THE HOLLOW CROWN: THE WARS OF THE ROSES

Following on from the huge success of the first series, The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses completes the epic cycle of Shakespeare’s history plays with Henry VI (Parts I & II) and Richard III

Henry VI Part One – France & Rebellion

England is in crisis after the death of Henry V and territories in France are threatened. The English continue to wage war against the French whilst infighting at the English Court weakens the Crown.  Lord Talbot, battling the enigmatic Joan of Arc, looks set to redeem a divided kingdom. But when young Henry VI marries Margaret of Anjou and insists on a truce, the outrage at home sets the scene for civil war – The Wars of the Roses.

Henry VI Part Two - Civil War

Rivalries lead to the Wars of the Roses where the carnage results in father mourning son, and son mourning father. The saintly Henry VI is undermined by his nobles. The ambitious leader of the Yorkists, Plantagenet Richard, Duke of York, believes their claim to the throne is superior. Margaret, the Queen, effectively governs through her faction of Lancastrian lords, overshadowing the feeble King.  Battle and bloodshed ensues which sees the death of Plantagenet and his youngest son Edmund and culminates in Edward IV taking the throne.  While the House of York celebrates, Richard, youngest brother of Edward, has his own sights set on the crown, whatever it takes.

Richard III – Tyranny & Murder

From the struggle emerges Richard III, the most notorious and celebrated of Shakespeare’s Kings, who is determined to remove anyone who stands between him and his ambition for the throne. With calculating cunning, he manipulates his way through the court, betraying his brothers and loyal advisors on a bloodthirsty and ruthless quest for power. Following his final defeat at the Battle of Bosworth Field, The houses of Lancaster & York, the red rose and the white are united, bringing to an end the Wars of the Roses and a long period of civil strife

STARRING: Benedict Cumberbatch, Hugh Bonneville, Ben Daniels, Judi Dench, Adrian Dunbar, James Fleet, Phoebe Fox, Michael Gambon, Philip Glenister, Keeley Hawes, Sally Hawkins, Anton Lesser, Ben Miles, Sophie Okonedo, Andrew Scott, Geoffrey Streatfield, Tom Sturridge, Stanley Townsend, Luke Treadaway, Sam Troughton, Jason Watkins, Samuel West

ADAPTED BY: Ben Power and Dominic Cooke

DIRECTOR: Dominic Cooke

PRODUCER: Rupert Ryle-Hodges

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Gareth Neame, Pippa Harris, Sam Mendes, Nicolas Brown, David Horn

The Hollow Crown is a Neal Street co-production with Carnival Films / NBCUniversal and Thirteen