The Last Kingdom is a British historical drama television series created and developed for television by Stephen Butchard, based on The Saxon Stories series of novels by Bernard Cornwell. The series premiered on 10 October 2015 on BBC Two. After co-producing the second series, Netflix acquired the series in 2018. The series concluded on 9 March 2022 after five series for a total of 46 episodes. A feature-length sequel that concluded the series story, titled Seven Kings Must Die, premiered on 14 April 2023 on Netflix.

Premise Series One Produced by the BBC, the first series adapts the first two novels of Bernard Cornwell's series of novels The Saxon Stories, The Last Kingdom and The Pale Horseman. The series covers the years 866–878 where the arrival of the Great Heathen Army in England led by Guthrum and Ubba Ragnarsson redefines the relationship between Vikings and Anglo-Saxons. Following the establishment of Danish rule, Uhtred, a Saxon raised by the Danes, comes to the aid of the kingdom of Wessex and its ruler King Alfred with the hope of eventually retaking his home of Bebbanburg as ongoing Viking incursions attempt to conquer the whole of England.

The eight-episode first series premiered on BBC Two on 10 October 2015 and concluded on 28 November 2015.

Series Two The second series adapts Cornwell's third and fourth novels The Lords of the North and Sword Song. The series covers the years 879–886 and deals with Uhtred's quest in Northumbria to defeat his old enemy Kjartan the Cruel whilst the kingdoms of Wessex and Mercia combat the invading Norse brothers Sigefrid and Eric.

The eight-episode second series premiered on BBC Two on 15 March 2017 and concluded on 4 May 2017.

Series Three The third series adapts Cornwell's fifth and sixth novels The Burning Land and Death of Kings, although there are significant plot changes from the novels compared to the previous two series. The series covers the years 892–902 and deals with the end of King Alfred's reign while the conflict between the Saxons and the Danes grows after the arrival of the Second Great Danish Army led by the coalition of Viking warlords including Ragnar the Younger, Cnut, Sigurd Bloodhair and Haesten.

The ten-episode third series premiered in its entirety on Netflix on 19 November 2018.

Series Four The fourth series adapts Cornwell's seventh and eighth novels The Pagan Lord and The Empty Throne. Similar to series three, there are significant plot changes from the novels. The series covers the years 909–911 and deals with the early years of King Edward's reign over the Saxons, ongoing political struggles in Mercia and the Second Great Danish Army's continued invasion of Wessex that culminates in the Siege of Wintanceaster.

The ten-episode fourth series premiered in its entirety on Netflix on 26 April 2020.

Series Five The fifth series adapts Cornwell's ninth and tenth novels Warriors of the Storm and The Flame Bearer, and includes elements of the eleventh novel War of the Wolf. Similar to series three and four, there are significant plot changes from the novels. The series covers the years 917–920 and deals with the disputed lines of succession in Wessex and Mercia, conflict with the remaining Vikings in Northumbria led by Uhtred's son-in-law Sigtryggr, and Uhtred returning to Bebbanburg once more to finally achieve his destiny.

The ten-episode fifth and final series premiered in its entirety on Netflix on 9 March 2022.

Film

The film Seven Kings Must Die adapts Cornwell's thirteenth and final novel of The Saxon Stories, War Lord, and includes elements of the twelfth novel Sword of Kings, giving a final sendoff to Uhtred of Bebbanburg. The film covers the year 937 and deals with the fallout following the death of King Edward as his disputed heir Aethelstan seizes the throne of England and ignites a war with an alliance of Kings that decides the future of England.

The film was written by Martha Hillier and directed by Edward Bazalgette. It premiered on Netflix on 14 April 2023.

