Season 4 of The Last Kingdom continues the story of Uhtred of Bebbanburg, but what can fans expect from season 5 of the Netflix series, and when will it release? The Last Kingdom debuted back in 2015 as a a joint production between BBC Two and BBC America, before becoming a venture for BBC Two and Netflix in season 2, and eventually just Netflix from the third season onwards, with season 4 releasing on Netflix in April 2020.
An adaptation of The Saxon Stories book series, written by Bernard Cromwell, The Last Kingdom primarily follows Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon), the son of a Saxon nobleman raised by the invading Danes, as he attempts to gain revenge and his birthright. Starting around 9AD, the show depicts a divided England and the attempts to bring it under one rule by King Alfred, who was killed in The Last Kingdom season 3.
As The Last Kingdom season 4 continues Uhtred's struggles with his own past and future, the medieval drama (which is inspired by some real-life events and people) still has plenty of room to expand and even more stories to tell in a potential fifth season. Here's what to expect from The Last Kingdom season 5 on Netflix.
Last Kingdom Season 5 Renewal Status
Netflix has yet to renew The Last Kingdom for season 5, though it seems fairly likely it'll happen. Any decision will, of course, be based on Netflix's own viewing measures (which they don't make public), but the streaming service has been committed to the series since first picking it up in season 2. The Last Kingdom's season 4 renewal came just over a month after the 10-episode season 3 was released on Netflix in 2018, so it's likely a similar schedule will be followed here. That means Netflix will likely announce The Last Kingdom season 5 renewal by late-May or early-June 2020.
Last Kingdom Season 5 Release Date
With an expansive production - as well as the changing of companies making it - The Last Kingdom has typically had a somewhat distanced release pattern. The first season aired in October 2015, but the show then didn't return until March 2017. The first full season of The Last Kingdom under Netflix, season 3, was then released in November 2018, with The Last Kingdom season 4 released in April 2020. That suggests it would be around a year-and-a-half for The Last Kingdom season 5 to be released, which would be roughly around October 2021, give or take a month. However, the coronavirus pandemic will likely mean any production on the series once its renewed can't start until later, so it's very possible The Last Kingdom season 5 won't hit Netflix until sometime in 2022.
Last Kingdom Season 5 Story Details
The Last Kingdom is based on The Saxon Stories books, but it generally condenses them down considerably. Usually, two of the novels are adapted per season, with season 4 tackling the 7th and 8th books in the series, The Pagan Lord and The Empty Throne. That leaves four books in the series left, which suggests The Last Kingdom will ultimately run for six seasons. The Last Kingdom season 5, then, will presumably adapt books 9 and 10, which are Warriors of the Storm and The Flame Bearer.
Season 4 was about Uhtred's attempts to reclaim Bebbanburg from Aelfric, a story thread that will continue to play out in The Last Kingdom season 5. At the same time, there'll also be new battles to be fought between the Saxons and the Vikings, with the conflicts becoming bigger and bloodier as The Last Kingdom progresses.