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Matter of Britain The Matter of Britain (; ; ; ) is the body of medieval literature and legendary material associated with Great Britain and Brittany and the list of legendary kings of Britain, legendary kings and heroes associated with it, particularly King Art ...
stories, focusing on
King Arthur According to legends, King Arthur (; ; ; ) was a king of Great Britain, Britain. He is a folk hero and a central figure in the medieval literary tradition known as the Matter of Britain. In Wales, Welsh sources, Arthur is portrayed as a le ...
, are one of the most popular literary subjects of all time, and have been adapted numerous times in every form of media. This list enumerates some of the notable works.


Modern literature

* Adam Ardrey: '' Finding Merlin'' (2007) * A. A. Attanasio: ''The Dragon and the Unicorn'' (1994), ''The Eagle and the Sword'' (1997), ''The Wolf and the Crown'' (1998), and ''The Serpent and the Grail'' (1999) * T. A. Barron: ''The Merlin Saga'', about the life of
Merlin The Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN) is an interferometer array of radio telescopes spread across England. The array is run from Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire by the University of Manchester on behalf of UK Re ...
(1996–2011). *
Donald Barthelme Donald Barthelme Jr. (pronounced ''BAR-thəl-mee''; April 7, 1931 – July 23, 1989) was an American short story writer and novelist known for his playful, postmodernist style of short fiction. Barthelme also worked as a newspaper reporter for t ...
: ''The King'' (1990), in which Arthurian characters fight in WWII and the atomic bomb has characteristics of the
Holy Grail The Holy Grail (, , , ) is a treasure that serves as an important motif in Arthurian literature. Various traditions describe the Holy Grail as a cup, dish, or stone with miraculous healing powers, sometimes providing eternal youth or sustenanc ...
. *
Derek Benz Derek Benz (born October 27, 1971)"Biography of Derek Benz"
. ''Derek Benz''. Giselle Campos ...
and J.S. Lewis: ''
The Revenge of the Shadow King ''Grey Griffins'' is a children's novel series written by the American authors Derek Benz and J. S. Lewis in collaboration.Morgan le Fay Morgan le Fay (; Welsh language, Welsh and Cornish language, Cornish: Morgen; with ''le Fay'' being garbled French language, French ''la Fée'', thus meaning 'Morgan the Fairy'), alternatively known as Morgan , Morgain /e Morgant Mor ...
, who is portrayed as an evil immortal being known as the Black Witch, for possession of a sacred book which had been passed down father-to-son for thousands of years. In this case, Arthur was betrayed when he refused to pass the book on to his illegitimate son. The book was passed to Arthur's true son, and from Arthur's son came the
Knights Templar The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, mainly known as the Knights Templar, was a Military order (religious society), military order of the Catholic Church, Catholic faith, and one of the most important military ord ...
. * Thomas Berger: '' Arthur Rex'' (1978) is a tragicomic retelling of the Arthurian legend. *
Marion Zimmer Bradley Marion Eleanor Zimmer Bradley (June 3, 1930 – September 25, 1999) was an American author of fantasy, historical fantasy, science fiction, and science fantasy novels and is best known for the Arthurian fiction novel '' The Mists of Avalon'' and ...
: ''
The Mists of Avalon ''The Mists of Avalon'' is a 1983 historical fantasy novel by American writer Marion Zimmer Bradley, in which the author relates the Arthurian legends from the perspective of the female characters. The book follows the trajectory of Morgaine ...
'' (1983) is the classic of modern reinterpretations of the Arthurian legend through the points of view of powerful women behind Camelot, namely Morgaine, Gwenhwyfar, and Morgause. *
Gillian Bradshaw Gillian Marucha Bradshaw (born May 14, 1956) is an American writer of historical fiction, historical fantasy, children's literature, science fiction, and contemporary science-based novels, who lives in Britain. Her serious historical novels are of ...
: The ''Down the Long Wind'' trilogy '' Hawk of May'' (1980), ''
Kingdom of Summer ''Kingdom of Summer'' is the second book in a trilogy of fantasy novels written by Gillian Bradshaw. The novel tells of the ascendancy of King Arthur and the planting of the seeds of his downfall. The tale is recounted by Rhys ap Sion, a Dumnoni ...
'' (1982), and '' In Winter's Shadow'' (also 1982) looks at the King Arthur legend through the eyes of a
classical scholar Classics, also classical studies or Ancient Greek and Roman studies, is the study of classical antiquity. In the Western world, ''classics'' traditionally refers to the study of Ancient Greek literature, Ancient Greek and Roman literature and ...
. *
James Herbert Brennan James Herbert Brennan (5 July 1940 – 1 January 2024) was an Irish lecturer and the author of over 100 fiction and non-fiction books for adults, teens and children, as well as several role-playing games. Early life Brennan was born to grocers ...
: The '' GrailQuest'' (1984–87)
gamebook A gamebook is a work of printed fiction that allows the reader to participate in the story by making choices. The narrative branches along various paths, typically through the use of numbered paragraphs or pages. Each narrative typically does not ...
s center on the kingdom of King Arthur. * Sallie Bridges (1830–1910): ''Marble Isle'' (1864) is a collection of poems based on episodes in Malory. *
Bryher Bryher () is one of the smallest inhabited islands of the Isles of Scilly, with a population of 84 in 2011, spread across . Bryher exhibits a procession of prominent hills connected by low-lying necks and sandy bars. Landmarks include Hell Bay, ...
: ''Ruan'' (1960) is a historical novel in Britain immediately after Arthur's death. *
Meg Cabot Meggin Patricia Cabot (born February 1, 1967) is an American novelist. She has written and published over 50 novels of young adult and adult fiction and is best known for her young adult series ''The Princess Diaries'', which was later adapted b ...
: '' Avalon High'' (2005) is a novel in which high school students find themselves to be reincarnations of characters from the
Arthurian cycle The Matter of Britain (; ; ; ) is the body of medieval literature and legendary material associated with Great Britain and Brittany and the legendary kings and heroes associated with it, particularly King Arthur. The 12th-century writer Geoffr ...
. *
Mark Chadbourn Mark Chadbourn is an English fantasy, science fiction, historical fiction, and horror author with more than a dozen novels (and one non-fiction book) published around the world. He also writes historical novels under the pseudonym "James Wilde". ...
