Charlie Hunnam Gets The Royal Treatment at “King Arthur…” Premiere

Joseph Martinez

Charlie Hunnam at the World Premiere of Warner Bros’ “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword,”May 8, 2017. Photo © 2017 Joseph Martinez/ Picturelux – All Rights Reserved

Director Guy Ritchie has adapted and reinterpreted the legend of King Arthur with this latest version, “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.” The film starring, Charlie Hunnam and Jude Law, celebrated its world premiere in Hollywood, Monday, (May 8, 2017,) at the TCL Chinese Theater and attracted its share of stars on the red carpet. But only after a procession of knights on horseback made there way down Hollywood Boulevard to protect the King, I presume.

Aside from the spectacle of the Knights in battle gear wielding their swords, plenty of stars showed up including King Arthur himself, Charlie Hunnam, Djimon Hounsou, Eric Bana, Annabelle Wallis and Director Guy Richie. Celebrity guests included AJ McClean, Armie Hammer, Samaire Armstrong, Emile Hirsch, Christina Milian and many others.

Charlie Hunnam spoke with Variety at the premiere and mentioned that he was greatly inspired watching John Boorman’s 1981 film “Excalibur” as a young boy growing up in England.

“I watched it about 15 times when I was six or seven, and I was a little bit young to understand some of the big things that they were exploring — big questions, eternal questions,” he admitted. “I don’t think I was cognizant of that beyond just the action and adventure. But it was the first time I looked beyond the action and wondered how you would put action scenes together.”

Hunnam plays the legendary king in the new film. He said that “Excalibur,” which starred Nigel Terry in role of Arthur, had a profound influence on his artistic life. “It was the one that I just latched on to and started me on that journey of exploration of what filmmaking is all about.”

The new film interprets the classic Excalibur myth in a radically new way. In this version Arthur is growing up in great poverty, ignorant of the fact that he is actually a king’s son – and then one day his life gets a whole new twist.

About the film: When the child Arthur’s father is murdered, Vortigern (Jude Law), Arthur’s uncle, seizes the crown.  Robbed of his birthright and with no idea who he truly is, Arthur comes up the hard way in the back alleys of the city.  But once he pulls the sword from the stone, his life is turned upside down and he is forced to acknowledge his true legacy…whether he likes it or not.

Starring with Hunnam (FX’s “Sons of Anarchy”) and Oscar nominee Law (“Cold Mountain,” “The Talented Mr. Ripley”) are Astrid Bergès-Frisbey (“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides”) as Mage; Oscar nominee Djimon Hounsou (“Blood Diamond,” “In America”) as Bedivere; Aidan Gillen (HBO’s “Game of Thrones”) as Goose-Fat Bill; and Eric Bana (“Star Trek”) as Arthur’s father, King Uther Pendragon.

Guy Ritchie (“The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” the “Sherlock Holmes” films) directed the film from a screenplay by Joby Harold (“Awake”) and Guy Ritchie & Lionel Wigram, story by David Dobkin (“The Judge”) and Joby Harold.

The film opens on May 12, 2017. For more visit www.kingarthurmovie.com

Photos © 2017 Joseph Martinez/ Picturelux – All Rights Reserved.