One... year... hence. The titular Green Knight issues a grim warning to reconvene with King Arthur's headstrong nephew, Gawain, in exactly a year and a day if he is to prove his honor. It's rather fitting then, that like Gawain, audiences would have to brave an entire year full of trials and tribulations to see The Green Knight. David Lowery's spellbinding Arthurian epic was originally meant to premiere right at the outset of the COVID-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Now, finally, the highly anticipated medieval fantasy tale is set to arrive in theaters on July 30, 2021.
The Green Knight is A24's modern retelling of the 14th century epic poem "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight." Originally translated into English by none other than J.R.R. Tolkien, the poem was incredibly influential in the fantasy genre, though its author remains unknown. Lowery, known primarily for A Ghost Story and his Pete's Dragon remake, looks to put a bold spin on the classic story with dazzling cinematography and amazing visual effects. Gawain undergoes an odyssey filled with giants, ghosts and thieves to cement his legacy as a knight of the Round Table in what looks to be an unforgettable adventure. Have a look at the premier talent Lowery has at his disposal and who they will be playing.
Sir Gawain is King Arthur's reckless nephew. Unlike other knights of the Round Table, Gawain doesn't have a legend of his own to speak of. Desperate to carve out his own legacy, Gawain accepts the mysterious Green Knight's challenge -- a beheading game.
Gawain decapitates the enigmatic stranger who miraculously survives and demands that the young knight allow him a return blow in one year's time. To prove his chivalry, Gawain goes on a treacherous journey that tests his honor and courage. Sir Gawain is played by Dev Patel, best known for Slumdog Millionaire and Lion.
Gawain's shadowy nemesis is filled with mystery. The emerald-skinned stranger arrives at King Arthur's Court on Christmas to test his Knights of the Round Table. Believing none of them worthy of a fight, he challenges them to a beheading game; strike a free blow on him, but allow him to return the favor in one year. His motives and identity are unknowable. Many believe his green color represents nature, and/or Paganism, putting him in conflict with King Arthur's Christian beliefs.
Alicia Vikander, known for Ex Machina and The Danish Girl, does double duty with two roles in this film. She plays Essel, Gawain's paramour at Camelot, and Lady. Little has been seen of Essel, but a recently released clip shows her playfully rousing Gawain awake at a brothel in Camelot in his privileged, younger days. Her primary role is Lady Bertilak, a key figure central to Gawain's journey. Lady seduces Gawain, testing his chivalry and challenging notions of modern masculinity. She has the naïve knight wrapped around her finger and tempts him to discard his code of honor.
During his journeys, Gawain comes across a magnificent castle. The Lord of said castle is the aristocrat Lord Bertilak de Hautdesert. He and his beautiful wife Lady welcome the knight-errant and learn about his agreement with the eponymous Green Knight. In the poem, the Lord says he will hunt food for Gawain on the condition that Gawain give him whatever he gains that day. Despite Lord's best intentions, something is decidedly off-kilter about this castle. Gawain's code is thrown further into question when Lady begins making sexual advances toward him.
Lord is portrayed by Joel Edgerton from It Comes at Night and The Great Gatsby. Ironically, Edgerton previously played Sir Gawain in the 2004 movie King Arthur.
King of Britain, Master of Court and Castle in Camelot and Keeper of Excalibur, King Arthur plays a pivotal role in The Green Knight. The legendary King wants to be regaled with a tale at Christmastime and instead meets the titular foe. Arthur was ready to accept the Knight's challenge until his brash nephew Gawain volunteered. A year after the beheading game has passed, Arthur encourages Gawain to see his quest through to the end.
King Arthur is portrayed by Sean Harris, who is known for Mission Impossible: Fallout and The King.
Traditionally Gawain's aunt, Lowery made the bold choice to make Morgan le Fay Gawain's mother, and Arthur's half-sister. Though only referred to as Mother in The Green Knight, she still represents le Fay, a powerful enchantress from Arthurian legend. Le Fay is occasionally portrayed as an antagonist to Arthur, and in this film she is tied to nature more than her counterparts, again suggesting a conflict between Paganism and Christianity.
Mother is portrayed by Sarita Choudhury, who can be seen in Lady in the Water and A24's After Yang.
Erin Kellyman from Solo: A Star Wars Story and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier plays the role of St. Winifred. Kellyman's character was only briefly mentioned in the original poem as part of a geographical detail, so information on Winifred is incredibly scarce. She's not even shown in any of the trailers or clips so there's not much to say about Lowery's take on her. Any further details about her character would likely constitute as a spoiler.
Queen Guinevere is played by A24 alum, Kate Dickie. The Green Knight reunites the married couple from The Witch, where Ralph Ineson played Dickie's husband. In this film, Queen Guinevere encourages Gawain, who has no tales to tell, to make a name for himself. "Yet. You have none to tell yet," she insists.
A promo also reveals that Guinevere had an affair with Lancelot. How scandalous. Dickie is also known for her work on Game of Thrones.
Barry Keoghan plays Scavenger, who is described as a "scheming highwayman." In the above picture, Scavenger can be seen wielding the Green Knight's axe. Gawain previously won the splendid axe as a condition of accepting the Green Knight's challenge. Gawain treats the axe like a trophy before realizing his quest was more than just a game. Scavenger is in all likelihood one of the thieves described in the plot synopsis that Gawain will have to overcome to fulfill his destiny.
Keoghan is best known for Dunkirk, Eternals and The Killing of a Sacred Deer.
David Lowery and A24's Arthurian epic is already receiving rave reviews. Starring Dev Patel and Ralph Ineson, The Green Knight arrives in theaters July 30.
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