I’ve been seeing articles about the play Richard III, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, being filmed for television and shown on something called “The Hollow Crown” on BBC Two.
What’s this series? Just plays, or just Shakespeare plays? If the latter, I’d love to be able to see some of them.
Richard III is my very favorite play of Shakespeare’s. It’s the first one we studied in a class I took in college and I’ve always loved it. I really want to see this version.
Judi Dench will be in it too!
it is a series of his history plays.
there have been sherlock jokes with andrew scott being added into the series.
The Hollow Crown was a series of Shakespeare plays filmed and financed by The BBC and a US Network(I forget which one). They were shown around 18 months ago. The Plays were Richard II, Henry IV parts 1 and 2, and Henry V. All good stuff. I was slightly disappointed in two pieces of casting - one being Jeremy Irons (who I have an irrational dislike of )and the casting of Simon Russell Beale as Falstaff. I had recently seen Roger Allam play Falstaff. Allam played a the role perfectly. I think he deserved to be seen by a wider audience on television.
Ben Wishaw was outstanding as Richard II.
According to reports, Tom Hiddleston makes a very convincing Prince Hal, and a slightly less convincing young Henry the V.
I have not been able to see the cycle yet, but I love me some Shakespeare histories and likewise BBC costume dramas. I’ve got a friend moving to a new house (with a new TV) and we have a standing date to watch them once the move is over.
Can anyone speak to the availability of this series in the US? I’d love to see the entire cycle, but my local PBS station (KCTS Seattle/Tacoma) doesn’t seem to be carrying these episodes of Great Performances.
The article in the link says:Unfortunately, fans have a long wait as the series is unlikely to air until 2016.
The article in the link says: Unfortunately, fans have a long wait as the series is unlikely to air until 2016.
So probably even longer for PBS to get it?
You mean richard 3 specifically? Because the other plays have already aired.
I wonder if they’re making the HENRY VI movies before RICHARD III. (Per the wiki, they’re making 2 movies from the 3 plays.)
That was the last line the article.
Just putting in a plug for Ben Wishaw’s “Richard II”. I’ve never cared much for the play but he was riveting. Easily the best of the three actors playing kings so far, and I say that as someone who really loves both Irons and Hiddleston other work. Really, I blame the director - the direction on Henry IV and V was pretty blah.
Looking forward to “Henry VI” and “Richard III”. H6 isn’t one I would normally go out of my way for, but I’m feeling kind of sorry for it being so ignored as all the heavy-hitters sign up for R3.
I agree that Roger Allam would have been a much better Falstaff. The character is pretty unsympathetic and Allam would have made it much, much easier to sit through.
You can get the DVDs on Netflix.
I was torn on Simon Russell Beale as Falstaff. On the one hand, his acting is fantastic. On the other, his Falstaff was so repulsive I could hardly stomach his scenes. Tom Hiddleston was excellent as Prince Hal, as was Ben Wishaw as Richard II.