Warning! Spoilers ahead for The Last Kingdom season 5 and Seven Kings Must Die!
Fans have watched Uhtred of Bebbanburg battle through five seasons of The Last Kingdom and are preparing for the highly-anticipated movie, but, after decades of history has been featured on the show, Uhtred’s age is a little unclear. Based on the books written by Bernard Cornwell titled, The Saxon Stories, the Netflix series has adapted the story of a unified England and covers an epic span of time, yet Uhtred shows little signs of aging. Now, with the upcoming movie, Seven Kings Must Die, currently in production in Hungary, many fans are wondering if Uhtred’s age will mirror Cornwell’s books, or if he will continue to be Netflix’s never-aging warrior.
Born a Saxon and made heir to Bebbanburg when his older brother dies, Uhtred is captured at a young age by the invading Danes and adopted as a son by Dane leader, Earl Ragnar. The Last Kingdom follows his journey as a warrior, torn by conflicting loyalties, as the Saxons battle the Danes in the epic quest to unite England. Meanwhile, Uhtred’s claim to Bebbanburg haunts him and propels him through the series, with The Last Kingdom season 5 ending finally seeing Uhtred reclaim his homeland by saving the Saxon army with the help of Dane warriors. The series ends poetically with Uhtred as Lord of Bebbanburg, with his kingdom a neutral zone between England and Scotland and safe for all Dane settlers.
Uhtred’s story is far from over, however, with The Last Kingdom movie, Seven Kings Must Die, forging ahead through history to adapt author Bernard Cornwell’s last three books in the series, War of the Wolf, Sword of Kings, and War Lord. Paired largely with the real history involved with King Alfred’s dream to unite England, Cornwell’s saga shows the many victories and losses involved in his vision, but the series is also the epic fictional story of Uhtred’s life as a warrior, from birth to old age. The strange thing is that, while Cornwell’s books reflect Uhtred’s age, the Netflix series does not, with Uhtred (played by American Horror Story’s Alexander Dreymon) becoming something of an eternal warrior, ever-youthful throughout decades of history. Here’s how old Uhtred is in The Last Kingdom season 5 and a look at Uhtred’s age in the upcoming movie which will end The Last Kingdom story, Seven Kings Must Die.
The Last Kingdom Timeline
Staying true to Bernard Cornwell’s series, The Saxon Stories, The Last Kingdom begins around 866 when legendary Viking warrior Ragnar Lothbrok invades East Anglia. Uhtred is approximately 12 years old when he is taken hostage by Earl Ragnar, but The Last Kingdom season 1 then jumps forward through time to 871 when Uhtred meets the newly-crowned King Alfred (Ripper Street’s David Dawson). The season jumps ahead again to 878 when Alfred has retreated to the marshes and is in hiding, protected by Uhtred, until the Saxons win the Battle of Cynwit, eliminating Ubba (played by Rune Temte who played Bron-Char in Captain Marvel). Season 1 ends with the Great Heathen Army being defeated by the Saxons at Edington, an event that also took place in 878.
The Last Kingdom season 2 features the marriage of Aethelflaed to Aethelred (played by Toby Regbo who is known for his portrayal as Francis de Valois on Reign as well as his role as Young Dumbledore in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald) which took place historically in 886, and the series enters the 10th century in season three after the death of King Alfred in 899 with Edward’s second marriage dated around 900. Season 3 also saw Uhtred defeat the traitorous Aethelwold at the Battle of the Holme in 902. Historical guides throughout The Last Kingdom season 4 include The Battle of Tettenhall in 910 and Aethelflaed (played by Millie Brady) being crowned Lady of Merica in 911.
How Old Is Uhtred In Season 5?
Considering Uhtred was born in 856, the events at the end of season 4 would leave him as 55 years old. Uhtred’s age in The Last Kingdom season 5, however, is a little harder to decipher as the series does a serious time leap between seasons 4 and 5. When the series resumes for its final season, Brida (Emily Cox) is leading a group of Danes in Iceland and her daughter (who was born at the end of season 4) is approximately 7 or 8 years old. Likewise, Edward’s sons, Aelfweard and Aethelstan (Tolkien’s Harry Gilby), along with Aethelflaed’s daughter Aelfwynn, are all grown to young adults.
The Last Kingdom season 5 is based on Cornwell’s 9th and 10th books in the series, The Warriors of the Storm and The Flame Bearer, which include the historically accurate depiction of the real Aethelflaed’s death in 918 in episode 4. That would make Uhtred 62 years old at the time of her death. And, while Cornwell’s books reflect the years of the aging warrior, Uhtred's age seems to have changed little over the five seasons of Netflix’s The Last Kingdom.
How Old Will Uhtred Be In The Last Kingdom Movie, Seven Kings Must Die?
It was announced that Uhtred’s story in The Last Kingdom would end with a movie, Seven Kings Must Die. Filmed in Hungary, the movie is expected to release in 2023. Seven Kings Must Die will be based on the final three books in Cornwell's series: War of the Wolf, Sword of Kings, and War Lord.
If the film follows the chronology of the books, Seven Kings Must Die will begin around the year 923 with the arrival of the new Dane leader, Skoll, and his army of wolf warriors. Sword of Kings is set in 924 and will see the kingdom that Edward (played by Timothy Innes) assembled divided once again after his death, and the final book, War Lord will conclude in 937 with the epic Battle of Brunanburgh. This means that Uhtred’s age at the end of Seven Kings Must Die will be 81 years old. As Uhtred is still being played by Alexander Dreymon in The Last Kingdom movie, Seven Kings Must Die, fans should expect that it will likely follow in much the same vein as the series, with Uhtred remaining young and vital for much of it.
All episodes of The Last Kingdom are available on Netflix.