Fantasy reigns supreme in cable tv this year

Following the critical acclaim of series like The Pillars of the Earth and Spartacus: Blood and Sand, Starz is set to air it's new fantasy piece, Camelot, this April 1st.

The production has been kept under wraps for a while now, but we know the production team is the same that brought Showtime's Renaissance drama, The Tudors alive.

Executive producing are Morgan O'Sullivan and Michael Hirst, along with Craig Cegielski. Chris Chibnail of popular British projects like Doctor Who, Torchwood, and Law & Order: UK, is writing.

The production focuses on the young life of Arthur and early lore of the title character. Jamie Campbell Bower, who broke onto the scene as Anthony in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, will play young Arthur and Tamsin Egerton, a relative British unknown, is slated as Guinevere. Other notable roles go to Joseph Fiennes (Shakespeare in Love) as a down-to-earth Merlin and Eva Green (Casino Royale) as Morgana (the antagonist of lore).

Eva Green in Starz' Camelot

   Camelot synopsis:

            In the wake of King Uther’s sudden death, chaos threatens to engulf Britain.  When the sorcerer Merlin has visions of a dark future, he installs the young and impetuous Arthur, Uther’s unknown son and heir, who has been raised from birth as a commoner. But Arthur’s cold and ambitious half sister Morgan will fight him to the bitter end, summoning unnatural forces to claim the crown in this epic battle for control.  These are dark times indeed for the new King, with Guinevere being the only shining light in Arthur’s harsh world. Faced with profound moral decisions, and the challenge of uniting a kingdom broken by war and steeped in deception, Arthur will be tested beyond imagination.  Forget everything you think you know…this is the story of Camelot that has never been told before.

Sean Bean as Eddard Stark in HBO's Game of Thrones

Camelot will have a worthy opponent in HBO's adaptation of George R.R. Martin's Fantasy, Game of Thrones (first book in his series, A Song of Ice and Fire)- also slated for an early April air date.  From all appearances, Game of Thrones appears to be a darker take on the fantasy genre incorporating a power play between multiple vying sanctions for the throne of a fictional kingdom.

If you're not a lover of fantasy, have no fear, Starz' other big hit Spartacus: Blood and Sand is airing its prequel to the original, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena on January 21st.

Camelot airs April 1st on Starz.

[Source:  Screenrant]
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synopsis and photos, property of: Starz