King Arthur Interview 2 by Martyn Palmer Previous In the past, books and films have placed King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table in Medieval times. Franzoni's research - based on recent archaeological findings - indicates that if Arthur did really exist, then he lived in much earlier times, The Dark Ages, probably towards the end of the 5th century. And, intriguingly, there was a Roman commander called Lucius Artorius Castus who was based in Britain during the time of the Saxon invasion. And he was in command of an elite fighting force, a group of expert cavalrymen who who reluctantly had to serve the Romans as a debt of honour passed down the generations. And there is evidence that the Sarmations had a base on Hadrian's Wall. In Franzoni's story, the Romans are preparing to leave Britain after centuries of rule and Artorius and his knights are given one last, extremely dangerous mission before they can go home - to rescue a nobleman and his family from behind enemy lines. Along the way they also rescue the brave and beautiful Guinevere and she desperately tries to convince them that they are all that stands between the native Britons and certain death at the hands of the invading, savage Saxons. Guinevere knows, that if she can persuade Arthur - himself half Roman, half British - and his knights to stay and fight with her, she has a chance of saving her people. Arthur, in turn, may well realise his own destiny. “They thought they were going to get their papers and be free,” explains Antoine. “And then they have to do this one last mission and it turns out to be very, very dangerous. It's a fantastic take on it.” Clive Owen agrees and adds “I liked the premise, the way the story is based, the idea that this elite group of knights are given their last mission, which is the mission from hell,” says Clive. “And it felt very dynamic, a very strong take on the story and a very different look at the legend of King Arthur.” The story has a modern, contemporary feel. “What I liked about it was the idea that these guys, the Sarmation Knights, are strangers in a strange land and they must have had a love hate relationship with their Roman commanders,” says Franzoni. “And the idea for me was very simple, King Arthur and his Sarmation Knights as The Wild Bunch. That was the pitch. No magic and mysticism. This is like the fall of Saigon - the Romans are pulling out of Britain and these guys are like special forces who have one last very dangerous mission before they can go home.” With Clive Owen (Gosford Park, Beyond Borders) as King Arthur, Bruckheimer and Fuqua set about recruiting the rest of their cast. “King Arthur with American actors just doesn't work,” says Antoine. “You really have to go to the heart of it and cast people from that part of the world. Next		Home Interviews Antoine Fuqua Interview King Arthur Interview Arv Grewal Interview Asia Argento Interview Behind the Scenes of "War of the Worlds" Bernie Goldmann Interview Clive Owen Interview Dakota Fanning Interview Dennis Hopper Interview George A Romero Interview Greg Nicotero Interview The Hulk Press Conference Ang Lee Press Conference Ioan Gruffudd Interview John Leguizamo Interview Kathleen Kennedy Interview Keira Knightley Interview