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The Kid Who Would Be King

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Videos & Photos

  • Official Trailer
  • Trailer 2

Movie Info & Cast

Synopsis

When bullies corner teen Alex, he grabs the first thing handy in hopes of defending himself. That object turns out to be the sword Excalibur. Drawing the sword means that Alex, played by Louis Ashbourne Serkis (son of Andy “Gollum” Serkis) is now the new King Arthur. All he has to do next is assemble his Round Table of knights, connect with Merlin, and stop the world-ending plan created by Morgan Le Fay. No problem!

Joe Cornish, who previously introduced the world to John Boyega of Star Wars fame, writes and directs this clever and rollicking revamp of the King Arthur story. The cast is a mix of young new talents and fan-favorite stars such as Patrick Stewart, who plays Merlin’s true form, and Mission: Impossible — Fallout's Rebecca Ferguson.

Cast

  • Louis Ashbourne Serkis
  • Denise Gough
  • Dean Chaumoo
  • Tom Taylor
  • Rhianna Dorris
  • Nathan Stewart-Jarrett
  • Noma Dumezweni
  • Rebecca Ferguson
  • Mark Bonnar
  • Angus Imrie

Letterboxd User Reviews

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Reviews

Metacritic

80
Jan 24, 2019

The film hums with energy anytime Merlin is on-screen, but even when it’s in the hands of its very sweet preteen ensemble, it’s a lively watch.

David Sims
The Atlantic
70
Jan 24, 2019

The action is creatively staged, without ever getting too intense or scary for young viewers. And the script balances humor, pathos and wish fulfillment as it portrays Alex’s rise from mopey dreamer to confident warrior, without overdoing the mythic portent.

Metacritic review by Bilge Ebiri
Bilge Ebiri
The New York Times
75
Jan 23, 2019

Director Joe Cornish grounded the alien-invasion genre with clever plotting and entertaining English youngsters with 2011's “Attack the Block” and does the same with epic fantasy with this clever “Kid.”

Metacritic review by Brian Truitt
Brian Truitt
USA Today

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Kid Who Would Be King (2019) family-friendly?
The movie has been rated as PG (Parental Guidance Suggested). It's generally considered a family-friendly movie.
How long is The Kid Who Would Be King (2019)?
The movie is 2hr long.
What's The Kid Who Would Be King (2019) about?
When bullies corner teen Alex, he grabs the first thing handy in hopes of defending himself. That object turns out to be the sword Excalibur. Drawing the sword means that Alex, played by Louis Ashbourne Serkis (son of Andy “Gollum” Serkis) is now the new King Arthur. All he has to do next is assemble his Round Table of knights, connect with Merlin, and stop the world-ending plan created by Morgan Le Fay. No problem! Joe Cornish, who previously introduced the world to John Boyega of Star Wars fame, writes and directs this clever and rollicking revamp of the King Arthur story. The cast is a mix of young new talents and fan-favorite stars such as Patrick Stewart, who plays Merlin’s true form, and Mission: Impossible — Fallout's Rebecca Ferguson.
Who's the cast of The Kid Who Would Be King (2019)?
  • Louis Ashbourne Serkis as Alex
  • Denise Gough as Mary
  • Dean Chaumoo as Bedders
  • Tom Taylor as Lance
  • Rhianna Dorris as Kaye
  • Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as Mr. Kepler
  • Noma Dumezweni as Mrs. Lee
  • Rebecca Ferguson as Morgana
  • Mark Bonnar as Mr. Jeffreys
  • Angus Imrie as Young Merlin
Who's the director behind The Kid Who Would Be King (2019)?
Joe Cornish directed The Kid Who Would Be King (2019).
Who produced The Kid Who Would Be King (2019)?
Tim Bevan, James Biddle and Eric Fellner produced The Kid Who Would Be King (2019).