Introduction
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword is a 2017 fantasy action-adventure film directed by Guy Ritchie, known for his kinetic editing style and modern reimaginings of classic stories. Starring Charlie Hunnam as Arthur and Jude Law as the villainous Vortigern, the movie attempted to retell the Arthurian mythos in a bold, stylized, and unconventional manner. Released by Warner Bros. with a hefty budget of around $175 million, it was originally envisioned as the launch of a six-film franchise exploring the wider mythology of Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.
Despite high ambitions, the film underperformed at the box office and received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics. However, it has since attracted a modest cult following, with some viewers praising its stylistic flair and Ritchie’s distinctive spin on an age-old legend.
Development and Production
The idea of a new Arthurian epic had been in circulation at Warner Bros. for many years. Different versions were proposed, including one by David Dobkin (Wedding Crashers) and another by John Hodge, but these were eventually shelved. In 2014, Warner Bros. announced Guy Ritchie as the director of a large-scale Arthurian series, originally titled Knights of the Round Table: King Arthur.
Ritchie, working with writer-producers Joby Harold and Lionel Wigram, sought to inject a modern sensibility into the ancient tale. Instead of treating it as a purely medieval fantasy, he merged gritty street-level storytelling, reminiscent of his earlier crime films (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch), with grand mythological spectacle. The intention was to create a hybrid: part gangster movie, part mythic epic, part modern blockbuster.
Principal photography began in 2015, with filming taking place in the UK, including Wales, Scotland, and England. The film’s distinctive look blended medieval architecture with stylized set design, enhanced by heavy use of CGI for magical creatures, battles, and landscapes.
Plot Overview
The film opens with a massive war sequence involving King Uther Pendragon (Eric Bana) defending Camelot against the dark mage Mordred. Uther, wielding the mystical sword Excalibur, defeats Mordred but is soon betrayed by his brother Vortigern (Jude Law). In order to seize the throne, Vortigern sacrifices his wife to a trio of sea-witches, gaining dark powers. He murders Uther, but the infant Arthur escapes, floating downriver in a small boat.
Arthur grows up in the streets of Londinium, raised in a brothel, toughened by fights, and running a protection racket. His life is portrayed like that of a streetwise hustler rather than a noble prince. Unknown to him, his heritage as Uther’s son makes him the rightful heir to the throne.
Years later, Vortigern rules as a tyrant, expanding his fortress and oppressing the people. Excalibur is discovered embedded in stone, and Vortigern orders every man of fighting age to attempt to pull it free, knowing that only Uther’s son can wield it. When Arthur draws the sword, he is thrust into the rebellion against Vortigern.
Arthur resists the role of hero at first, but with the help of allies — including Bedivere (Djimon Hounsou), Goosefat Bill (Aidan Gillen), and a mysterious Mage (Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey) — he learns to master Excalibur’s power. After visions, betrayals, and battles, Arthur finally embraces his destiny. In the climactic showdown, he faces Vortigern, who transforms into a demonic knight using his dark magic. Arthur harnesses the full might of Excalibur and defeats him, reclaiming his throne and beginning the path toward forming the Knights of the Round Table.
Style and Direction
Guy Ritchie’s directorial fingerprints are all over the film. It features:
- Fast-paced editing and dialogue: Sequences where characters tell stories are cut with rapid montages, flashbacks, and visual gags — reminiscent of Ritchie’s crime films.
- Street-level grit: Arthur’s upbringing in Londinium is shot like a gangster origin story, complete with hustles, street fights, and camaraderie among rogues.
- Stylized action: Combat scenes mix slow motion, sweeping camera moves, and heavy CGI. Excalibur is portrayed almost like a superweapon, allowing Arthur to unleash devastating attacks.
- Myth and fantasy elements: Giant war elephants, shadowy witches, and dreamlike visions contribute to a heightened sense of myth.
This blend of gritty realism and mythic spectacle divided audiences. Some praised it as refreshing, while others found the tonal shifts jarring.
Cast and Performances
- Charlie Hunnam (Arthur): Best known for Sons of Anarchy, Hunnam brought a rough, reluctant-hero quality to Arthur. His portrayal emphasized Arthur’s street smarts and survival instinct rather than regal nobility.
- Jude Law (Vortigern): Law gave one of the film’s standout performances, playing the villain with a mixture of charisma, menace, and tragedy. His character’s willingness to sacrifice loved ones for power underscored the film’s darker themes.
- Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey (The Mage): Serving as Arthur’s mystical ally, she guided him through visions and magic, though her character was often criticized as underdeveloped.
- Djimon Hounsou (Bedivere) and Aidan Gillen (Goosefat Bill): Both provided strong support as part of Arthur’s resistance band, bringing gravitas and humor.
- Eric Bana (Uther Pendragon): Though his role was brief, Bana’s presence lent weight to the early sequences.
Themes
Several themes stand out in the film:
- Reluctant Heroism: Arthur does not initially seek the throne. His journey is about accepting responsibility, confronting his fears, and embracing destiny.
- Power and Corruption: Vortigern’s obsession with power leads him to betray family and humanity itself, contrasting with Arthur’s eventual selflessness.
- Myth and Modernity: By mixing medieval legend with modern cinematic tropes (gangster camaraderie, fast-cut storytelling), the film explores how ancient myths can be reshaped for new audiences.
- Legacy and Lineage: The story repeatedly emphasizes Arthur’s connection to his father and the legacy of Excalibur as both a burden and a gift.
Reception
Upon release in May 2017, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword faced harsh realities at the box office. Despite its massive budget, it grossed only around $148 million worldwide, resulting in a significant financial loss for Warner Bros.
Critically, the film was divisive. Review aggregators showed a generally negative consensus: critics felt the film was overstuffed, overly reliant on CGI, and too stylistically erratic. Some complained that it strayed too far from traditional Arthurian legend. Others noted that the attempt to merge streetwise banter with epic fantasy felt inconsistent.
However, certain elements received praise: Jude Law’s performance, Ritchie’s energetic flourishes, and the film’s willingness to take risks with a familiar story. A portion of the audience embraced its idiosyncratic tone, and in the years since, it has developed a cult following among fans who appreciate its distinct style compared to more formulaic blockbusters.
Legacy and “What Could Have Been”
The film was originally intended to launch a shared cinematic universe of Arthurian films — a six-movie series exploring different knights and legends. Characters like Lancelot, Merlin, and Guinevere were absent here but were planned for later installments. The commercial failure, however, led Warner Bros. to cancel these plans.
In hindsight, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword stands as an ambitious misfire: a project that swung for the fences with its attempt to modernize and franchise the Arthurian myth but fell short due to tonal imbalance, critical reception, and market competition (it released against Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2).
Nonetheless, it represents Guy Ritchie’s unique vision and stands apart from more traditional retellings such as Excalibur (1981), First Knight (1995), or Disney’s The Sword in the Stone (1963).
Conclusion
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword is a film that divides opinion sharply. To some, it is a chaotic, overblown attempt to modernize Arthurian legend with CGI spectacle and misplaced humor. To others, it is a bold, stylish reimagining that dared to break from tradition, infusing the myth with grit, energy, and Guy Ritchie’s distinctive voice.
Though it failed to launch the planned franchise, it remains an intriguing artifact of blockbuster filmmaking in the 2010s: ambitious, risky, and unafraid to blend genres. For fans of Arthurian lore, it offers an unconventional take on the legend, one where a streetwise hustler becomes king, wielding a mythical sword not just as a symbol of destiny but as a weapon of sheer cinematic force.
