The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die has been finally released on Netflix on 14th April 2023. It is directed by Edward Bazalgette and the screenplay is written by Martha Hillier. Produced by Nigel Marchant, Gareth Neame and Mat Chaplin. Based on The Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell, it follows Uhtred of Bebbanburg and his pursuit to unite England.
The ensemble cast of the film includes Alexander Dreymon as Uhtred of Bebbanburg, Mark Rowley as Finan, Arnas Fedaravicius as Sihtric, Rod Hallet as Constantin, Harry Gilby as Aethelstan, Laurie Davidson as Ingilmundr, Ross Anderson as Domnal, Ingrid García-Jonsson, James Northcote as Aldhelm, Cavan Clerkin as Father Pyrlig, Tom Christian as Dunstan, Ewan Horrocks, Zak Sutcliffe as Edmund, Nick Wittman as Eamon and Alexandra Tóth.
The 7 Kings That Die in The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die
At the start of the film, Ingrith, the seer wife of Finian mentions the dream that she saw and reveals the words – ‘seven kings must die, and the woman you love.’ While nobody really pays attention to it, when King Edward’s third wife Eadgifu and her son Edmund come seeking refuge in Northumbria and also bearing the news of King Edward’s death. Finan jokingly counts him as one of the seven mentioned.
We later see that Aelfweard is trying to get Aethelstan out of the way, not aware of the fact that his brother is a changed man and accompanied by a new advisor Ingilmundr. Danish lord Ingilmundr makes himself appear as the true man of god, who only wants to help Aethelstan find his destiny. Through the help of religion, he persuades him of going to war with the other kingdoms to unite the whole of England.
However, in reality, he works for the Norse leader Anlaf and on his orders he had been working so far. His motive was to make all the other kingdoms against King Aethelstan, who even kills his brother despite giving up the claim. Meanwhile, Anlaf tries to bring all the affected & soon to be threatened Kings together to wage a war against Aethelstan.
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Uhtred of Bebbanburg is reluctantly involved in this as he knew Aethelstan from childhood & seeing him take all the wrong decisions, he couldn’t just sit put. He even realises Ingilmundr’s real intentions when he sees him with the Danes in Shetlands and sincerely tries to warn Aethelstan, despite being banished by him for not kneeling.
Once the suspicion is set in, both of them reach Thelwael, Aethelstan to confirm about Ingilmundr & Uhtred to find his son & Edmund. This is the moment when the crowned king realises how he has been toyed with & decides to get punished for his sins. However, Uhtred makes plans to stand up against the invaders & protect the King, as he doesn’t think of himself as a king.
During the battle, at a glance, one can tell that Anlaf’s army definitely outnumbers Uhtred and Aethelstan’s side. But they don’t lose their spirits & hold their ground. What helps them at first was the hidden spikes in the ground that injures the men in the front & while taking cover they try to fight them.
In a battle, people on both sides die but Uhtred’s strategy works when his son comes with more soldiers on horses to cover them from the other side. Even Ingilmundr fights off Aethelstan, trying to kill him but gets overpowered & is captured by his soldiers. Looking at how Anlaf’s army is not able to keep up with them and watching their own children die, many Scots try to flee from there.
Once the battle is over, Aethelstan slays Ingilmundr in front of his own eyes but on the other side, Uhtred is majorly injured & lies almost lifeless on the ground. Among the dead, there are five sons of the current kings, who would have become future kings. They are from Shetland, Scotland, Man, Strathclyde and Orkney. Including Edward which makes 6 people in power who have died.
While Uhtred is brought back to the Bebbanburg fort, where all his friends, family, Eadgifu, Edmund and even Aethelstan are waiting for him to recover. He does come back to consciousness & sweares the oath to Aethelstan as the one true king of the whole of England, however on one condition that the King will take an oath to never marry so that his brother Edmund could become the rightful heir without any bloodshed.
At this moment, it looks like everything is fine and maybe the prophecy was not all that right, since only 6 kings died & among the loved ones, Ingrith faced death when the Bebbanburg was invaded by Anlaf. Soon after, Uhtred starts to see a light at the end of the room & when he opens the door – he finds all the people that have died, eating & drinking together. Does that mean he is dying & that’s the vision of the afterlife?
While it is left to the viewer’s interpretation but in the end the narration says, “Did seven kings die? The chronicles do not record if my Lord Uhtred survived. But, those like me, who knew him, recognize him as the greatest warrior of our age, and the man who made a kingdom.” Even though he never considered a king, he was already one in the eyes of the people & thus his death makes the last one to complete the prophecy.
The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die is currently streaming on Netflix.