: ''
The Age of Misrule ''The Age of Misrule'' is a three-book modern fantasy novel series, written by Mark Chadbourn. It is set in Britain and the faery Otherworld around the beginning of the third millennium. This series is followed by '' The Dark Age'' series. Plo ...
'', '' The Dark Age'' and '' Kingdom of the Serpent'' trilogies (2000–09) take a modern twist of Arthurian legend and Celtic mythology, using them as a basis for a dark series of novels set in modern Britain, in which the Celtic gods return to take back the land. *
Douglas Clegg Douglas Clegg (born April 1, 1958) is an American horror and dark fantasy author, and a pioneer in the field of e-publishing. He maintains a strong Internet presence through his website. Early life Born in Alexandria, Virginia to a "family of ...
: '' Mordred, Bastard Son'' (2006) centers on a sympathetic
Mordred Mordred or Modred ( or ; Welsh: ''Medraut'' or ''Medrawt'') is a major figure in the legend of King Arthur. The earliest known mention of a possibly historical Medraut is in the Welsh chronicle ''Annales Cambriae'', wherein he and Arthur are a ...
, who enters into a romance with
Lancelot Lancelot du Lac (French for Lancelot of the Lake), alternatively written as Launcelot and other variants, is a popular character in the Matter of Britain, Arthurian legend's chivalric romance tradition. He is typically depicted as King Arthu ...
. * Molly Cochran and
Warren Murphy Warren Burton Murphy (September 13, 1933 – September 4, 2015) was an American author, best known as the co-creator of '' The Destroyer'' series, the basis for the film '' Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins''. Early life Murphy was born in Je ...
: '' The Forever King'' (1992) is a trilogy of books set in modern-day about a boy who is King Arthur reincarnated and his protector Hal, a former police officer who is the reincarnation of Galahad. *
Susan Cooper Susan Mary Cooper (born 23 May 1935) is an English author of children's books. She is best known for '' The Dark Is Rising'', a contemporary fantasy series set in England and Wales, which incorporates British mythology such as the Arthurian ...
: ''
The Dark Is Rising Sequence ''The Dark Is Rising Sequence'' is a series of five contemporary fantasy novels for older children and young adults that were written by the British author Susan Cooper and published from 1965 to 1977. The first book in the series, '' Over Sea ...
'' is a five volume young adult fantasy collection (1965–77). *
Bernard Cornwell Bernard Cornwell (born 23 February 1944) is an English author of historical novels and a history of the Waterloo Campaign. He is best known for his long-running series of novels about Napoleonic Wars rifleman Richard Sharpe. He has also writ ...
: '' The Warlord Chronicles'' (1995–97) consist of three novels, ''Winter King'', ''Enemy of God'', and ''Excalibur'', and reintroduce many old characters into the tale. *
Kevin Crossley-Holland Kevin John William Crossley-Holland (born 7 February 1941) is an English translator, children's author and poet. His best known work is probably the #Arthur trilogy, Arthur trilogy (2000–2003), for which he won the Guardian Children's Fiction ...
: '' The Seeing Stone'' (2000), ''At the Crossing-Places'' (2001), and ''King of the Middle-March'' (2003). *
Peter David Peter Allen David (September 23, 1956 – May 24, 2025), often abbreviated PAD, was an American writer of comic books, novels, television, films, and video games.Buxton, Marc (March 29, 2014)"From 'Future Imperfect' to '2099': Peter David's Grea ...
: ''Knight'' trilogy depicts Arthur reappearing in the modern-day world. In the first novel, '' Knight Life'' (1987), Arthur emerges from his thousand-year convalescence that followed the wound he sustained from Mordred to run for mayor of
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
. In ''One Knight Only'' (2003), he faces another epic hero for possession of the
Holy Grail The Holy Grail (, , , ) is a treasure that serves as an important motif in Arthurian literature. Various traditions describe the Holy Grail as a cup, dish, or stone with miraculous healing powers, sometimes providing eternal youth or sustenanc ...
. In ''Fall of Knight'' (2006), the villain Arthur encounters is a person from actual history, who possesses the
Spear of Destiny A spear is a polearm consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head. The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with fire hardened spears, or it may be made of a more durable material fastened to t ...
, and wants to use it to destroy the Earth. * Tracy Deonn: '' Legendborn'' (2020) and its subsequent sequels '' Bloodmarked'' (2022) and ''Oathbound'' (2025). Called "a modern day twist on Arthurian legend", it follows a black teenage girl who discovers a secret and historically white magic society. * Bryan Davis: ''Dragons in Our Midst'' series (2004–05) & its sequels, ''Oracles Of Fire'' (2006–09), and ''Children of the Bard'' (2011–15) *
David Drake David A. Drake (September 24, 1945 – December 10, 2023) was an American author of science fiction and fantasy literature. A Vietnam War veteran, he worked as a lawyer before becoming a writer in the military science fiction genre. Biography ...
: '' The Dragon Lord'' (1979), a somewhat unconventional story involving a "King Arthur" who is more great military general than quasi-enchanted king; it takes place shortly after the fall of the Roman Empire and long before the Age of Chivalry. *
Robert W. Fuller Robert Works Fuller (born 1936) is an American citizen, American physicist, author, social reformer, and former president of Oberlin College. Biography Robert Fuller attended Oberlin College, leaving without graduating in order to earn his Ph.D. ...
: ''The Rowan Tree'' (2013), a
political novel Political fiction employs narrative to comment on political events, systems and theories. Works of political fiction, such as political novels, often "directly criticize an existing society or present an alternative, even fant ...
that casts the Arthurian legend in a modern historical setting. *
David Gemmell David Andrew Gemmell (; 1 August 1948 – 28 July 2006) was a British author of heroic fantasy, best known for his debut novel, ''Legend''. A former journalist and newspaper editor, Gemmell had his first work of fiction published in 1984. H ...
: ''Ghost King (1988)'', ''Last Sword of Power (1988)'', The entire series deals with the Stones of Power, also known as the Sipstrassi. The first two books contain a re-imaging of the Arthurian legend. *
Parke Godwin Parke Godwin (January 28, 1929 – June 19, 2013) was an American writer. He won the World Fantasy Award for Best Novella in 1982 for his story " The Fire When It Comes". He was a native of New York City, where he was born in 1929. He was the ...
