Sophie Okonedo joins an all-star cast in the third series of critically acclaimed Sky original anarchic drama Britannia

Sky today announces that BAFTA and Academy Award® nominated actress Sophie Okonedo (Ratched, Death on the Nile) joins an all-star cast in the third series of critically acclaimed, Sky original drama Britannia. The series, which is currently filming in the UK, is an epic genre-bending tale of clashing civilisations and religions set in a wold of mythic Celtic tribes, psychedelic druids and terrifying Romans, as a young girl tries to build a rebel alliance with a group of misfits.

Created by the multi-award-winning writers Jez Butterworth, his brother Tom Butterworth and James Richardson. Britannia is produced by Vertigo Films and Neal Street Productions and brings a moment of our history to life like never seen before on TV with humour, heart and violence.

Sophie will star as Hemple, the wife of General Aulus (David Morrissey), who arrives in Britannia to find out why her husband has failed with Lokka’s mission to capture the chosen one, Cait. If he isn’t up to the job, she certainly is. Series three also sees the return of actors David Morrissey, Mackenzie Crook, Annabel Scholey, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Eleanor Worthington-Cox, and Zoë Wanamaker.

Sophie Okonedo said: “I’m so glad to be plunged into the weird and wonderful world of Britannia. I was already a fan of the show and its writers Jez and Tom Butterworth, so I jumped for joy when they offered me the wonderful character of Hemple. Without giving too much away I’ll just say this woman has a huge appetite…”

Competition: Win Britannia - Series 2 on DVD

Britannia - Series 2 is out on DVD on 10th February.

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 3 copies on DVD to give away.

Synopsis
RUTHLESS ROMANS, drugged-up Druids and capricious Celts…welcome to Britannia. Olivier award-winning playwright Jez Butterworth (The Ferryman) pens this rich historical series that blends fact and fantasy to create a fever-dream drama. Recently returning for its second series on Sky Atlantic, Britannia Series II comes to DVD and digital from Acorn Media International on 10 February 2020 alongside a Series I & II Box Set.

Series one begins in 43AD, as Roman General Aulus Plautius (David Morrissey – The Missing) arrives in Britannia, determined to conquer it where Julius Caesar lost to the Druids 90 years earlier. He leverages rivalries between Celtic tribes: the Regnii led by Queen Antedia (Zoë Wanamaker – Harry Potter), and the Cantii led by the aging King Pellenor (Ian McDiarmid – Star Wars).

As Cantii royal siblings Phelan (Julian Rhind-Tutt – Harlots) and Kerra (Kelly Reilly – True Detective) vie over their right to the throne, there are greater forces at work. High Druid Veran (Mackenzie Crook – Detectorists) summons spirits with gruesome rituals to achieve his own ends, while chosen child Cait (Eleanor Worthington-Cox – Gwen) seeks to fulfil a prophecy with the help of demon-possessed madman Divis (Nikolaj Lie Kaas – The Killing).

The second series follows two years later as the Roman hold over Britannia grows stronger and while some Celts continue the fight to reclaim their land, others are happy to be Romanised rather than face extinction. But when a dead man wakes, it triggers an epic battle of wills between two Druid brothers that puts everyone in danger, and jeopardises Cait’s chances at saving Britannia from the Romans once and for all…

Who will rule Britannia?


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COMPETITION CLOSED

Terms and conditions
1. Closing date 17-02-20
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.

Anarchic Sky original drama Britannia set to return for a third series

Critically acclaimed Sky original drama Britannia has been recommissioned for a third series on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV. Starring David Morrissey, Mackenzie Crook, Annabel Scholey and Eleanor Worthington-Cox and created by the multi-award-winning writer Jez Butterworth, Tom Butterworth and James Richardson, Britannia brings a moment of our history to life like never seen before on TV. Produced by Vertigo Films in association with Neal Street Productions, it’s a genre-bending, psychedelic tale of clashing faith systems, torn apart families, mystic men, powerful women, all told with humour, heart and violence.

Britannia series two launched in November to widespread praise with The Guardian calling it “…one of those shows you just have to imbibe, celebrating that it has the sheer cheek even to exist. Praise the capricious TV gods!” Whilst The Times said it’s “… ethereal and wonderfully odd” and “…...few shows embrace their own preposterousness quite as wonderfully as Jez Butterworth’s drama about the Roman conquest of Britain”.

In the first series of Britannia we followed the story of the Roman invasion led by General Aulus (David Morrissey) who sought to crush the Celtic heart of Britannia, a mysterious land led by warrior women and powerful Druids. In series two we joined General Aulus two years on from invading Britannia romanising willing Celt tribes with the help of Celtic Queen Amena (Annabel Scholey), and crushing those who tried to resist. The only form of hope for the Druids and Celts was Cait (Eleanor Worthington-Cox), a young girl being trained by outcast Druid Divis (played by Nikolaj Lie Kaas), to fulfil a prophecy that would save Britannia from the Romans. But an epic battle of wills divided the druids in the form of two Druid brothers – Veran and Harka (Mackenzie Crook) putting the prophecy in jeopardy.

Series three sees a radical transformation in Cait’s journey as the Chosen One with a decision that will tie her to the future of her war-torn people and their ravaged land. Aulus comes under pressure from a new and dark force - otherwise known as his wife, whilst Amena finds herself in a lethal Ménage à trois with both of them. Divis gets a new job which he despises, and Veran goes to the underworld and sees the future.

Cameron Roach, Director of Drama, Sky Studios said: “We are incredibly proud to be able to continue to grow the Britannia franchise bringing ‘Jez and the team’s unique and distinctive vision to life for a third series”.

Jez Butterworth added: We’re very excited to be continuing our mythic journey through Ancient Britain. This year was a particularly good vintage for mushrooms here in the West Country, so we strongly suggest you hold on to your hats.”