The Green Knight is the highly anticipated film from David Lowery, starring Dev Patel as Sir Gawain in a retelling of the mythic Arthurian story – so who else is in the cast, and when will it release? Like many other productions through 2020 and 2021, The Green Knight was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic. It was originally planned to premiere at South by Southwest in 2020 – but that festival was canceled and the movie was given a new release date, delayed into 2021.
The Green Knight joins a long film tradition of updating and retelling the stories of Arthurian legend, focusing on King Arthur, Queen Guinevere, and the knights of the round table. Audiences have held a fascination with such stories, including 1981's Excalibur, starring Nicol Williamson and Helen Mirren, 1995's First Knight, featuring Sean Connery as King Arthur alongside Richard Gere as Lancelot, 2004's King Arthur, with Clive Owen, Keira Knightley, Mads Mikkelsen, and Joel Egerton as Gawain, as well as Guy Ritchie's poorly received 2017 King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. The tale of The Green Knight itself has had several cinematic adaptations, including a 1973 live-action movie and an animated retelling in 1984.
Clearly, audiences have a taste for the tales of honor and chivalry that come with the stories of Arthurian legend. The Medieval setting with fantasy and folklore elements may also appeal to audiences, as well as the allegorical themes that can be explored in such worlds. Here are all the details about The Green Knight, including its release date, cast and characters, story details, and trailer.
The Green Knight Release Date
After its 2020 premiere and release date were pulled, the movie has a new release date: The Green Knight will be released in theaters on Friday, July 30, 2021. The movie will be exclusively released in cinemas at first, so no streaming options will be available for The Green Knight – at least not for some time.
The Green Knight Story Details
The Green Knight is based on the 14th-century poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, a chivalric romance of the kind popular with the aristocracy in the Middle Ages, but 21st-century audiences can expect director David Lowery (who also wrote and edited the movie) to update the tale for modern resonance. The original tells the story of a moment in King Arthur's court when Sir Gawain, nephew of the king, accepts the challenge of the mysterious Green Knight: To strike a blow against the knight with his own axe if he will receive a strike one year on from that day. Gawain bests the knight, beheading him with the blow of the axe. The Green Knight then pick up his own head, reminds Gawain to keep the date one year hence, and leaves. Gawain's honor and loyalty are tested in the intervening year, and he seeks out the Green Knight to keep up his end of the bargain.
The Green Knight Cast
The 2021 adaptation of The Green Knight features a stacked cast full of wonderful actors. Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire, Lion) is Sir Gawain. King Arthur is portrayed by Sean Harris (the Mission: Impossible franchise) and Kate Dickie (Game of Thrones, Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi) plays Queen Guinevere. The headlining cast is rounded out with Joel Egerton (The Great Gatsby, Star Wars: Episode III – The Revenge of the Sith), returning to the take of Gawain but in a different role to 2004's King Arthur, and Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina, The Danish Girl) as the Lord and Lady.
The supporting cast of The Green Knight includes Sarita Choudhury (Lady in the Water, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2) plays the role of Gawain's Mother, Barry Keoghan (Dunkirk, The Killing of a Sacred Deer) plays a scavenger, and Erin Kellyman (Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Rogue One) plays Winifred. Ralph Ineson (The Witch, Gunpowder Milkshake) brings gravitas and gravelly voice to the eponymous Green Knight.
The Green Knight Trailer
The Green Knight trailer was released in May 2021 and hints at a haunting story of the search for honor and an examination of duty and what is owed to those we make promises to. The trailer also shows some of the fantasy elements the film will feature, such as talking animals and giants, and hinting at the larger story and development through which Dev Patel's Sir Gawain will go.
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