: '' Firelord'' (1980), ''Beloved Exile'' (1984), and ''The Last Rainbow'' (1985) *
Roger Lancelyn Green Roger Gilbert Lancelyn Green (2 November 1918 – 8 October 1987) was a British biographer and children's writer. He was an Oxford academic. He had a positive influence on his friend, C.S. Lewis, by encouraging him to publish ''The Lion, the ...
: ''
King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table ''King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table'' is a retelling of the Arthurian legends, principally Thomas Malory's ''Le Morte d'Arthur'', by Roger Lancelyn Green. It was intended for children. It was first published by Puffin Books in 1953 ...
'' (1953) *
Lev Grossman Lev Grossman (born June 26, 1969) is an American novelist and journalist who wrote ''The Magicians Trilogy'': '' The Magicians'' (2009), '' The Magician King'' (2011), and '' The Magician's Land'' (2014). He was the book critic and lead technolo ...
: ''
The Bright Sword The Bright Sword is a fantasy novel written by American author Lev Grossman, published in 2024 by Viking Press. The novel takes place within the King Arthur mythology, and follows a talented young knight named Collum who travels from his backwate ...
'' (2024) follows the aftermath of King Arthur's death at the
Battle of Camlann The Battle of Camlann ( or ''Brwydr Camlan'') is the legendary final battle of King Arthur, in which Arthur either died or was mortally wounded while fighting either alongside or against Mordred, who also perished. The original legend of Caml ...
, and focuses on giving depth to traditionally minor knights. *
Robert Holdstock Robert Paul Holdstock (2 August 1948 – 29 November 2009) was an English novelist and author best known for his works of Celtic, Nordic, Gothic and Pictish fantasy literature, predominantly in the fantasy subgenre of mythic fiction. Ho ...
: The Merlin Codex series (2001–07) is a trilogy of
mythic fiction Mythic fiction is literature that draws from the tropes, themes, and symbolism of myth, legend, folklore, and fairy tales. It is usually set in the real world and deals with realistic issues, but a mythic atmosphere prevails; however, not all my ...
novels which trace Merlin's adventures in Europe before the time of King Arthur, placing him alongside Jason and the Argonauts and
Uther Pendragon Uther Pendragon ( ; the Brittonic languages, Brittonic name; , or ), also known as King Uther (or Uter), was a List of legendary kings of Britain, legendary King of the Britons and father of King Arthur. A few minor references to Uther appe ...
. *
Helen Hollick Helen Hollick (born 1953) is a British author of historical fiction. She is the author of the Arthurian trilogy '' Pendragon's Banner'', and the novels ''Harold the King'' and ''A Hollow Crown''. Life and career Born in Walthamstow, Hollick worke ...
: '' Pendragon's Banner'' trilogy (1994–97) *
Kazuo Ishiguro is a Japanese-born English novelist, screenwriter, musician, and short-story writer. He is one of the most critically acclaimed contemporary fiction authors writing in English, having been awarded several major literary prizes, including the 2 ...
: ''
The Buried Giant ''The Buried Giant'' is a fantasy novel by the Nobel Prize-winning British writer Kazuo Ishiguro, published in March 2015. The novel follows an elderly Briton couple, Axl and Beatrice, living in a fictional post-Arthurian England in which no-o ...
'' (2015), set in Britain after Arthur's death. *
Phyllis Ann Karr Phyllis Ann Karr (born July 25, 1944) is an American author of fantasy, romances, mysteries, and non-fiction. She is best known for her "Frostflower and Thorn" series and Arthurian works. Life and family Karr was born Phyllis Ann Karmilowicz ...
: '' The Idylls of the Queen'' (1982) *
Guy Gavriel Kay Guy Gavriel Kay (born November 7, 1954) is a Canadian writer of fantasy fiction. The majority of his novels take place in fictional settings that resemble real places during real historical periods, such as Constantinople during the reign of Ju ...
: ''
The Fionavar Tapestry ''The Fionavar Tapestry'' is a book series of fantasy novels by Canadian author Guy Gavriel Kay, published between 1984 and 1986. The novels are set in both contemporary Toronto and the secondary world of Fionavar. Premise Five University of To ...
'' (1984–86) is the continuation of the Camelot story in the framework of a wider epic. * J. Robert King: ''Mad Merlin'' (2000), ''Lancelot Du Lethe'' (2001), and ''Le Morte D'Avalon'' (2003) is the retelling of the Arthurian legend from the perspectives of Merlin and Lancelot rather than on the usual Arthur. King weaves his tale by combining bits of folklore and mythology with both sheer invention and historical fact. Merlin is actually the god Jupiter. *
Stephen King Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author. Dubbed the "King of Horror", he is widely known for his horror novels and has also explored other genres, among them Thriller (genre), suspense, crime fiction, crime, scienc ...
: '' The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah'' (2004) reveals that the hero of King's spaghetti-western/fantasy/sci-fi magnum opus adventure series, Roland, is one of only two of King Arthur's surviving descendants. The version of Arthur in Roland's world is known as Arthur Eld, and was the founder of the order of Gunslingers, knightly warriors who wield
revolver A revolver is a repeating handgun with at least one barrel and a revolving cylinder containing multiple chambers (each holding a single cartridge) for firing. Because most revolver models hold six cartridges before needing to be reloaded, ...
pistols in the name of justice; Eld's own guns were reportedly forged from the metal of
Excalibur Excalibur is the mythical sword of King Arthur that may possess magical powers or be associated with the rightful sovereignty of Britain. Its first reliably datable appearance is found in Geoffrey of Monmouth's ''Historia Regum Britanniae''. E ...
itself. * James Knowles: ''The Legends of King Arthur and his Knights'' (1860) *
Giles Kristian Giles Kristian (born 1975) is an English singer and novelist, known for his action adventure novels in the historical fiction genre. He is best known for his ''Raven'' series, about a young man's coming of age amongst a band of Viking warriors. H ...
: ''Lancelot'' (2018) and its sequel, ''Camelot'' (2020) are historical re-imagining of the Arthur myths, told from the perspective of Lancelot. *
Sidney Lanier Sidney Clopton Lanier (February 3, 1842 – September 7, 1881) was an American musician, poet and author. He served in the Confederate States Army as a private, worked on a blockade-running ship for which he was imprisoned (resulting in his catch ...
: '' The Boy's King Arthur'' (1880) is a work based on
