James R | On 20, Apr 2016

Photo: BBC/Carnival Film & Television Ltd/Robert Viglasky

The BBC has released a new trailer for The Hollow Crown: The War of the Roses.

Following on from 2014’s adaptations of Shakespeare’s Richard II, Henry IV: Part I and II and Henry V, BBC Two continues its cycle of History Plays with an adptation of Henry VI (in two parts) and Richard III.

Benedict Cumberbatch leads the star-studded cast as Richard III, joined by Judi Dench will play Cecily, Duchess of York. Hugh Bonneville will play Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester and Sally Hawkins his wife Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester in Henry VI Part 1. Keeley Hawes plays Queen Elizabeth in Henry VI Part 2 and Richard III and Tom Sturridge has been cast as Henry VI in Part 1 and 2. Sophie Okonedo will appear as Queen Margaret across all three films.

The movies, which are executive produced by Sam Mendes, Pippa Harris and Nicolas Brown for Neal Street Productions, David Horn for Thirteen and Gareth Neame for Carnival/NBCUniversal, were commissioned by Ben Stephenson, Controller of BBC Drama and form part of the BBC’s ambitious celebration of Shakespeare’s death, 400 years ago this April.

Starting on the day itself – Saturday 23rd April – the BBC will kick off an online festival in honour of the Bard, with events live-streaming on a dedicated pop-up channel all day and other programmes available to stream on BBC iPlayer – including, from 10.30pm on Saturday, a recording of David Tennant’s performance as Richard II for the RSC. (For more on that, click here.)

The Hollow Crown will be broadcast on BBC Two later this month, following a repeat of the first series of dramas, beginning Monday 25th April at 11pm on BBC Four.

For more on Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary on VOD, click here.

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