The sound of clashing swords echoes through a mist-covered battlefield. Betrayal, ambition, and the hunger for power blaze through every frame. In a landscape still haunted by the shadow of Game of Thrones, a new legend rises – darker, grander, and more human. The trailer is at the end of the article.
The series is King & Conqueror, and it’s quickly become a global phenomenon on Prime Video. Set in 11th-century England, it tells the story of Harold Godwinson and William of Normandy, two men once bound by loyalty who turn into bitter enemies in a ruthless fight for the crown. Court intrigue, shifting alliances, and brutal battles make it a lavish historical drama, one that fills the void left by Westeros while carving its own path through history.
At its core is a confrontation between two extraordinary performances. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, forever remembered as Jaime Lannister, brings both gravity and ferocity to William, Duke of Normandy. Opposite him, James Norton (Happy Valley, Grantchester) plays Harold, torn between faith, duty, and destiny. Around them orbit Clémence Poésy, Emily Beecham, and Oliver Masucci, lending emotional depth to a story where loyalty can be fatal and victory comes drenched in blood.
Created and written by Michael Robert Johnson (Sherlock Holmes), King & Conqueror combines cinematic scale with intimate storytelling. Episodes directed by Coster-Waldau himself and Icelandic filmmaker Baltasar Kormákur (Everest, Trapped) capture the grit of medieval warfare and the beauty of human frailty. It’s a visual feast – every clash of swords and every flicker of candlelight feels meticulously crafted.
Grounded in real history, King & Conqueror dramatizes one of England’s most pivotal moments — the rivalry that culminated in the Battle of Hastings in 1066, reshaping Europe’s destiny. The series stays true to the spirit of the real events, while breathing life into the ambitions and fears behind them. Its production, led by BBC Studios in collaboration with CBS Studios and RVK Studios, ensures both authenticity and scope, balancing historical rigor with cinematic storytelling.
Since its arrival, the series has stormed the platform’s worldwide Top 10 charts, earning praise for its authenticity and atmosphere. Critics describe it as the heir Game of Thrones didn’t know it had, blending political tension with the raw emotion of historical truth. Like The Last Kingdom or Vikings: Valhalla, it reimagines real history with the pulse of a modern saga – the kind of historical drama that reminds us power always comes with a price.
What makes it stand out is its sense of inevitability. Every triumph carries the seed of tragedy; every alliance, the shadow of betrayal. The battles are vast, but the moral battlefield is even greater. This is not fantasy but something fiercer – ambition rendered in flesh and steel. Fans of epic series will recognize the same intoxicating mix of politics, passion, and fate that once ruled the Seven Kingdoms.
With House of the Dragon returning soon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms on the horizon, King & Conqueror proves there is still room for stories of thrones, crowns, and the terrible beauty of power. It stands not as a successor but as a rival, one forged from history rather than legend. For anyone who still craves kingdoms at war and hearts in conflict, this is impossible to ignore.
A series of fire and iron, King & Conqueror reminds viewers that the battle for glory never ends – it only changes kingdoms. For more like this, explore these historical epics trending on Streamingmania.
- Original title: King & Conqueror
- Format: TV series
- Runtime: 1 season – 8 episodes
- Genre: Historical drama, epic
- Country of production: United Kingdom
- Year of release: 2025
- Directed by: Baltasar Kormákur, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
- Main cast: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, James Norton, Clémence Poésy, Emily Beecham, Oliver Masucci
- Based on: Historical events – Battle of Hastings, 1066
- Produced by: BBC Studios, CBS Studios, RVK Studios
- Release date on Prime Video: August 2025
Watch the trailer
In the meantime, enjoy the trailer below.