Thomas Malory Sir Thomas Malory was an English writer, the author of ''Le Morte d'Arthur'', the classic English-language chronicle of the Arthurian legend, compiled and in most cases translated from French sources. The most popular version of ''Le Morte d'A ...
's ''
Le Morte d'Arthur ' (originally written as '; Anglo-Norman French for "The Death of Arthur") is a 15th-century Middle English prose reworking by Sir Thomas Malory of tales about the legendary King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, Merlin and the Knights of the ...
'', written in such a way to appeal to the boys of the 19th century. * Stephen R. Lawhead: '' The Pendragon Cycle'' (1987–1999), a more thorough examination of the myths, especially concerning
Taliesin Taliesin ( , ; 6th century AD) was an early Britons (Celtic people), Brittonic poet of Sub-Roman Britain whose work has possibly survived in a Middle Welsh manuscript, the ''Book of Taliesin''. Taliesin was a renowned bard who is believed to ...
,
Merlin The Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN) is an interferometer array of radio telescopes spread across England. The array is run from Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire by the University of Manchester on behalf of UK Re ...
,
Arthur Arthur is a masculine given name of uncertain etymology. Its popularity derives from it being the name of the legendary hero King Arthur. A common spelling variant used in many Slavic, Romance, and Germanic languages is Artur. In Spanish and Ital ...
,
Pendragon Pendragon, or (, ''pen dragon''; composed of Welsh , 'head, chief, top' and / ''dragon'', 'dragon; warrior'; borrowed from the Greco-Latin word , plural , 'dragon , ; ) literally means 'chief dragon' or 'head dragon', but in a figurative sense ...
, and the
Grail The Holy Grail (, , , ) is a treasure that serves as an important motif in Arthurian literature. Various traditions describe the Holy Grail as a cup, dish, or stone with miraculous healing powers, sometimes providing eternal youth or sustenanc ...
. *
C.S. Lewis CS, C-S, C.S., Cs, cs, or cs. may refer to: Job titles * Chief Secretary (Hong Kong) * Chief superintendent, a rank in the British and several other police forces * Company secretary, a senior position in a private sector company or public se ...
: ''
That Hideous Strength ''That Hideous Strength: A Modern Fairy-Tale for Grown-Ups'' (also released under the title ''The Tortured Planet'' in an abridged format) is a 1945 novel by C. S. Lewis, the final book in Lewis's theological science fiction Space Trilogy. Th ...
'' (1945) makes reference to Arthur and aspects of Arthurian legend, albeit with his own twist, in the final installment of his
Space Trilogy ''The Space Trilogy'' (also known as ''The Cosmic Trilogy'' or ''The Ransom Trilogy'') is a series of science fiction novels by British writer C. S. Lewis. The trilogy consists of '' Out of the Silent Planet'' (1938), '' Perelandra'' (1943), ...
. *
Bernard Malamud Bernard Malamud (April 26, 1914 – March 18, 1986) was an American novelist and short story writer. Along with Saul Bellow, Joseph Heller, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Norman Mailer and Philip Roth, he was one of the best known American Jewish ...
: ''
The Natural ''The Natural'' is a 1952 novel about baseball by Bernard Malamud, and is his debut novel. The story follows Roy Hobbs, a baseball prodigy whose career is sidetracked after being shot by a woman whose motivation remains mysterious. The story most ...
'' (1952), a modern reinterpretation of the
Fisher King The Fisher King (; ; ; ) is a figure in Arthurian legend, the last in a long line of British kings tasked with guarding the Holy Grail. The Fisher King is both the protector and physical embodiment of his lands, but a wound renders him impoten ...
story, centered around a baseball team known as the New York Knights. Also a 1984 film. *
John Masefield John Edward Masefield (; 1 June 1878 – 12 May 1967) was an English poet and writer. He was Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom, Poet Laureate from 1930 until his death in 1967, during which time he lived at Burcot, Oxfordshire, near Abingdon ...
: A cycle of poetry concerning the Arthurian legend. (Edwardian-Post WWII) *
Nancy McKenzie Nancy Affleck McKenzie (born February 19, 1948) is an American author of historical fiction. Her primary focus is Arthurian legend. Publishing career McKenzie published ''The Child Queen'' in 1994, and its sequel, ''The High Queen'', a year la ...
: '' Queen of Camelot'' (2002), where Guinevere gives a first-hand account of her life, '' Grail Prince'' (2003), set directly after Arthur's death at Camlann, and ''Prince of Dreams'' (2004) * Rosalind Miles: ''Guenevere Trilogy'' is a fictional trilogy that follows Guenevere and King Arthur through their reign as High King and Queen. *
Michael Morpurgo Sir Michael Andrew Bridge Morpurgo ('' né'' Bridge; 5 October 1943) is an English book author, poet, playwright, and librettist who is known best for children's novels such as '' War Horse'' (1982). His work is noted for its "magical storytelli ...
: ''Arthur, High King of Britain'' (1994) *
Gerald Morris Gerald Morris (born October 29, 1963
Excerpt from '' Something About the Author'' at highbeam.com
) is an American ...
: The Squire's Tales and The Knight's Tales are collections for teen readers based in the Middle Ages. *
Garth Nix Garth Richard Nix (born 19 July 1963) is an Australian writer who specialises in children's and young adult fantasy novels, notably the ''The Old Kingdom, Old Kingdom'', ''The Seventh Tower, Seventh Tower'' and ''The Keys to the Kingdom, Keys t ...
: Contained in Nix's collection ''Across the Wall'' are two stories that present a different take on the
Arthurian legends The Matter of Britain (; ; ; ) is the body of medieval literature and legendary material associated with Great Britain and Brittany and the legendary kings and heroes associated with it, particularly King Arthur. The 12th-century writer Geoffr ...
: "Under the Lake", a short story that portrays the Lady of the Lake as a parasitic, monstrous creature, and "Heart's Desire", which tells of Merlin and his apprentice Nimue, and the ultimately doomed relationship between them. *
Robert Nye Robert Nye FRSL (15 March 1939 – 2 July 2016) was an English poet and author. His bestselling novel ''Falstaff'', published in 1976, was described by Michael Ratcliffe (writing in ''The Times'') as "one of the most ambitious and seductive ...
: ''Merlin'', which gives a paganistic view of Merlin's intrigues to make Arthur king. *
Tim Powers Timothy Thomas Powers (born February 29, 1952) is an American science fiction and fantasy fiction, fantasy author. His first major novel was ''The Drawing of the Dark'' (1979), but the novel that earned him wide praise was ''The Anubis Gates'' ...
