The Hollow Crown (TV series)

The Hollow Crown is a series of British television film adaptations of William Shakespeare's history plays.
The first series is an adaptation of Shakespeare's second historical tetralogy, the Henriad: Richard II, Henry IV, Part 1, Henry IV, Part 2 and Henry V, starring Ben Whishaw, Jeremy Irons and Tom Hiddleston. Olivier Award winners Rupert Goold, Richard Eyre and Thea Sharrock directed the telefilms, which were produced by Rupert Ryle-Hodges for BBC Two and executive produced by Sam Mendes and Pippa Harris under Neal Street Productions in association with NBCUniversal. The first series, which aired in the United Kingdom in 2012, received positive reviews from critics. Ben Whishaw and Simon Russell Beale won British Academy Television Awards for Leading actor and Supporting actor for their performances as Richard II and Falstaff, and Jeremy Irons was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor for his role as Henry IV. The first episode, Richard II, was nominated for the Best Single Drama at the BAFTA TV Awards.
The BBC aired the concluding series in 2016 as The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses, a reference to the series of English civil wars known as the Wars of the Roses, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Hugh Bonneville, Judi Dench, Sophie Okonedo and Tom Sturridge. The plays were produced in 2015 by the same team that made the first series of films but were directed by the former artistic director of Royal Court Theatre and Olivier Award winner, Dominic Cooke. They are based on Shakespeare's first tetralogy: Henry VI, Part 1, Henry VI, Part 2, Henry VI, Part 3 and Richard III. The adaptation presents Henry VI in two parts, incorporating all three Henry VI plays. Benedict Cumberbatch was nominated for the BAFTA Television Award for Best Leading Actor and The Wars of the Roses was nominated for Best Mini-Series.
The title of the series is taken from a line in Richard II:
== Cast ==
List indicators:
* A dark grey cell indicates the character was not in the film.
* Italics indicates a non-speaking cameo
Role 	The Hollow Crown (2012)	The Hollow Crown (2012)	The Hollow Crown (2012)	The Hollow Crown (2012)	The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses (2016)	The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses (2016)	The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses (2016)
Role 	Richard II 	Henry IV,Part 1 	Henry IV,Part 2 	Henry V 	Henry VI,Part 1 	Henry VI,Part 2 	Richard III
King Richard II 	Ben Whishaw 	colspan="6" 	 	 	 	 	
King Henry IV Henry Bolingbroke 	Rory Kinnear 	Jeremy Irons 	Jeremy Irons 	colspan="4" 	 	 	
Queen Isabella 	Clémence Poésy 	colspan="6" 	 	 	 	 	
John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster 	Patrick Stewart 	colspan="6" 	 	 	 	 	
Duke of York 	David Suchet 	colspan="6" 	 	 	 	 	
Duchess of York 	Lindsay Duncan 	colspan="6" 	 	 	 	 	
Duke of Aumerle later Duke of York 	Tom Hughes 	colspan="2" 	Paterson Joseph 	colspan="3" 	 	 	
Earl of Northumberland 	David Morrissey 	Alun Armstrong 	Alun Armstrong 	colspan="4" 	 	 	
Lady Northumberland 	colspan="2" 	Niamh Cusack 	colspan="4" 	 	 	 	
Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolk 	James Purefoy 	colspan="6" 	 	 	 	 	
King Henry V Prince Hal 	 	Tom Hiddleston 	Tom Hiddleston 	Tom Hiddleston 	colspan="3" 	 	
Sir John Falstaff 	 	Simon Russell Beale 	Simon Russell Beale 	Simon Russell Beale 	colspan="3" 	 	
Mistress Nell Quickly 	 	Julie Walters 	Julie Walters 	Julie Walters 	colspan="3" 	 	
Mistress Doll Tearsheet 	 	Maxine Peake 	Maxine Peake 	Maxine Peake 	colspan="3" 	 	
Bardolph 	 	Tom Georgeson 	Tom Georgeson 	Tom Georgeson 	colspan="3" 	 	
Ned Poins 	 	David Dawson 	David Dawson 	colspan="4" 	 	 	
Sir Henry Percy Harry Hotspur 	 	Joe Armstrong 	colspan="5" 	 	 	 	
Earl of Worcester 	 	David Hayman 	colspan="5" 	 	 	 	
Lady Kate Percy 	 	Michelle Dockery 	Michelle Dockery 	colspan="4" 	 	 	
Sir Edmund Mortimer 	colspan="1" 	Harry Lloyd 	colspan="2" 	Michael Gambon 	colspan="2" 	 	
Prince John of Lancaster 	colspan="1" 	Henry Faber 	Henry Faber 	colspan="4" 	 	 	
Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester 	colspan="1" 	Will Attenborough 	Will Attenborough 	colspan="1" 	Hugh Bonneville 	colspan="2" 	
Earl of Westmorland 	colspan="1" 	James Laurenson 	James Laurenson 	James Laurenson 	colspan="3" 	 	
Ancient Pistol 	colspan="2" 	Paul Ritter 	Paul Ritter 	colspan="3" 	 	 	
Owen Glendower 	 	Robert Pugh 	colspan="5" 	 	 	 	
Lady Mortimer 	 	Alex Clatworthy 	colspan="5" 	 	 	 	
Justice Robert Shallow 	colspan="2" 	David Bamber 	colspan="4" 	 	 	 	
Lord Chief Justice 	colspan="2" 	Geoffrey Palmer 	colspan="4" 	 	 	 	
Duke of Exeter 	colspan="3" 	Anton Lesser 	Anton Lesser 	Anton Lesser 	Anton Lesser 	 	
Captain Fluellen 	colspan="3" 	Owen Teale 	colspan="3" 	 	 	 	
Montjoy 	colspan="3" 	Jérémie Covillault 	colspan="3" 	 	 	 	
King Charles VI of France 	colspan="3" 	Lambert Wilson 	colspan="3" 	 	 	 	
Louis, the Dauphin 	colspan="3" 	Edward Akrout 	colspan="3" 	 	 	 	
Princess Katherine 	colspan="3" 	Mélanie Thierry 	colspan="3" 	 	 	 	
Alice 	colspan="3" 	Geraldine Chaplin 	colspan="3" 	 	 	 	
Chorus 	colspan="3" 	John Hurt 	colspan="3" 	 	 	 	
King Henry VI 	colspan="4" 	Tom Sturridge 	Tom Sturridge 	Tom Sturridge 	 	 	
Queen Margaret 	colspan="4" 	Sophie Okonedo 	Sophie Okonedo 	Sophie Okonedo 	 	 	
Eleanor Cobham Duchess of Gloucester	colspan="4" 	Sally Hawkins 	colspan="2" 	 	 	 	
Richard Plantagenet Duke of York 	colspan="4" 	Adrian Dunbar 	Adrian Dunbar 	 	 	 	
Cecily Duchess of York 	colspan="4" 	Lucy Robinson 	Lucy Robinson 	Judi Dench 	 	 	
Bishop of Winchester 	colspan="4" 	Samuel West 	colspan="2" 	 	 	 	
Earl of Warwick 	colspan="4" 	Stanley Townsend 	Stanley Townsend 	 	 	 	
Earl of Somerset 	colspan="4" 	Ben Miles 	Ben Miles 	 	 	 	
Duke of Suffolk 	colspan="4" 	Jason Watkins 	Jason Watkins 	 	 	 	
Lord Talbot 	colspan="4" 	Philip Glenister 	colspan="2" 	 	 	 	
Joan of Arc 	colspan="4" 	Laura Frances-Morgan 	colspan="2" 	 	 	 	
King Richard III Richard Plantagenet	colspan="5" 	Benedict Cumberbatch 	Benedict Cumberbatch 	 	 	 	
Queen Elizabeth 	colspan="5" 	Keeley Hawes 	Keeley Hawes 	 	 	 	
Edmund Plantagenet 	colspan="5" 	Angus Imrie 	 	 	 	 	
King Edward IV Edward Plantagenet 	colspan="5" 	Geoffrey Streatfeild 	Geoffrey Streatfeild 	 	 	 	
George Plantagenet Duke of Clarence 	colspan="5" 	Sam Troughton 	Sam Troughton 	 	 	 	
Lord Clifford 	colspan="5" 	Kyle Soller 	 	 	 	 	
Earl of Westmorland 	colspan="5" 	Richard Lynch 	 	 	 	 	
Duke of Buckingham 	colspan="5" 	Ben Daniels 	Ben Daniels 	 	 	 	
Queen Anne 	colspan="5" 	Phoebe Fox 	Phoebe Fox 	 	 	 	
Lord Hastings 	colspan="5" 	James Fleet 	James Fleet 	 	 	 	
King Louis XI of France 	colspan="5" 	Andrew Scott 	 	 	 	 	
King Henry VII Earl of Richmond 	colspan="5" 	Andrew Davies 	Luke Treadaway 	 	 	 	
Catesby 	colspan="6" 	Paul Bazely 	 	 	 	 	
== Episodes ==
=== Series 1 (2012) ===
=== Series 2 (2016) ===
==Production==
The BBC scheduled the screening of Shakespeare's history plays as part of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad, a celebration of British culture coinciding with the 2012 Summer Olympics. Sam Mendes signed up as executive producer to adapt all four plays in September 2010. He was joined as executive producer by Pippa Harris (both representing Neal Street Productions), Rupert Ryle-Hodges as producer, Gareth Neame (NBCUniversal), and Ben Stephenson (BBC).
Parts of the series were filmed in Kent at Squerryes Court and Penshurst Place.
The concluding series of plays were produced in 2015 by the same team that made the first series and were directed by Dominic Cooke. Richard III was played by Benedict Cumberbatch. Executive producer Pippa Harris stated, "The critical and audience reaction to The Hollow Crown series set the bar high for Shakespeare on screen, and Neal Street (Productions) is delighted to be making the concluding part of this great history cycle. By filming the 'Henry VI' plays as well as 'Richard III,' we will allow viewers to fully appreciate how such a monstrous tyrant could find his way to power, bringing even more weight and depth to this iconic character." The production returned to Kent for The Wars of the Roses, filming at Dover Castle, Leeds Castle and Penshurst Place.
