Netflix's 'Cursed' Rewrites the Arthurian Legend For Your Next Big Fantasy Binge
With Game of Thrones gone for good and The Witcher in between seasons, fantasy fans are hard up for new adventures in imaginative worlds this summer. Fortunately, Netflix has a solution for that: Cursed, a gritty new fantasy series set in the Arthurian legendarium. With an exciting cast of up-and-comers and a distinct visual style, it’s set to be a satisfying binge, judging by the trailer Netflix shared on Thursday. Here’s everything we know about the show thus far.
What is Cursed About?
Based on the same-titled young adult novel by Frank Miller (the producer and writer behind 300) and Thomas Wheeler, Cursed tells the story of Nimue, the young sorceress whom some scholars believe is destined to become the formidable and mysterious Lady of the Lake. While Arthurian scholars debate which of medieval Britain’s many enchantresses ultimately became the Lady of the Lake, Nimue among them, Nimue is best known as the architect of Merlin’s downfall, as she imprisoned Merlin eternally in a cave or tree under an enchantment. Though she deprived him of his mentor, Nimue came to King Arthur’s aid on multiple occasions, rescuing him from assassination attempts and bearing his wounded body over the lake to heal on the mystical island of Avalon.
In Cursed, Miller and Wheeler reimagine Arthurian legend by envisioning a new story for Nimue. In their portrayal, Nimue is a teenage sorceress commanded by her dying mother to reunite an ancient sword with a legendary sorcerer. Traveling through the world alone, as her entire village has been slaughtered by invading forces, she soon teams up with a mercenary named Arthur; together they seek out Merlin to deliver the sword to him. Cursed flips the script of Arthurian legend, positing that it is not Arthur destined to wield Excalibur, but Nimue, who must use the sword to defeat the invading forces that ravaged her homeland, as well as the evil aims of King Uther Pendragon, Arthur’s father.
In the trailer, Nimue recounts the destruction of her village, with King Uther Pendragon's force of Red Paladins slaughtering villagers because of their magical abilities. As she rises from a lake, wielding a fearsome sword, she says in voiceover, "The legend says this sword belongs to the one true king. But what if the sword chooses a queen?"
Who Is In the Cast?
Katherine Langford (13 Reasons Why) stars as Nimue, while Devon Terrell stars as Arthur. Gustaf Skarsgard will appear as Merlin, Sebastian Armesto as King Uther Pendragon, Shalom Brune-Franklin as Igraine (Arthur’s sister), and Matt Stokoe as Gawain the Green Knight.
Wheeler and Miller both serve as executive producers of Cursed, with Wheeler taking on the role of showrunner. Wheeler said of the cast:
“Realizing these characters from page to screen was a unique and thrilling creative challenge. I think first and foremost when casting for Cursed, Frank and I were looking for a mythological truth, actors who could bring the emotion and the humanity to legendary characters without losing the sense of elemental magic and epic stakes. Led by Katherine Langford, who is equal parts classic hero and sword-swinging badass, this extraordinary cast has brought such depth, commitment, and heart to this story. We can’t wait to introduce them to audiences around the world.”
When Will Cursed Air?
Cursed lands on Netflix on July 17, 2020.
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