Adrian Bouchet (Steapa): “Death is coming” in The Last Kingdom season 4

In an exclusive interview, we spoke to The Last Kingdom star Adrian Bouchet, the man behind Wessex’s most fearsome and loyal warrior, Steapa. Bouchet, who joined the Netflix series in its second season, answered questions on a wide range range of topics, everything from who’s the worst horseman in the cast to what fans can expect from season 4.

Thanks to Mr. Bouchet for the time, and the interview!

Bouchet was a huge fan of The Last Kingdom before being cast as the fearsome Steapa. He’s actually read through the eighth novel of Bernard Cornwell’s Saxon Stories series — the books on which The Last Kingdom is based — and even met Cornwell during his cameo appearance in season 3.

Bouchet also mentioned that as the show departs from the books, he’s not sure “whether the fates of some characters in the books will bear any semblance” to what happens on the small screen.

So let’s get to the good stuff. What can we expect from season 4?

"I can’t really give away any spoilers as to what is going to happen. I think the only thing we can say, with certainty, is a line that Thyra used back in season 3; the answer is that death is coming. That’s the only thing that is certain in The Last Kingdom. Death is coming. When or where, is to be determined. But I would say that’s the only certainty of The Last Kingdom."

By the sound of it, Bouchet enjoys The Last Kingdom as much as we do, and called appearing on the show a “great privilege.”

Image: Netflix/The Last Kingdom

Some other stuff he said:

• Bouchet is the second cast member we’ve spoken to who has good-naturedly ragged on Mark Rowley’s (Finan)  horsemanship. “He looks about as natural on a horse as a dog riding a bicycle.”
• Bouchet’s story about Harry McEntire (Aethelwold) begging to ride a horse is quite hilarious.
• Bouchet named Jeppe Beck Laursen (Haesten) as one of the better swordsmen on set. As to the best swordsman, Bouchet naturally named himself, while lamenting Steapa’s lack of onscreen fighting.
• Bouchet calling David Dawson (Alfred) a “titan” was touching.

Thanks again to Mr. Bouchet for the time, and look here for more interviews with the rest of the cast!

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