: ''
The Drawing of the Dark ''The Drawing of the Dark'' is a historical fantasy novel by Tim Powers published in 1979 by Del Rey Books. Plot summary In 1529, Brian Duffy, a world-weary Irish mercenary soldier, is hired in Venice by the mysterious Aurelianus to go to Vienn ...
'' depicts an eternal King Arthur reincarnated to participate in the
Siege of Vienna Sieges of Vienna may refer to: * Siege of Vienna (1485), Hungarian victory during the Austro–Hungarian War. *Siege of Vienna (1529), first Ottoman attempt to conquer Vienna. *Battle of Vienna, 1683, second Ottoman attempt to conquer Vienna. * Cap ...
. *
John Cowper Powys John Cowper Powys ( ; 8 October 187217 June 1963) was an English novelist, philosopher, lecturer, critic and poet born in Shirley, Derbyshire, where his father was vicar of the parish church in 1871–1879. Powys appeared with a volume of verse ...
: ''
Porius (A Romance of the Dark Ages) ''Porius: A Romance of the Dark Ages'' is a 1951 historical romance by John Cowper Powys. Set in the Dark Ages during a week of autumn 499 AD, this novel is, in part, a bildungsroman, with the adventures of the eponymous protagonist Porius, heir ...
'' (1951). *
Howard Pyle Howard Pyle (March 5, 1853 – November 9, 1911) was an American illustrator, Painting, painter, and author, primarily of books for young people. He was a native of Wilmington, Delaware, Wilmington, Delaware, and he spent the last year of his life ...
: ''
King Arthur and His Knights of The Round Table ''King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table'' is a retelling of the Arthurian legends, principally Thomas Malory's ''Le Morte d'Arthur'', by Roger Lancelyn Green. It was intended for children. It was first published by Puffin Books in 1953 ...
'' (1903) * Mary Reed and Eric Mayer: The historical mystery '' One for Sorrow'' has the protagonist John, the Lord Chamberlain meeting with a Knight of the Round Table who comes to
Constantinople Constantinople (#Names of Constantinople, see other names) was a historical city located on the Bosporus that served as the capital of the Roman Empire, Roman, Byzantine Empire, Byzantine, Latin Empire, Latin, and Ottoman Empire, Ottoman empire ...
in search of the
Holy Grail The Holy Grail (, , , ) is a treasure that serves as an important motif in Arthurian literature. Various traditions describe the Holy Grail as a cup, dish, or stone with miraculous healing powers, sometimes providing eternal youth or sustenanc ...
. *
Philip Reeve Philip Reeve (born 28 February 1966) is an English author and illustrator of children's books, primarily known for the 2001 book '' Mortal Engines'' and its sequels (the 2001 to 2006 '' Mortal Engines Quartet''). His 2007 novel, '' Here Lies Ar ...
: '' Here Lies Arthur'' tells of a more tyrannical Arthur in the time of the Dark Ages. * Lisa Ann Sandell: '' Song of the Sparrow'', a retelling of the story of Elaine of Ascolat, the
Lady of Shalott "The Lady of Shalott" () is a lyrical ballad by the 19th-century English poet Alfred Tennyson and one of his best-known works. Inspired by the 13th-century Italian short prose text '' Donna di Scalotta'', the poem tells the tragic story of El ...
. *
Jack Spicer Jack Spicer (January 30, 1925 – August 17, 1965) was an American poet often identified with the San Francisco Renaissance. In 2009, ''My Vocabulary Did This to Me: The Collected Poetry of Jack Spicer'' won the American Book Award for poetry. ...
: ''The Holy Grail'', a series of poems spoken by various Arthurian characters (1962). *
Nancy Springer Nancy Springer (born July 5, 1948) is an American author of fantasy, young adult literature, mystery, and science fiction. Her novel ''Larque on the Wing'' won the Tiptree Award in 1994. She also received the Edgar Award from the Mystery Writer ...
: ''I am Mordred'' and ''I am Morgan le Fay'' are two young adult novels about the two often misunderstood characters of Camelot. *
John Steinbeck John Ernst Steinbeck ( ; February 27, 1902 – December 20, 1968) was an American writer. He won the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature "for his realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do sympathetic humor and keen social percep ...
: '' The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights'' is a traditional take in modern language. Steinbeck also compared the adventures of the ''paisanos'' in his early novel ''
Tortilla Flat ''Tortilla Flat'' (1935) is an early John Steinbeck novel set in Monterey, California. The novel was the author's first clear critical and commercial success. The book portrays a group of 'paisanos'—literally, countrymen—a small band of e ...
'' to the exploits of Arthur's knights. *
Sara Hawks Sterling Sara Hawks Sterling (March 4, 1874 - December 26, 1936) was an American schoolteacher and novelist. Sterling specialized in fiction about historical and legendary figures, such as King Arthur, Robin Hood, and Anne Hathaway. Her novel ''Shakespea ...
: '' A Lady of King Arthur's Court'' * Mary Stewart: ''
The Crystal Cave ''The Crystal Cave'' is a 1970 fantasy novel by Mary Stewart. The first in a quintet of novels covering the Arthurian legend, it is followed by '' The Hollow Hills''. Plot introduction The protagonist of this story is a boy named Myrddin Emr ...
'' sets up the background for the Arthurian legend. '' The Hollow Hills'' encompasses most of Arthur's lifespan, including his childhood with Merlin as his tutor. '' The Last Enchantment'' deals with Merlin's later life, against the continued background of Arthur's rule. A later book, '' The Wicked Day'', was written from the point of view of Mordred in the latter period of Arthur's rule, and provides an interesting counterpoint to the original three novels. *
Rosemary Sutcliff Rosemary Sutcliff (14 December 1920 – 23 July 1992) was an English novelist best known for children's books, especially historical fiction and retellings of myths and legends. Although she was primarily a children's author, some of her novel ...
: '' The Lantern Bearers'' (1959), ''
Sword at Sunset ''Sword at Sunset'' is a best-selling 1963 novel by Rosemary Sutcliff. One of her few historical novels written specifically for adults, it is her interpretation of the legend of King Arthur. This is the first novel that Sutcliff wrote using a ...
'' (1963), ''
Tristan and Iseult Tristan and Iseult, also known as Tristan and Isolde and other names, is a medieval chivalric romance told in numerous variations since the 12th century. Of disputed source, usually assumed to be primarily Celtic nations, Celtic, the tale is a ...
'' (1971); ''The King Arthur Trilogy'' (2007), an omnibus edition of Sutclff's Arthurian Trilogy: '' The Light Beyond the Forest'' (1979), '' The Sword and the Circle'' (1981), and '' The Road to Camlann'' (1981); ''The Shining Company'' (1990), a retelling of the ''