=== Faithfulness of adaptation ===
The first series is largely faithful to the plays, although the text is abridged and lines are occasionally cut. The second series notably compresses the three-part Henry VI into two episodes. Significant scenes involving Talbot and Joan of Arc are cut and Jack Cade's Rebellion is not included. Many elements from the Suffolk part are incorporated into the character of Somerset. While the text does not directly specify which Duke of Exeter is depicted in Henry VI, Part 3, it is widely assumed to be Henry Holland, 3rd Duke of Exeter given the play's setting between 1445 and 1471. The portrayal by Anton Lesser implies that it is the same person as Lesser's Thomas Beaufort from Henry V and Henry VI, Part 1, who had died in 1426.
==Broadcast==
The first four plays aired on consecutive Saturday evenings on BBC Two between 30 June and 21 July 2012. The start time of Henry IV, Part 1 on 7 July was delayed by an hour because of coverage of the 2012 Wimbledon Championships, and the play was shown a second time the following evening on BBC Four. The plays were shown in the United States from 20 September to 11 October 2013 as part of the PBS Great Performances series.
All four plays were shown again on consecutive evenings on BBC Four in April 2016 as part of the BBC Shakespeare Festival commemorating the 400th anniversary of the playwright's death. The second series of plays aired on consecutive Saturday evenings on BBC Two commencing Saturday 7 May 2016.
==Home media==
The overseas and DVD rights for The Hollow Crown series are owned by NBC Universal. A Region 2 DVD set of the four films was released on 1 October 2012. A Region 1 DVD set was released on 17 September 2013. A 2-disc DVD set of The Wars of the Roses was released on 20 June 2016.
The original music soundtrack from The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses composed by Dan Jones was released on the Wave Theory Records label in June 2016 and performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
==Reception and accolades==
Mike Hughes of The Salinas Californian wrote, "Amazing TV – perfectly filmed."
===Series 1===
Award 	Result	Category 	Recipient
Music & Sound Awards 2013 	 	Sound Design (TV Programme) 	The Hollow Crown
South Bank Sky Arts Awards 2013 	 	Best TV Drama 	The Hollow Crown
South Bank Sky Arts Awards 2013 	 	Times Breakthrough 	Tom Hiddleston
Broadcasting Press Guild 2013 	 	Best Single Drama 	The Hollow Crown
Broadcasting Press Guild 2013 	 	Best Actor 	Ben Whishaw
BAFTA Television Awards 2013 	 	Best Leading Actor (Richard II) 	Ben Whishaw
BAFTA Television Awards 2013 	 	Best Supporting Actor 	Simon Russell Beale (Henry IV Part 2)
BAFTA Television Awards 2013 	 	Best Single Drama 	Richard II
RTS Programme Awards 2013 	 	Single Drama 	Richard II
BAFTA Craft Awards 2013 	 	Best Original Television Music 	Stephen Warbeck (Henry IV)
BAFTA Craft Awards 2013 	 	Best Sound (Fiction) 	Tim Fraser, Adrian Rhodes, Keith Marriner (Richard II)
BAFTA Craft Awards 2013 	 	Best Costume Design 	Odile Dicks-Mireaux (Richard II)
British Society of Cinematographers 	 	Best Cinematography in a Television Drama	Ben Smithard
4th Critics' Choice Television Awards	 	Best Miniseries 	The Hollow Crown
===Series 2===
Award 	Result	Category 	Recipient
BAFTA Television Awards 2017 	 	Best Leading Actor 	Benedict Cumberbatch
BAFTA Television Awards 2017 	 	Best Mini-Series 	The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses
BAFTA Television Craft Awards 2017	 	Best Costume Design	Nigel Egerton (Richard III)
==References==
==External links==
* 
* 
* The Hollow Crown – Extras
* The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses - About the Series
* The Hollow Crown: Shakespeare's History Plays - About the Series
Category:2012 British television series debuts
Category:2016 British television series endings
Category:BBC television royalty dramas
Category:Cultural depictions of English monarchs
Category:Cultural depictions of Henry VI of England
Category:Fiction about monarchy
Category:Television series by All3Media
Category:Television series by Universal Television
Category:Television series set in the 14th century
Category:Television series set in the 15th century
 
Category:Wars of the Roses in fiction
Category:Cultural depictions of Henry VII of England
Category:Television shows based on works by William Shakespeare
Category:Cultural depictions of Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York
Category:Cultural depictions of Edward IV
Category:Cultural depictions of Joan of Arc
Category:Cultural depictions of Richard III of England
Category:Cultural depictions of Richard II of England
Category:Cultural depictions of Henry IV of England
Category:Cultural depictions of Henry V of England
Category:Films about disability