled to his son. Falstaff rushes to Hal’s coronation with expectations of high office.

“…a production that oozes quality, looks magnificent and has a cast to make every director jealous… You can sense every actor’s relish at

tackling Shakespeare’s verse in this sparkling version.”TV Times

HENRY V

Henry (Tom Hiddleston) has settled onto the throne and has the makings of a fine King. The French Ambassador (Jérémie Covillault) brings a challenge from the French Dauphin. Inspired by his courtiers, Exeter (Anton Lesser)

and York (Paterson Joseph), Henry swears that he will, with all force, answer this challenge. The Chorus (John Hurt) tells of England’s preparations for war and Henry’s army sails for France. After Exeter’s

diplomacy is rebuffed by the French King (Lambert Wilson), Henry lays a heavy siege and captures Harfleur. The French now take Henry’s claims seriously and challenge the English army to battle at Agincourt.

“Today, the question is whether Shakespeare is interesting enough to fill our great plasmatic rectangles… I have seen all

four films, and my living room echoes resoundingly ‘yes’.”The Times Saturday Review

The Wars of the Roses

HENRY VIPART 1

Henry V is dead, and against the backdrop of Wars in France the English nobility are beginning to quarrel. News of defeat at Orleans reaches the Duke of Gloucester (Hugh Bonneville) and other nobles in England.

Henry VI, still an infant, is proclaimed King.Seventeen years later the rivalries at Court continue. Rouen falls to the French but Plantagenet (Adrian Dunbar), recently

restored as the Duke of York, Exeter (Anton Lesser) and Talbot (Philip Glenister) pledge to recapture the city from the Dauphin. Battle commences and the French, led by Joan of Arc, defeat the English. Valiant Talbot and his son John are killed.

Warwick and Somerset (Ben Miles) arrive after the battle to join forces with the survivors and retake Rouen. Somerset woos Margaret of Anjou (Sophie Okonedo) as a potential bride for Henry VI (Tom Sturridge).

Plantagenet takes Joan of Arc prisoner and she is burnt at the stake.

Gloucester protests but still Margaret is introduced as Henry’s queen. Margaret complains that the Duchess of Gloucester, Eleanor (Sally Hawkins), behaves like an empress at court and the rivalry escalates.

Eleanor is observed performing black magic and is banished, warning Gloucester that he is in great danger. Accused of high treason, Gloucester protests his innocence, but is murdered at the Tower whilst

Somerset and Margaret make love in the Palace.Henry banishes Somerset and Suffolk after Gloucester is found dead. Plantagenet is incensed when Margaret is able to bully Henry into reversing the sentence. Plantagenet makes a claim for the throne and the Houses

of York and Lancaster are now in open opposition.

HENRY VIPART 2

After the Battle of St Alban’s Plantagenet (Adrian Dunbar) and the Yorkists ride to London to claim the throne. Henry (Tom Sturridge) negotiates to keep the Crown for his lifetime but it will revert to the House of York

on his death, so disinheriting Margaret’s son Prince Edward.Margaret (Sophie Okonedo) is outraged and attacks Plantagenet at his house, slaughtering the Duke

and his youngest son Edmund. The brothers, Edward, George & Richard (Benedict Cumberbatch), escape and swear to avenge the destruction of their house.

The Yorkists are again victorious at the Battle of Towton and Plantagenet’s son is crowned Edward IV (Geoffrey Streatfield). Henry VI is imprisoned in the Tower whilst Margaret escapes with their son Prince Edward.

Warwick travels to France to find the King a bride but receives word that Edward is already betrothed to Elizabeth Woodville (Keeley Hawes). Enraged, Warwick switches to the House of Lancaster. Together with Margaret and the French King, he forms

an alliance to place Henry back on the throne and Warwick’s daughter Anne is betrothed to Prince Edward. Edward IV’s brother George joins Warwick’s forces after failing to advance at Edward’s Court. George returns to the Yorkist

cause moments before the Battle of Tewkesbury. The Lancastrians are defeated and Warwick is killed. In the aftermath of the battle Richard slays Prince Edward in front of a distraught Margaret. Once in London, Richard murders

the former king Henry in his cell. The Court congregates for the christening of Edward IV and Elizabeth’s new-born son.

RICHARD III

At Westminster, Richard (Benedict Cumberbatch) speaks about his deformity, the decadence of the court, and the nature of his evil plots. George is arrested during a birthday feast for Prince Edward and is led away to the Tower. Soon after,

King Edward is taken ill and collapses. With Catesby’s help, Richard arranges the murder of George. King Edward (Geoffrey Streatfield) makes one last effort to end family disputes, but Richard breaks up the gathering with news of George’s death.

Rivers and Grey, brothers of Queen Elizabeth are executed for treason and Prince Edward and Prince Richard are soon sent to the Tower. After Richard executes Hastings for treason, Buckingham persuades the citizens of London to invite Richard to take

up the throne. Richard is crowned at Westminster Abbey with Anne as his Queen. Unrewarded for his efforts, Buckingham distances himself from Richard. The King then hires Tyrell to murder the Princes in the Tower.

The Duke of Richmond (Luke Treadaway) and his supporters gather to seize the crown and overthrow Richard. In his underground quarters, Richard becomes isolated and paranoid.

He takes Stanley’s son hostage and arranges for the murder of Anne. Richard leads his army to Bosworth Field and Buckingham is executed for desertion.

Stanley joins forces with Richmond and in battle Richard’s army is soon overrun. Richmond delivers the fatal blow to Richard in single combat.

Margaret looks over the devastation of the battlefield. Richmond is crowned Henry VII. The Houses of York & Lancaster are united, the white rose with the red.

Season 1 Episode count: 11 x 60’ or 2 x 150’ + 2 x 120’

Season 2 Episode count: 8 x 60’ or 3 x 120’

Commissioned by the BBC and WNET / PBS