Knightfall is a historical fiction drama television series created by Don Handfield and Richard Rayner for the History Channel. Filmed in the Czech Republic and Croatia, it premiered on December 6, 2017, in the United States. On August 13, 2018, History renewed the series for a second season, which premiered on March 25, 2019. In May 2020, it was announced that the series had been cancelled.
Knightfall recounts the success, fall, persecution, and suppression of the Knights Templar, as orchestrated by King Philip IV of France on October 13, 1307. The series focuses on the fictional Templar leader Landry du Lauzon, a brave warrior discouraged by the Templars' failures in the Holy Land, who is reinvigorated by news that the Holy Grail has resurfaced.
Cast and characters Main Tom Cullen as Landry de Lauzon,"Landry du Lauzon", History Channel UK, 9 July 2018 a senior brother of the Knights Templar and a veteran of the Crusades, who is a noble, courageous, and headstrong knight who began his service with the Templars as Godfrey's squire – Godfrey tutored and trained him into a skilled and respected warrior monk. After the Siege of Acre, Landry witnesses the failure of the Crusade, the conquest of the Holy Land by the Saracens and the loss of the most-prized relic in all of Christendom: the Holy Grail. 15 years later, Landry has his faith shaken and frustrated by the Order's inactivity, becomes Master and Commander of the Paris Temple after Godfrey's assassination, the subsequent investigation revealing the Grail is now in France. His hope is reignited, and Landry leads his fellow Templars on a journey to uncover the reasons behind his mentor's death and location of the Grail. Harry Webster portrays a young Landry in season 1. Jim Carter as Pope Boniface VIII, a warm and avuncular man and a seasoned religious leader, who acts as a stabilizing, incorruptible force within a corrupt medieval world. The Templar Knights value him as their Holy leader, and they're willing to execute his orders without question. Boniface personally appoints Landry the new Master and Commander of the Paris Temple after Godfrey's assassination and entrusts him the mission of finding the Holy Grail, hoping to use it to launch a new Crusade and reclaim the Holy Land. Simon Haines portrays the younger Father Benedetto in season 2. (main season 1, featured season 2) Pádraic Delaney as Gawain, the greatest swordsman of the Templar Order who was crippled by a leg injury sustained in the Siege of Acre while protecting Landry. 15 years later, after Godfrey's assassination, he is told by the new Master Landry he can no longer fight. Unable to serve in the field, Landry assigns him as the training master to the Order's initiates, teaching future knights, including the commoner Parsifal. Feeling his heroism is no longer celebrated, he struggles to maintain his loyalty to the Order, just as he struggles to come to terms with his physical limitations. Gawain feels that, of all the Templars, he has the most to gain from the recovery of the Holy Grail, due to its reported ability to heal. Simon Merrells as Tancrède de Hauteville, a veteran Templar fiercely loyal to the order. Unlike most Templars, Tancrede was once married, but he gave up married life in order to join the Templars. As the steadfast, brave, and resolute knight who venerates his Templar vows above all else, Tancrede imagines himself as the heir apparent to Godfrey, the Master and Commander of the Paris Temple, although he concedes to Landry following Godfrey's assassination. With the revelation that the Holy Grail is now in France, Tancrede aids and advises Landry on his quest, and comes to understand what his role must be. Julian Ovenden as William de Nogaret, King Philip's scheming counsellor, pragmatic lawyer and right-hand man. De Nogaret is unashamedly godless, and a calculating manipulator ahead of his time. He is driven to destroy the power of organized religion, in revenge for his parents being burned at the stake as heretics for practising Catharism. Cool and supremely calculating, De Nogaret is more involved in the quest for the Holy Grail than he appears. He also secretly desires Philip's daughter, Isabella, while seeking to make her the next Queen of England. Freddie Preston portrays a young de Nogaret in season 2. Olivia Ross as Queen Joan (season 1), a formidable diplomat and strategist. Joan is a devoted mother who seeks to ensure her children, especially her daughter, marry for love rather than duty like she was to Philip, whom she has grown to fear. She and Philip are friends of Landry after he saved them from being murdered by brigands – against Landry's vows of celibacy, and without Philip's knowledge, the two pursued a secret romance and Joan is secretly pregnant with his child. Ed Stoppard as King Philip, known for his good looks (hence the nickname "The Fair"), Philip struggles both as a King and a husband. He seeks to control his family while dealing with the politics and power moves that are an inevitable part of running his kingdom. Philip longs to be a great monarch and to transform France into the greatest power in Europe. He and Joan are friends of Landry after he saved them from being murdered by brigands, and Philip considers him a teacher, confidant and friend (although he is unaware of their secret romance). Sabrina Bartlett (main season 1) and Genevieve Gaunt (recurring season 2) as Princess Isabella, Queen Joan and King Philip's daughter. Isabella is a beautiful, energetic and self-aware young woman whose youth belies a capacity to go to extraordinary lengths to get what she wants. Now of legal age, her impending marriage promises a strong political alliance for France. Bobby Schofield as Parsifal (season 1), a young peasant farmer who is decent and honest, although is also brash and recklessly brave, aiming to do what he feels is right, even faced with great peril. He was happily engaged to a young woman, Marie, but is left consumed with grief and a desire for vengeance when she is murdered by Godfrey's assassins. Adrift and wanting to pursue her killers, he accepts an offer from Landry to join the Templars. Sarah-Sofie Boussnina as Adelina (season 1), a Jewish homeless thief who previously lived in Acre, but was rescued as a child by Landry and the Templars. Now living in France with her father, she is secretly involved with the unknown forces surrounding the Holy Grail. Tom Forbes as Prince Louis of France (season 2), King Philip and Queen Joan's eldest son and heir. Mark Hamill as Master Talus (season 2), a veteran Templar who trains the initiates at the Chartres Temple.
