Fans of The Last Kingdom, the hit historical drama series based on Bernard Cornwell’s novels, may wonder if the movie Seven Kings Must Die is the saga’s end. The answer is yes, according to the official announcement from Netflix and Carnival Films, the production company behind the show.
Was Uhtred of Bebbanburg real?
Uhtred of Bebbanburg, the main protagonist of The Last Kingdom series and movie, is a fictional character created by Bernard Cornwell. However, he is loosely based on a historical figure named Uhtred the Bold, who was the ealdorman of Northumbria from 1006 to 1016.
Uhtred the Bold was born around 975 to Waltheof I, Earl of Bamburgh (the original name of Bebbanburg), and Elfleda, daughter of King Ethelred II. He inherited his father’s title and lands when he was still a child, and was raised by his uncle Eadwulf Cudel at Court of King Ethelred. He married Ecgfrida, daughter of Aldhun, Bishop of Durham.
Uhtred became involved in the wars between England and Scotland in 1006 when he supported Malcolm II against Kenneth III. He also fought against Sweyn Forkbeard and his son Cnut when they invaded England in 1013 and 1015. He initially submitted to Sweyn but later switched allegiance back to Ethelred when Sweyn died.
Uhtred married twice more after Ecgfrida’s death. His second wife was Sigeferth’s widow Eadgyth (or Edith), whom he married after killing her husband at Oxford in 1015. His third wife was Aelfgifu (or Elgiva), King Ethelred’s daughter and Edmund Ironside’s sister.
Uhtred was killed in 1016 by Thurbrand the Hold (or Turf-Einar), a Danish nobleman who had a long-standing feud with him. Under the pretext of peace talks, Thurbrand lured Uhtred into a trap at Wiheal (or Wighill) near York. Uhtred was murdered along with 40 of his men. His head was sent to Cnut, who had become king of England after defeating Edmund Ironside.
Uhtred had at least six sons and one daughter from his three marriages. His eldest son Ealdred succeeded him as Earl of Bamburgh, but was later killed by Thurbrand’s son Carl. His second son Gospatric became Earl of Northumbria under William the Conqueror. His third son Eadwulf became a monk at Peterborough. His fourth son Aldred became a monk at Durham. His fifth son Cospatric became a landowner in Yorkshire. His sixth son Waltheof became Earl of Northampton and Huntingdon, but was later executed by William the Conqueror. His daughter Ealdgyth married Maldred, brother of Duncan I of Scotland.
Uhtred’s descendants continued to rule Bamburgh until 1139, when David I of Scotland captured it. The castle was later restored to the English crown by Henry II in 1157.
Will There Be The Last Kingdom Season 6?
Fans of The Last Kingdom may be disappointed to learn that Season 6 has been canceled. However, there is a silver lining in the form of a feature film titled 7 Kings Must Die. This film serves as a deep dive into the finale trilogy books War of the Wolf, Sword of Kings, and War Lord, released in 2018, 2019, and 2020, respectively.
In an interview with Radio Times, the show’s executive producer, Nigel Merchant, emphasized that the feature film will be a standalone story. This means that viewers can enjoy the film even if they haven’t watched the previous five seasons of the series.
Although Season 5 marked the end of the television series, the creators have opted to produce a summarized trilogy film instead. This approach allows fans to experience the conclusion of the story in a condensed format, exploring the events and themes presented in the final books of Bernard Cornwell’s series.
While the absence of a traditional Season 6 may be disappointing, the prospect of a standalone feature film offers an opportunity for fans to delve into the epic conclusion of The Last Kingdom’s narrative. So, grab your popcorn and prepare to embark on one last adventure in the world of Saxon England.
The Last Kingdom Season 6 Release Date
The sixth and final season of The Last Kingdom, the popular historical drama series based on Bernard Cornwell’s novels, was released on Netflix on October 15, 2022. The season consisted of 10 episodes, each lasting about an hour.
The season continued the story of Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a Saxon warrior who was raised by Vikings and fought for the dream of a united England. The season covered the events of the ninth and tenth books of Cornwell’s series, Warriors of the Storm and The Flame Bearer.
The season saw Uhtred and his allies facing new challenges and enemies, such as Ragnall Ivarsson, a Viking warlord who invaded Ireland and threatened Wessex, Sigtryggr, a Danish king who ruled over Eoferwic and allied with Ragnall, and Constantin II, a Scottish king who invaded Northumbria. The season also explored Uhtred’s personal life, such as his relationship with his children, his love for Aethelflaed, Lady of Mercia, and his quest to reclaim his ancestral home of Bebbanburg.
The season featured many of the series regulars, such as Alexander Dreymon as Uhtred, Eliza Butterworth as Aelswith, Ian Hart as Father Beocca, Toby Regbo as Aethelred, Millie Brady as Aethelflaed, Timothy Innes as Edward, Mark Rowley as Finan, Arnas Fedaravicius as Sihtric, Emily Cox as Brida, Jeppe Beck Laursen as Haesten, Harry McEntire as Aethelwold and David Dawson as Alfred. It also introduced some new characters, such as Ola Rapace as Sigtryggr, Ruby Hartley as Stiorra, Finn Elliot as Young Uhtred, Ewan Mitchell as Osferth and Caspar Griffiths as Wihtgar.
Is The Last Kingdom Movie the End of the Series?
The season received positive reviews from critics and fans alike, who praised the performances, the action scenes, the production values and the faithful adaptation of Cornwell’s books. The season also had high viewership ratings on Netflix, ranking among the top 10 most watched shows in several countries.
The season ended with a cliffhanger that set up the events of the movie Seven Kings Must Die, which will acted as a sequel and conclusion to the series.
The Last Kingdom Season 6 Plot: New Twists and Exciting Turns!
In the feature film 7 Kings Must Die, which serves as a sequel to The Last Kingdom series, the story centers around Uhtred and his companions as they navigate the aftermath of the deceased King Edward’s kingdom. The film takes us back to Bebbanburg, which lies in ruins, and explores Uhtred’s journey as he returns to his ancestral home.
Without revealing too much, the film delves into the challenges and conflicts that arise as Uhtred and his comrades navigate the complexities of this post-Edwardian world. The plot unfolds with intrigue, action, and the exploration of Uhtred’s personal and political struggles as he navigates the ruins of a once-mighty kingdom.
The Last Kingdom Season 6 Cast: Familiar Faces and New Additions!
The sixth and final season of The Last Kingdom, the hit historical drama series based on Bernard Cornwell’s novels, featured a large and talented cast of actors who brought to life the characters from the books. Here are some of the familiar faces and new additions who appeared in the season:
Alexander Dreymon as Uhtred of Bebbanburg: The main protagonist of the series, a Saxon warrior who was raised by Vikings and fought for the dream of a united England. He is also known as Uhtred Ragnarson or Uhtred son of Uhtred.
Eliza Butterworth as Aelswith: The widow of King Alfred and mother of Edward and Aethelflaed. She is a devout Christian who often clashes with Uhtred over his Pagan beliefs.
Ian Hart as Father Beocca: A priest and a friend of Uhtred since his childhood. He is loyal to Alfred’s vision of England and often acts as a mediator between Uhtred and Aelswith.
Toby Regbo as Aethelred: The Lord of Mercia and husband of Aethelflaed. He is ambitious and ruthless but also insecure and paranoid. He plots to overthrow Edward and take over Wessex.
The Last Kingdom Season 6 Trailer: There is no trailer!!
There is no Season 6 trailer for The Last Kingdom. Here’s the movie’s Seven Kings Must Die Sequal trailer of The Last Kingdom Season 5.
