Netflix debuts first look at new medieval series, The Letter for the King

Netflix is bearing down on its medieval dramas of late. First we got The Witcher, which has quickly proven a hit. The streaming service is also readying Cursed, a take on the Arthurian legend, and it wasn’t long ago that Timothée Chalamet starred as King Henry V in The King. And now, Digital Spy has a first look at The Letter for the King, a new series based on Dutch writer Tonke Dragt’s 1962 book.

“The Letter for the King is the story of a ruthless prince who threatens to cast the world into darkness, when a young knight in training named Tiuri embarks on an epic quest to deliver a secret letter to the king,” reads the synopsis. “Along the way, he unexpectedly finds himself at the centre of a magical prophecy foretelling the rise of a hero who can defeat the prince and restore peace. If he’s going to survive the journey, Tiuri will have to learn what it means to be a true knight – and a true leader.”

Sounds like some good old-fashioned fantasy! And indeed, The Letter for the King has been adapted a number of times over the years, including in a 2008 movie and even a 2007 musical stage show. Netflix’s version will star Amir Wilson — who plays Will Parry over on HBO’s His Dark Materials — as Tiuru. Also on board is actor David Wenham, who you may remember as Faramir from Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movies.

And now, pretty pretty pictures!

Image: The Letter for the King/Netflix Image: The Letter for the King/Netflix Image: The Letter for the King/Netflix

Is it just me or does Wilson not look comfortable in any of these shots? I’m excited to see what he does with the role, though. Between this and His Dark Materials, his star is on the rise.

We don’t know exactly when The Letter to the King will arrive on Netflix, but expect it before the end of the year, at least.

So will this medieval strategy pay off for Netflix? I suppose it did for The Witcher, but you can have too much of a good thing. I’ll just enjoy drinking from the sword-and-sorcery tap until it’s turned off.

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