Recurring
Nasser Memarzia as Draper, a Templar brother who serves as a doctor Marco Zingaro as Doctor Vigevano, the French court's doctor Jim High as Ulric, a Templar brother Robert Pugh (season 1) and Matthew Marsh (season 2) as Jacques De Molay, the 23rd and last Grand Master of the Knights Templar Peter O'Meara as Berenger, a Templar brother and the Master of the Chartres Temple
Season 1
Sam Hazeldine as Marcel De Caux/Godfrey, a Templar brother and the Master of the Paris Temple. Godfrey is a mentor and father figure to Landry. Cengiz Dervis as Roland, a brigand Adam Levy as Simon, a Jew and Adelina's father (as well as a survivor of Acre) Akin Gazi as Rashid, the leader of the Brotherhood of Light Joey Batey as Pierre, a Templar initiate (Episode 4, He Who Discovers His Own Self, Discovers God) Raymond Waring as Daniel Ben Bradshaw as Chamberlain Marigny Roy McCrerey as Charles, the Royal Steward Marcos Franz as Prince Lluis of Catalonia Enrique Arce as Rodrigo of Catalonia, the Catalan Ambassador Edward Bourne as Nicholas, De Nogaret's assistant Oliver Maltman as Robert, Earl of Oxford, the English Ambassador Amelia Clarkson as Sophie, Queen Joan's handmaiden Claudia Bassols as Queen Elena of Catalonia Jack Sandle as Malraux Lourdes Faberes as Altani Gina McKee as Landry's mother Thomas Coombes as Anthony, a Templar Ben Lamb as Dominic, a Templar Tony Pritchard as Ballard
Season 2
David Bowles as Gerard, a Templar brother Daniel Campbell as Kelton, a Templar initiate who is later admitted as a brother Brian Caspe as Angus, a Templar brother Michael James as Quentin, a Templar initiate who is later admitted as a brother Joseph Ollman as Vasant, a Templar initiate who is later admitted as a brother Dean Ridge as Rhone, a Templar initiate who is later admitted as a brother Jirí Weingärtner as Othon, a Templar brother Stephen Fewell as Archbishop Raymond DeGoth and, later, Pope Clement V Claire Cooper as Sister Anne Clementine Nicholson as Queen Margaret, the wife of Prince Louis. Salóme Gunnarsdóttir as Lydia, a victim of Louis' plot Louise Bond as Grecia Grace Carter as Camille
Notable guests
James Coombes as Governor De Rouvray of Navarre (season 1) Simon Haines as Father Benedetto, the young Pope Boniface VIII (season 2) Pavel Bezdek as Pascale (season 2) Bill Ratner as Raynald (season 2) Sam Hoare as Gabriel (season 2), a Lazarist knight Ben Starr as Philippe (season 2)
Episodes
Season 1 (2017–18)
Season 2 (2019)
Production Development In January 2016, History announced it had picked up Knightfall for a 10-episode straight-to-series, executive produced by Jeremy Renner. The series was conceived by Renner's production partner Don Handfield and Los Angeles-based British writer and journalist Richard Rayner. British writer-producer Dominic Minghella served as showrunner for the first season. Knightfall recounts the fall, persecution, and burning at the stake of the Knights Templar, as orchestrated by King Philip IV of France on October 13, 1307. Minghella said that the Swedish film Arn – The Knight Templar was one of the main inspirations for the series.
A Czech-American co-production presented by History, the first season of Knightfall was developed and produced by A+E Studios. Dominic Minghella, Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec, Jeff Pinkner, Scott Rosenberg, Barry Jossen, Jana Bennett, Douglas Mackinnon, Jeremy Renner, Don Handfield, Richard Rayner, and Sonny Postiglione are credited as executive producers, while Philip G. Flores acted as co-executive producer. The season was produced by Michael Wray for the first four episodes and Gideon Amir for the last six episodes. Jason Grote, Alex Shevchenko, David Minkowski and Matthew Stillman acted as co-producers, while David Elliot served as supervising producer.
The production team for the first season includes casting director Debbie McWilliams, costume designer Diana Cilliers, composer Andrew Price, production designer Ondrej Nekvasil, editors Nathan D. Gunn for the first, sixth and tenth episodes, Stephen Mark for the second episode, John Coniglio for the third and seventh episodes, Patrick McMahon for the fourth and eighth episode, Peter Mergus for the fifth and ninth episode, and Joe Sawyer for the fifth and sixth episodes, and cinematographer Christopher Manley.
On August 13, 2018, it was announced that Knightfall was renewed for a second season. Aaron Helbing was hired as executive producer, writer and showrunner for the second season, replacing Dominic Minghella. Knightfall actor Simon Merrells confirmed that Spartacus: Gods of the Arena and Spartacus: War of the Damned director Rick Jacobson was also working on the series. The production hired a number of European directors for the second season, including Samira Radsi and Roel Reiné. The second season consists of eight episodes.