Take some sorcery, giant beasts from another realm, and a demonic swordsman, now add in quick-cut jump sequences, expository loops back in time, over-the-top colorful characters, and bit of back alley crime antics. What do you get? In this case, the Guy Ritchie treatment of the Arthurian legend, KING ARTHUR: LEGEND OF THE SWORD, starring Charlie Hunnam, and Jude Law.
After his big-budget take on another British icon, Sherlock Holmes, hit twice at the box office – and following his underrated THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. – the director is back with his signature style, and this time with an epic story that involves a lot of magic, as well as fast-paced action, and more than a bit of Cockney. Set in Londinium in the early ADs, the plot revolves around a young Arthur (Hunnam) who operates a crew of back-street hustlers and do-gooders, until he is thrust into the spotlight as the true king of the realm. Sure, he gets his hands on Excalibur, but there’s still much more to do before he can defeat the evil king Vortigern (Law), and take the crown.
At the recent junket for KING ARTHUR: LEGEND OF THE SWORD, I spoke with Hunnam as well as Djimon Hounsou, who plays Sir Bedivere, a knight-in-hiding from dead king Uther Pendragon’s court. In the video below, the incredibly thoughtful Hunnam discusses his take on the legend, and how he and Ritchie wanted to make him an “everyman’s Arthur.” Also, Hounsou talks about what he did (and did not) take from Arthurian legend, and his role as a babysitter to a “street punk” after once serving in a castle. Finally, Hunnam teases where he’d like to next take Arthur should there be a sequel.