Y Gododdin ''Y Gododdin'' () is a medieval Welsh poem consisting of a series of elegies to the men of the Brittonic kingdom of Gododdin and its allies who, according to the conventional interpretation, died fighting the Angles of Deira and Bernicia ...
'', which contains the earliest mention of Arthur's name. In ''Taliesin's Successors: Interviews with authors of modern Arthurian literature'', The Camelot Project at the
University of Rochester The University of Rochester is a private university, private research university in Rochester, New York, United States. It was founded in 1850 and moved into its current campus, next to the Genesee River in 1930. With approximately 30,000 full ...
(August 1986), Raymond H. Thompson described these seven works by Sutcliff as "some of the finest contemporary recreations of the Arthurian story". *
Alfred, Lord Tennyson Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson (; 6 August 1809 – 6 October 1892) was an English poet. He was the Poet Laureate during much of Queen Victoria's reign. In 1829, Tennyson was awarded the Chancellor's Gold Medal at Cambridge for one of ...
: ''
Idylls of the King ''Idylls of the King'', published between 1859 and 1885, is a cycle of twelve narrative poems by the English poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–1892; Poet Laureate from 1850) which retells the legend of King Arthur, his knights, his love f ...
'' *
Lavie Tidhar Lavie Tidhar (; born 16 November 1976) is an Israeli-born writer, working across multiple genres. He has lived in the United Kingdom and South Africa for long periods of time, as well as Laos and Vanuatu. As of 2013, Tidhar has lived in London ...
: ''By Force Alone'' (2020) *
J.R.R. Tolkien John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (, 3 January 1892 – 2 September 1973) was an English writer and philologist. He was the author of the high fantasy works ''The Hobbit'' and ''The Lord of the Rings''. From 1925 to 1945, Tolkien was the Rawlinson ...
: ''
The Fall of Arthur ''The Fall of Arthur'' is an unfinished poem by J. R. R. Tolkien on the legend of King Arthur. A posthumous first edition of the poem was published by HarperCollins in 2013. Poem Composition history Tolkien wrote the poem during the earl ...
'' is an unfinished poem, posthumously published in 2013. *
Nikolai Tolstoy Count Nikolai Dmitrievich Tolstoy-Miloslavsky (; born 23 June 1935), better known as Count Nikolai Tolstoy, is a British historian and writer. He is a former parliamentary candidate of the UK Independence Party and is the current nominal hea ...
:'' The Coming of the King'' - part one of an unfinished trilogy, dealing with Merlin and various Arthurian characters. *
Mark Twain Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910), known by the pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist, and essayist. He was praised as the "greatest humorist the United States has produced," with William Fau ...
: ''
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court ''A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court'' is an 1889 historical novel by American humorist and writer Mark Twain. The book was originally titled ''A Yankee in King Arthur's Court''. Some early editions are titled ''A Yankee at the Court ...
'' *
Jack Vance John Holbrook Vance (August 28, 1916 – May 26, 2013) was an American mystery, fantasy, and science fiction writer. He also wrote several mystery novels under pen names, including Ellery Queen. Vance won the World Fantasy Award for Life Ach ...
: The ''
Lyonesse Trilogy The ''Lyonesse Trilogy'' is a group of three fantasy novels by Jack Vance, set in the European Dark Ages, in the mythical Elder Isles west of France and southwest of Britain, a generation or two before the birth of King Arthur. The stories cont ...
'', set before Arthur's time on the Elder Isles, a fictional archipelago inspired by the tales of
Lyonesse Lyonesse ( /liːɒˈnɛs/ ''lee-uh-NESS'') is a kingdom which, according to legend, consisted of a long strand of land stretching from Land's End at the southwestern tip of Cornwall, England, to what is now the Isles of Scilly in the Celtic ...
, Ys, and other lost lands associated with Arthurian legend. *
Kiersten White Kiersten White is an American author of fiction for children, young adults, and adults. Her first book, '' Paranormalcy'', was published by HarperCollins in 2010. Early life White graduated in 2004 from Brigham Young University, where she stud ...
: The ''Camelot Rising'' trilogy, which consists of ''The Guinevere Deception'', ''The Camelot Betrayal'' and ''The Excalibur Curse''. The story is presented as the real Guinevere having died before reaching Camelot to wed Arthur. Taking her place is a changeling, Merlin's adoptive daughter, who could be exiled should her magic nature be revealed. *
T. H. White Terence Hanbury "Tim" White (29 May 1906 – 17 January 1964) was an English writer. He is best known for his Arthurian novels, which were published together in 1958 as '' The Once and Future King''. One of his best known is the first of the s ...
: ''
The Once and Future King ''The Once and Future King'' is a collection of fantasy novels by T. H. White about the legend of King Arthur. It is loosely based upon the 1485 work ''Le Morte d'Arthur'' by Sir Thomas Malory. It was first published in 1958 as a collection o ...
'' cycle *
Jack Whyte Jack Whyte (March 15, 1940February 22, 2021) was a Scottish-Canadian novelist of historical fiction. Born and raised in Scotland, he moved to Canada in 1967. He resided in Kelowna, British Columbia. Early life Whyte was born in Scotland on March ...
: ''
The Camulod Chronicles ''A Dream of Eagles'' is a historical novel series written by the Canadian author Jack Whyte. It was published in the United States as the ''Camulod Chronicles''. The novels are a rendition of the Arthurian legend that attempt to propose a possi ...
'', a series of books containing more historical fiction than fantasy beginning with Roman Britain and leading through Arthur's reign. * Joan Wolf: '' The Road to Avalon'' (1988) *
Persia Woolley Persia Woolley (November 8, 1935 – October 3, 2017) was an American author, perhaps best known for her Guinevere trilogy. She also wrote a number of works on writing, such as ''How to Write and Sell Historical Fiction'' (2000). Works In ...
: '' Child of the Northern Spring'', ''
Queen of the Summer Stars ''Queen of the Summer Stars'' is a 1991 novel by Persia Woolley and is the second volume of the Guinevere trilogy that relate the Arthurian legend from the perspective of Guinevere. The novel introduces Lancelot and also outlines King Arthur's ...
'', and '' Guinevere: The Legend in Autumn''