Cast and characters Cast table Actor Character Series 1 2 3 4 5 Alexander Dreymon Uhtred of Bebbanburg colspan="5" Tobias Santelmann Ragnar the Younger colspan="3" colspan="2" Emily Cox Brida colspan="5" Thomas W. Gabrielsson Guthrum colspan="4" Joseph Millson Aelfric of Bebbanburg colspan="2" Rune Temte Ubba Ragnarsson colspan="4" Matthew Macfadyen Ealdorman Uhtred colspan="4" David Dawson King Alfred colspan="3" colspan="2" Adrian Bower Leofric colspan="2" Simon Kunz Odda the Elder colspan="2" colspan="3" Harry McEntire Prince Aethelwold colspan="3" colspan="2" Brian Vernel Odda the Younger colspan="4" Ian Hart Father Beocca colspan="4" Amy Wren Mildrith colspan="4" Charlotte Murphy Queen Iseult colspan="4" Thure Lindhardt King Guthred colspan="3" David Schofield Abbot Eadred colspan="3" Eva Birthistle Hild colspan="4" Gerard Kearns Halig colspan="3" Peri Baumeister Gisela colspan="2" colspan="2" Eliza Butterworth Lady Aelswith colspan="4" Peter McDonald Brother Trew colspan="3" Mark Rowley Finan colspan="4" Alexandre Willaume Kjartan the Cruel colspan="3" Sven the One-Eyed colspan="3" Thyra colspan="2" colspan="2" Björn Bengtsson Sigefrid colspan="3" Cavan Clerkin Father Pyrlig colspan="4" Arnas Fedaravicius Sihtric colspan="4" Erik colspan="3" Jeppe Beck Laursen Haesten colspan="4" Toby Regbo Lord Aethelred colspan="3" Millie Brady Lady Aethelflaed colspan="4" James Northcote Aldhelm colspan="4" Ewan Mitchell Osferth colspan="4" Timothy Innes King Edward colspan="2" colspan="3" Thea Sofie Loch Næss Skade colspan="2" colspan="2" Ola Rapace Sigurd Bloodhair colspan="2" colspan="2" Magnus Bruun Cnut colspan="2" colspan="2" Dagfinn colspan="2" Adrian Schiller Ealdorman Aethelhelm colspan="2" colspan="3" Adrian Bouchet Steapa colspan="2" Kevin Eldon Bishop Erkenwald colspan="2" colspan="2" Jamie Blackley Eardwulf colspan="3" Stefanie Martini Eadith colspan="3" colspan="2" Finn Elliot Uhtred Uhtredson colspan="3" colspan="2" Ruby Hartley Stiorra colspan="3" colspan="2" Amelia Clarkson Aelflaed colspan="2" colspan="2" Richard Dillane Ealdorman Ludeca colspan="3" Dorian Lough Ealdorman Burgred colspan="3" colspan="2" Steffan Rhodri King Hywel Dda colspan="3" Nigel Lindsay Prince Rhodri colspan="3" Eysteinn Sigurðarson Sigtryggr colspan="3" colspan="2" Harry Gilby Aethelstan colspan="4" Patrick Robinson Father Benedict colspan="4" Phia Saban Lady Aelfwynn colspan="4" Micki Stoltt Rǫgnvaldr colspan="4" Harry Anton Bresal colspan="4" Sonya Cassidy Lady Eadgifu colspan="4" Ryan Quarmby Cynlaef colspan="4" Jaakko Ohtonen Wolland colspan="4" Rod Hallett King Constantin colspan="4" Ewan Horrocks Prince Aelfweard colspan="4" Ossian Perret Wihtgar colspan="3" Bamshad Abedi-Amin Yahya colspan="4" Ross Anderson Prince Domnal colspan="4"

