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Bringing the 15th century to the Netflix generation, The King by David Michôd & Joel Edgerton is a tense and dramatic retelling of William Shakespeare’s Henry V.

Knowing he’s not the first choice to take the throne, Henry is a reluctant king, more interested in sleeping and drinking. However, he is forced to take the crown for his dying father when his younger brother is killed in battle.

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The new king hopes to stop the bloodshed but, with a government who believe that peace is only “forged in victory”, war is inevitable. The following battle scenes are beautifully shot, gritty and brutal, against a soundtrack of clinking metal on armour.

Full of youthful good looks, Timothée Chalamet is a surprising choice for a battling king, but brings a dark and brooding style to the role, heroically throwing himself into battle with a scrappy fighting style.

The film also features Joel Edgerton as loyal friend and soldier, Falstaff; Lily-Rose Depp as French Princess, Catherine; and Robert Pattinson as Louis, the Dauphine of Viennois, complete with a hilariously quirky and villainous French accent.

A coming of age tale as much as a historical drama, watch as a wayward young boy steps up to become one of England’s greatest kings.

The King will be released in cinemas from October 11th and available on Netflix to stream from November 1st.