https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg-h8TwQCgs
Arthurian legend gets a modern kick in The Kid Who Would Be King.
In this retelling of the King Arthur tale, young Alex (Louis Ashbourne Serkis) is very much a child living in modern day England when he happens upon a sword set in stone. This action sends Alex squarely into the face of adventure with a ticking timeline to the solar eclipse, at which point the evil Morgana (Rebecca Ferguson) will enter their world, and presumably do evil things. Alex and his friends must band together and train as knights in order to counter this looming threat.
The trailer very much shows off the action and adventure aspect of this family film, with bits of humour thrown in for good effect. Most generations have some version of King Arthur retold for them (my mind immediately went to A Kid In King Arthur’s Court when I saw this) and they are almost always fun, if not necessarily the height of cinema. Director Joe Cornish has some cult credential with Attack the Block, so the film seems to be in a good pair of hands to toe the line between fun and action-packed.
The film also boasts a strong supporting cast for the relatively young Louis Ashbourne Serkis (yes, son of that Serkis) including the above mentioned Rebecca Ferguson as well as Patrick Stewart as Merlin. The film’s somewhat ensemble approach (a la knights of the round table) should also mean that young cast members are under less pressure to “carry” the film.
The Kid Who Would Be King is directed by Joe Cornish and stars Louis Ashbourne Serkis, Rebecca Ferguson, and Patrick Stewart. It will be released in the US on the 25th of January and the UK on the 15th of February. For full international release information, please go here.
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