A24's The Green Knight has been highly anticipated since it was first announced. The fantasy epic stars Dev Patel as Sir Gawain, the nephew of King Arthur who confronts the Green Knight, a mysterious giant green-skinned stranger. Originally meant to be released in 2020 but delayed due to COVID-19, the release date is now set for July 30, 2021.
The Green Knight is based on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, a 14th-century poem that is one of the most well-known Arthurian legends. Despite this, the story has not been directly adapted on its own as many times as one might think. There were two film adaptations in the 1970s and 1980s, both heavily criticized, as well as some direct-to-TV adaptations. The legend has also been referenced in shows such as Adventure Time and adapted for the stage.
The legends of King Arthur and his knights as a whole, however, have been heavily adapted over all kinds of mediums. The adaptations vary massively in terms of tone and method of adaptation--ranging from classic to modern to parody and everywhere in between. While this article won't be listing every single adaptation of Arthurian legend out there, here are a few movie and television adaptions to watch while waiting for the release of The Green Knight.
Merlin
This BBC television series ran for five seasons, premiering in 2008 and coming to an end with an epic finale in 2012. The British series follows young warlock Merlin, played by Colin Morgan, who is sent to Camelot by his mother even though magic has been banned in the kingdom for many years. Merlin soon becomes the begrudging manservant to Prince Arthur, played by Bradley James, and has to hide his magic while also using it to protect Arthur, the future king.
Intended for family audiences, Merlin takes a fun and often comedic tone but is still full of genuine emotion and great action scenes. Throughout the series, several characters from the legends were introduced, including Lancelot, Mordred, and a roguish version of Gawain (spelled "Gwaine" in this show).
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
This 1949 musical comedy is an adaptation of Mark Twain's classic novel of the same name. Classic Hollywood actor Bing Crosby stars as a 20th-century mechanic who hits his head and finds himself transported back to Camelot and the court of King Arthur. He uses his modern knowledge to insert himself in the court, comedically meddling with the order of things and gaining the favor of King Arthur and the contempt of Merlin and Morgan Le Fay.
While A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court has been adapted a number of times, the 1949 version is one of the best of the bunch. Bringing a modern-day person who is aware of the King Arthur stories into Camelot's court makes for a fun perspective switch and allows for a lot of comedic hijinks.
Cursed
Premiering on Netflix in 2020, Cursed is a re-imagining of the Arthurian Legends as told through the eyes of young heroine Nimue. Played by 13 Reasons Why's Katherine Langford, Nimue is the Lady of the Lake in Arthurian Legend, although that may or may not be her destiny on the show.
The show is set in a medieval fantasy setting and is a darker and more serious take on the legends than the adaptations listed before. Alongside Nimue, this television series features a number of other versions of classic characters--including Arthur, Merlin, King Uther Pendragon, and Gawain.
The Kid Who Would Be King
This 2019 fantasy action-adventure film went under the radar upon release, but that doesn't make it any less worthy of a watch. The movie follows a 12-year-old boy named Alex--played by Louis Ashbourne Serkis--who finds Arthur's legendary sword, Excalibur, in a construction site.
Alex and his friends learn that finding the sword reawakened the evil sorceress Morgana, and they must use it to defeat her. The Kid Who Would Be King is a family film and is a very fun and heartwarming modern take on the Arthurian legends.
Doctor Who: Battlefield
Broadcast in four parts in 1989, this is the first serial of the twenty-sixth season of Doctor Who. It featured Sylvester McCoy as the Seventh Doctor, Sophie Aldred as his companion Ace, and Nicholas Courtney as the recurring character of the Brigadier. The antagonist of this special is Morgaine, as in Morgan Le Fay, who in this adaptation is a sorceress from another dimension who seeks to find Excalibur and take it for herself. Battlefield combines the light science-fiction elements that the series is known for with characters from and references to Arthurian legend.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Released in 1975, this film parodies the legend of King Arthur's quest for the Holy Grail. It starred British comedy troupe Monty Python including Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, and Eric Idle as King Arthur, his court, and the Knights of the Round Table.
The satiric, irreverent, and often silly film was popular upon release and has only increased in popularity over time. In 2005, Monty Python and the Holy Grail was even adapted into a stage musical entitled Spamalot!
The Sword and the Stone
Apart from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, this movie is probably one of the best known adaptations of Arthurian Legend. This animated Disney film was released in 1963, and it was the last animated film to be released in Walt Disney's lifetime.
Loosely based on T.H. White's novel of the same name, this movie depicts Arthur as a young boy, raised as an orphan with no knowledge as to his royal status. He meets the elderly wizard Merlin who becomes his tutor. This classic animation, while receiving mixed reviews upon release, has been fondly remembered and maintained a long legacy.