Theatre


Musical theatre

* ''King Arthur, or The British Worthy'' by
John Dryden John Dryden (; – ) was an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who in 1668 was appointed England's first Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom, Poet Laureate. He is seen as dominating the literary life of Restoration (En ...
, with music by
Henry Purcell Henry Purcell (, rare: ; September 1659 – 21 November 1695) was an English composer of Baroque music, most remembered for his more than 100 songs; a tragic opera, Dido and Aeneas, ''Dido and Aeneas''; and his incidental music to a version o ...
(1691) * ''King Arthur'' by
Laurence Binyon Robert Laurence Binyon, Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour, CH (10 August 1869 – 10 March 1943) was an English poet, dramatist and art scholar. Born in Lancaster, Lancashire, Lancaster, England, his parents were Frederick Binyon, ...
, with music by
Edward Elgar Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet, (; 2 June 1857 – 23 February 1934) was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestr ...
(1923) * ''King Arthur'' by D. G. Bridson, with music by
Benjamin Britten Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten of Aldeburgh (22 November 1913 – 4 December 1976) was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He was a central figure of 20th-century British music, with a range of works including opera, o ...
(1937) * ''
Camelot Camelot is a legendary castle and Royal court, court associated with King Arthur. Absent in the early Arthurian material, Camelot first appeared in 12th-century French romances and, since the Lancelot-Grail cycle, eventually came to be described ...
'' by
Alan Jay Lerner Alan Jay Lerner (August 31, 1918 – June 14, 1986) was an American lyricist and librettist. In collaboration with Frederick Loewe, and later Burton Lane, he created some of the world's most popular and enduring works of musical theatre bot ...
and
Frederick Loewe Frederick Loewe ( ; born Friedrich "Fritz" Löwe, ; June 10, 1901 – February 14, 1988
(1960). It is based on the
King Arthur According to legends, King Arthur (; ; ; ) was a king of Great Britain, Britain. He is a folk hero and a central figure in the medieval literary tradition known as the Matter of Britain. In Wales, Welsh sources, Arthur is portrayed as a le ...
legend as adapted from the
T. H. White Terence Hanbury "Tim" White (29 May 1906 – 17 January 1964) was an English writer. He is best known for his Arthurian novels, which were published together in 1958 as '' The Once and Future King''. One of his best known is the first of the s ...
novel ''
The Once and Future King ''The Once and Future King'' is a collection of fantasy novels by T. H. White about the legend of King Arthur. It is loosely based upon the 1485 work ''Le Morte d'Arthur'' by Sir Thomas Malory. It was first published in 1958 as a collection o ...
''. Originally starring
Richard Burton Richard Burton (; born Richard Walter Jenkins Jr.; 10 November 1925 – 5 August 1984) was a Welsh actor. Noted for his mellifluous baritone voice, Burton established himself as a formidable Shakespearean actor in the 1950s and gave a memor ...
as Arthur,
Julie Andrews Dame Julie Andrews (born Julia Elizabeth Wells; 1 October 1935) is an English actress, singer, and author. She has garnered numerous accolades throughout her career spanning over eight decades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Fi ...
as Guinevere, and introducing
Robert Goulet Robert Gérard Goulet (November 26, 1933 October 30, 2007) was an American‐Canadian singer and actor of French-Canadian ancestry. Goulet was born and raised in Lawrence, Massachusetts, until age 13, and then spent his formative years in Canad ...
as Lancelot. The original cast album of the show was a particular favorite of then-President
John F. Kennedy John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), also known as JFK, was the 35th president of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. He was the first Roman Catholic and youngest person elected p ...
, and the "Camelot" metaphor has been often associated with his presidency. ''
Camelot Camelot is a legendary castle and Royal court, court associated with King Arthur. Absent in the early Arthurian material, Camelot first appeared in 12th-century French romances and, since the Lancelot-Grail cycle, eventually came to be described ...
'', the movie, was filmed in 1967, with
Richard Harris Richard St John Francis Harris (1 October 1930 – 25 October 2002) was an Irish actor and singer. Having studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, he rose to prominence as an icon of the British New Wave. He received numerous a ...
as
King Arthur According to legends, King Arthur (; ; ; ) was a king of Great Britain, Britain. He is a folk hero and a central figure in the medieval literary tradition known as the Matter of Britain. In Wales, Welsh sources, Arthur is portrayed as a le ...
,
Vanessa Redgrave Dame Vanessa Redgrave (born 30 January 1937) is an English actress. In her career spanning over six decades, she has garnered List of awards and nominations received by Vanessa Redgrave, numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a Tony A ...
as
Guenevere Guinevere ( ; ; , ), also often written in Modern English as Guenevere or Guenever, was, according to Arthurian legend, an Early Middle Ages, early-medieval queen of Great Britain and the wife of King Arthur. First mentioned in literature in t ...
, and
Franco Nero Francesco Clemente Giuseppe Sparanero (born 23 November 1941), known professionally as Franco Nero, is an Italian actor. His breakthrough role was as the title character in the Spaghetti Western film '' Django'' (1966), which made him a pop cul ...
as
Lancelot Lancelot du Lac (French for Lancelot of the Lake), alternatively written as Launcelot and other variants, is a popular character in the Matter of Britain, Arthurian legend's chivalric romance tradition. He is typically depicted as King Arthu ...
. * ''
Merlin The Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN) is an interferometer array of radio telescopes spread across England. The array is run from Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire by the University of Manchester on behalf of UK Re ...
'', a musical, with concept by
illusionist Magic, which encompasses the subgenres of close-up magic, parlor magic, and stage magic, among others, is a performing art in which audiences are entertained by tricks, effects, or illusions of seemingly impossible feats, using natural me ...
Doug Henning Douglas James Henning (May 3, 1947 – February 7, 2000) was a Canadian magician, illusionist, escape artist and politician. Early life Henning was born in the Fort Garry district of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Henning became interested in magi ...
and Barbara De Angelis, written by
Richard Levinson Richard Leighton Levinson (August 7, 1934 – March 12, 1987) was an American screenwriter and producer who often worked in collaboration with William Link. Life and career Levinson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended the Univ ...
and
William Link William Theodore Link (December 15, 1933 – December 27, 2020) was an American film and television screenwriter and producer who often worked in collaboration with Richard Levinson. Biography Early life Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ...
, with music (and
incidental music Incidental music is music in a play, television program, radio program, video game, or some other presentation form that is not primarily musical. The term is less frequently applied to film music, with such music being referred to instead as th ...
) by
Elmer Bernstein Elmer Bernstein ( '; April 4, 1922August 18, 2004) was an American composer and conductor. In a career that spanned over five decades, he composed "some of the most recognizable and memorable themes in Hollywood history", including over 150 orig ...
and lyrics by Don Black (1983) * ''
Spamalot ''Spamalot'' (also known as ''Monty Python's Spamalot: A Musical (Lovingly) Ripped Off from the Motion Picture ''Monty Python and the Holy Grail) is a musical theatre, stage musical with score by John Du Prez and Eric Idle, with lyrics and book ...
'', by
John Du Prez John Du Prez (born Trevor Jones; 14 December 1946) is a British musician, conductor and composer. He was a member of the 1980s salsa-driven pop band Modern Romance and has since written several film scores including '' Oxford Blues'' (1984), ...
and
Eric Idle Eric Idle (born 29 March 1943) is an English actor, comedian, songwriter, musician, screenwriter and playwright. He was a member of the British comedy group Monty Python and the parody rock band the Rutles. Idle studied English at Pembroke Co ...
, with lyrics and book by Eric Idle (2004). Adapted from the film ''
Monty Python and the Holy Grail ''Monty Python and the Holy Grail'' is a 1975 British comedy film based on the Arthurian legend, written and performed by the Monty Python comedy group (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin) and ...
'' by
Monty Python Monty Python, also known as the Pythons, were a British comedy troupe formed in 1969 consisting of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin. The group came to prominence for the sketch comedy ser ...
. It won the 2004–2005
Tony Award for Best Musical The Tony Award for Best Musical is given annually to the best new Broadway musical, as determined by Tony Award voters. The award is one of the ceremony's longest-standing awards, having been presented each year since 1949. The award goes to the ...
. Starring
Tim Curry Timothy James Curry (born 19 April 1946) is an English actor and singer. He rose to prominence as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the musical film '' The Rocky Horror Picture Show'' (1975), reprising the role he had originated in the 1973 London, 1974 L ...
as King Arthur. * '' La Légende du roi Arthur'' by
Dove Attia Jules Dove Attia (Arabic-language, Arabic: جول دوف عطية) better known as Dove Attia (born in Kingdom of Tunisia, Tunisia on 8 June 1957), is a musical producer and television personality. Beginnings Dove Attia is a French citizen bor ...
, a French musical comedy that premiered in
Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
in 2015.


