Netflix’s The Last Kingdom to end with upcoming season 5

Today is a sad day, arselings: per Netflix and Carnival Films,The Last Kingdom will come to an end with its upcoming fifth season, which is currently under production. Following the adventures of Saxon turned Dane turned Saxon Uhtred of Bebbanburg (Alexander Dreymon), The Last Kingdom initially began life as a BBC production before Netflix took full control starting in season 3.

The Last Kingdom is based on The Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell. The fifth season will see Uhtred charged with training King Edward’s first-born son Aethelstan as a warrior. “Uhtred’s ambition will have an even higher purpose. But to achieve this destiny, Uhtred will have to face down his greatest enemy and suffer his greatest loss.”

Season 5 will see a trio of new cast members join the fray in 10th century England: Patrick Robinson (Sitting in Limbo) will play Father Benedict, “a holy man with a troubled past”; Sonya Cassidy (Humans) is Eadgifu, “a smart and open-hearted Saxon who arrives in Winchester”; and Harry Gilby (Tolkien) will play a now-grown Aethelstan, “a young man trained by Uhtred to follow in his footsteps, destined to become a fearsome warrior and leader.”

Alexander Dreymon announced personally that the show was back in production, although we’d already had an eyeful:

The Last Kingdom season 5: New looks at Brida, King Alfred and Uhtred

We also have some glossy new images from the upcoming season, including a look a Brida (Emily Cox), who we last saw delivering her first child after swearing vengeance on Uhtred:

We also get a look at King Edward (Timothy Innes), who is looking rather surly:

And of course there’s Uhtred himself, seen here contemplating the meaning of life…or deciding what’s for dinner.

The charismatic leading man will also direct an episode of the show’s final season. “I love this job. Playing Uhtred for 5 seasons has been a wonderful journey,” he said. “And I’m truly grateful to have been given the opportunity to direct. In doing so, I came to fully appreciate the spectacular talent and skill of our cast and crew even more. I can’t wait to share it with our fans, without whom none of this would be possible.”

We don’t know when season 5 will premiere, but production has been underway for some time and set to continue into the summer. And although fans will certainly be sad to series go, at least the show will be given a proper ending. Destiny is all!

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