Main Introduced in Series 1

Alexander Dreymon as Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a Saxon warrior raised by the Danes who desires to reclaim his birthright at Bebbanburg Tom Taylor portrays a young Uhtred (guest series 1) Tobias Santelmann as Ragnar the Younger (series 1–3), the son of a Danish warlord and Uhtred's foster brother Emily Cox as Brida (series 1–5; guest Seven Kings Must Die), a free-spirited Saxon who, like Uhtred, was adopted by the Danes at a young age Jocelyn Macnab portrays a young Brida (guest series 1) Thomas W. Gabrielsson as Guthrum (series 1), one of the leaders of the Great Heathen Army, a large force of Viking warriors that invaded England Joseph Millson as Aelfric of Bebbanburg (series 1–2, 4), Uhtred's uncle, who usurps his position as the Lord of Bebbanburg Rune Temte as Ubba Ragnarsson (series 1), one of the infamous sons of Ragnar Lodbrok and a leader of the Great Heathen Army Matthew Macfadyen as Ealdorman Uhtred (series 1), Uhtred's father and the Ealdorman of Bebbanburg David Dawson as King Alfred (series 1–3), the King of Wessex who hopes to unite England against the invading Danes Adrian Bower as Leofric (series 1; guest series 3), a skilled Saxon soldier who serves Alfred and works closely with Uhtred Simon Kunz as Odda the Elder (series 1–2), the Ealdorman of Devonshire and Alfred's closest advisor Harry McEntire as Prince Aethelwold (series 1–3), Alfred's nephew who schemes to steal the crown of Wessex for himself Brian Vernel as Odda the Younger (series 1), the reckless son of Odda the Elder Ian Hart as Father Beocca (series 1–4), the former priest of Bebbanburg who serves Alfred in Wintanceaster Amy Wren as Mildrith (series 1), a Saxon noblewoman and Uhtred's first wife Charlie Murphy as Queen Iseult (series 1), the Briton "shadow queen" of Cornwalum Eva Birthistle as Hild (series 2–5; guest series 1), a resourceful nun who becomes one of Uhtred's allies Gerard Kearns as Halig (series 2; guest series 1), a Saxon messenger who becomes one of Uhtred's allies Eliza Butterworth as Lady Aelswith (series 2–5; recurring series 1), Alfred's wife and the queen consort of Wessex Alexandre Willaume as Kjartan the Cruel (series 2; guest series 1), a Danish warrior responsible for massacring the household where Uhtred was raised as Sven the One-Eyed (series 2; guest series 1), Kjartan's sadistic son Andrew Lukacs portrays a young Sven (guest series 1) as Thyra (series 2–3; guest series 1), Ragnar's sister and Uhtred's foster sister who was kidnapped by Kjartan and held captive for many years. She later marries Father Beocca. Madeleine Power portrays a young Thyra (guest series 1)

Introduced in Series 2 Thure Lindhardt as King Guthred (series 2), a former slave and the pretender king of Northumbria David Schofield as Abbot Eadred (series 2), Guthred's closest advisor Peri Baumeister as Gisela (series 2–3), Uhtred's second wife and Guthred's sister Peter McDonald as Brother Trew (series 2), a priest who serves under Guthred Mark Rowley as Finan (series 2–5; Seven Kings Must Die), a fierce Irish warrior sworn to Uhtred and his second-in-command Björn Bengtsson as Sigefrid (series 2), a Norse Earl who, alongside his brother Erik, ruthlessly raids settlements throughout England Cavan Clerkin as Father Pyrlig (series 2–5; Seven Kings Must Die), a Welsh priest and former warrior sworn to serve the ruler of Wessex Arnas Fedaravicius as Sihtric (series 2–5; Seven Kings Must Die), Kjartan's bastard son who becomes one of Uhtred's most trusted allies as Erik (series 2), a Norse Earl who is Sigefrid's kinder and more diplomatic brother Jeppe Beck Laursen as Haesten (series 2–5; guest Seven Kings Must Die), a Danish chieftain who serves Sigefrid and Erik and will do anything for personal gain Toby Regbo as Lord Aethelred (series 2–4), the Lord of Mercia who hopes to one day rule England and Aethelflaed’s eventual abusive husband. Millie Brady as Lady Aethelflaed (series 2–5), Alfred and Aelswith's daughter, Aethelred's wife and the Lady of Mercia Zsofia Farkas portrays a young Aethelflaed (guest series 1) James Northcote as Aldhelm (series 2–5; Seven Kings Must Die), Aethelred and Aethelflaed's closest ally and chief Huscarl Ewan Mitchell as Osferth (series 2–5), Alfred's bastard son who becomes one of Uhtred's most trusted allies as Dagfinn (series 3; guest series 2), a Danish chieftain and Haesten's second-in-command Adrian Bouchet as Steapa (series 3–4; recurring series 2), Alfred's chief Huscarl and a fierce warrior

Introduced in Series 3 Timothy Innes as King Edward (series 3–5), Alfred and Aelswith's son who succeeds his father as King of the Anglo-Saxons Thea Sofie Loch Næss as Skade (series 3), a skald and supposed sorceress loyal to Bloodhair Ola Rapace as Sigurd Bloodhair (series 3), a merciless leader of the Second Great Danish Army who believes it's his destiny to overthrow King Alfred Magnus Bruun as Cnut (series 3–4), a powerful Danish warlord, cousin of Ragnar and a leader of the Second Great Danish Army who plans to conquer Wessex