Game of Thrones’ Nikolaj Coster-Waldau to Lead BBC Period Drama Series King and Conqueror Opposite James Norton

The actor formerly known as Jaime Lannister once again unsheathing his sword in a quest for power? It’s safe to say that King and Conqueror already has our full attention.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones) and James Norton (Happy Valley) are set to executive-produce and star in the new period drama, playing 11th century figures William, Duke of Normandy, and Harold, Earl of Wessex, respectively.

More from TVLine

• How to Watch Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Specials Online - Even Without Disney+

• Top Gear Cancelled? BBC Puts Car Show on 'Rest' for the 'Foreseeable Future'

• BBC Cancels Doctors After 23 Years, Reveals Reason Behind 'Difficult Decision'

Set to air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK, King and Conqueror does not yet have a U.S. home.

The series tells “the story of a clash that defined the future of a country — and a continent — for a thousand years, the roots of which stretch back decades and extend out through a pair of interconnected family dynasties, struggling for power across two countries and a raging sea,” reads the official description. “Harold of Wessex and William of Normandy were two men destined to meet at the Battle of Hastings in 1066; two allies with no design on the British throne, who found themselves forced by circumstance and personal obsession into a war for possession of its crown.”

Coster-Waldau will also direct one of the limited series’ eight episodes, written by series creator and executive producer Michael Robert Johnson (Sherlock Holmes). Additional EPs include Kitty Kaletsky, Baltasar Kormákur, Robert Taylor, Dave Clarke, Richard Halliwell, Ed Clarke, Robert Jones and Lindsey Martin. King and Conquerer is set to bring production in Iceland in 2024.

“We are thrilled to partner with James, Nikolaj, Baltasar and the entire creative team on King and Conqueror, a truly groundbreaking series with world-class talent and global reach,” Lindsey Martin, senior vice president of international co-productions and development at CBS Studios, says in a statement. “Michael’s scripts offer a bold and fresh take on a story that has endured for nearly 1,000 years, and yet, the themes are as contemporary and relevant as ever. We are incredibly proud of what the team has achieved so far and can’t wait to see it all come to fruition on screen with our star-studded cast.”

Adds Sue Deeks, head of program acquisition for the BBC: “In the U.K. we learn about William the Conqueror, the Battle of Hastings and King Harold’s gruesome death in our school history lessons – but those headlines are all most of us can remember. King and Conqueror will bring Harold and William to life, depicting their lives, loves and families, and the gripping, high-stakes power game that led to their fateful meeting in 1066. With incredible talent both in front of and behind the camera, I cannot wait for this exciting project to be realized.”

Your thoughts on King and Conqueror? Drop ’em in a comment below.

Best of TVLine

• 'Missing' Shows, Found! The Latest on Hacks, The Orville, Snowpiercer and 20+ Others

• Summer TV Calendar: Your Guide to 85+ Season and Series Premieres

• Yellowjackets Mysteries: An Up-to-Date List of the Showtime Series' Biggest Questions (and Answers?)

Get more from TVLine.com: Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Newsletter