Straight plays

* ''The Island of the Mighty'', an Arthurian trilogy by
John Arden John Arden (26 October 1930 – 28 March 2012) was an English playwright who at his death was lauded as "one of the most significant British playwrights of the late 1950s and early 60s". Career Born in Barnsley, son of the manager of a glass ...
and Margaretta Ruth D'Arcy (1972), produced by the
Royal Shakespeare Company The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs over 1,000 staff and opens around 20 productions a year. The RSC plays regularly in London, Stratf ...
, Aldwych Theatre, which led to the creation of the Theatre Writers' Union


Verse plays

The Arthurian legend has proved a constant source of material for verse dramatists. Several adaptations exist, most dealing with the love triangle between Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot. Some notable examples are:


Classical verse plays

* ''
The Misfortunes of Arthur ''The Misfortunes of Arthur, Uther Pendragon's son reduced into tragical notes'' is a play by the 16th-century English dramatist Thomas Hughes. Written in 1587, it was performed at Greenwich before Queen Elizabeth I on 28 February 1588. The play ...
'' by Sir Thomas Hughes (1587) * ''Vortigern: An Historical Tragedy in Five Acts'' by W. H. Ireland (1799) * ''Tom Thumb the Great: A Burlesque Tragedy, in Two Acts Altered, from Fielding'' by
Kane O'Hara Kane O'Hara (1711 or 1712 – 17 June 1782) was an Irish composer and playwright. Biography O'Hara was born at Templehouse, Connaught, Ireland, the second son of Kean O'Hara, high-sheriff of County Sligo. He graduated from Trinity College, Dubli ...
(1805) * ''King Arthur: Or, Launcelot the Loose, Gin-Ever the Square, and the Knights of the Round Table, and Other Furniture. A Burlesque Extravaganza'' by W. M. Akhurst, with editing by Rosemary Paprock (1868) * ''The New King Arthur: An Opera Without Music'' by
Edgar Fawcett Edgar Fawcett (May 26, 1847 – May 2, 1904) was an American novelist and poet. Biography Early life and education Fawcett was born in New York City on May 26, 1847, and spent much of his life there. Educated at Columbia College, he obtained t ...
(1885) * ''The Marriage of Guinevere: A Tragedy'' by
Richard Hovey Richard Hovey (May 4, 1864 – February 24, 1900) was an American poet. Graduating from Dartmouth College in 1885, he is known in part for penning the school Alma Mater, '' Men of Dartmouth''. Biography Hovey was born in Normal, Illinois, the ...
(1891) * ''The Quest of Merlin: A Prelude'' by
Richard Hovey Richard Hovey (May 4, 1864 – February 24, 1900) was an American poet. Graduating from Dartmouth College in 1885, he is known in part for penning the school Alma Mater, '' Men of Dartmouth''. Biography Hovey was born in Normal, Illinois, the ...
(1891) * ''King Arthur'' by
J. Comyns Carr Joseph William Comyns Carr (1 March 1849 – 12 December 1916), often referred to as J. Comyns Carr, was an English drama and art critic, gallery director, author, poet, playwright and theatre manager. Beginning his career as an art critic, Car ...
, with music by
Arthur Sullivan Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan (13 May 1842 – 22 November 1900) was an English composer. He is best known for 14 comic opera, operatic Gilbert and Sullivan, collaborations with the dramatist W. S. Gilbert, including ''H.M.S. Pinaf ...
(1895) * ''The Birth of Galahad'' by
Richard Hovey Richard Hovey (May 4, 1864 – February 24, 1900) was an American poet. Graduating from Dartmouth College in 1885, he is known in part for penning the school Alma Mater, '' Men of Dartmouth''. Biography Hovey was born in Normal, Illinois, the ...
(1898) * ''Taliesin: A Masque'' by
Richard Hovey Richard Hovey (May 4, 1864 – February 24, 1900) was an American poet. Graduating from Dartmouth College in 1885, he is known in part for penning the school Alma Mater, '' Men of Dartmouth''. Biography Hovey was born in Normal, Illinois, the ...
(1900) * ''Tristam & Iseult'' by
J. Comyns Carr Joseph William Comyns Carr (1 March 1849 – 12 December 1916), often referred to as J. Comyns Carr, was an English drama and art critic, gallery director, author, poet, playwright and theatre manager. Beginning his career as an art critic, Car ...
(1906) * ''Guenevere: A Play in Five Acts'' by
Stark Young Stark Young (October 11, 1881 – January 6, 1963) was an American teacher, playwright, novelist, painter, literary critic, translator, and essayist. Early life Young was born on October 11, 1881, in Como, Mississippi. His father, Alfred Al ...
(1906) * ''Mordred, A Tragedy in Five Acts'' by Wilfred Cambell (1908)


Modern verse plays

* ''The Tragedy of Arthur'' by
Arthur Phillips Arthur Phillips (born April 23, 1969) is an American novelist. His books include ''Prague'' (2002), ''The Egyptologist'' (2004), ''Angelica'' (2007), ''The Song Is You'' (2009), '' The Tragedy of Arthur'' (2011), and ''The King at the Edge of the ...
(2011) produced b
Guerilla Shakespeare Project
in NYC * ''Guenevere: A Tragedy'', by John Richardson (ISBN: 9781079298826) is a tragedy in one act written in the mid-1980s and first staged in 2017 in Edmonton, Canada as part of the Walterdale Theatre's ''Cradle to Stage'' festival. ''Guenevere'' was revived at the 2018 Edmonton International Fringe Festival. ''Guenevere'' has the structure of a Classic Greek Tragedy and tells the story of final days of Camelot through the eyes of Queen Guenevere as she watches from her exile to a nunnery. * ''The Table Round'' and ''The Siege Perilous'' by Emily C. A. Snyder (2019) produced b
Turn to Flesh Productions
in NYC


Opera

*
Henry Purcell Henry Purcell (, rare: ; September 1659 – 21 November 1695) was an English composer of Baroque music, most remembered for his more than 100 songs; a tragic opera, Dido and Aeneas, ''Dido and Aeneas''; and his incidental music to a version o ...
: ''
King Arthur According to legends, King Arthur (; ; ; ) was a king of Great Britain, Britain. He is a folk hero and a central figure in the medieval literary tradition known as the Matter of Britain. In Wales, Welsh sources, Arthur is portrayed as a le ...
'' (1691), libretto by
John Dryden John Dryden (; – ) was an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who in 1668 was appointed England's first Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom, Poet Laureate. He is seen as dominating the literary life of Restoration (En ...
*
Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, essayist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most o ...
: ''
Lohengrin Lohengrin () is a character in German Arthurian literature. The son of Parzival (Percival), he is a knight of the Holy Grail sent in a boat pulled by swans to rescue a maiden who can never ask his identity. His story, which first appears in Wo ...
'' (1848), libretto by composer *
Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, essayist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most o ...
: ''
Tristan und Isolde ''Tristan und Isolde'' (''Tristan and Isolde''), WWV 90, is a music drama in three acts by Richard Wagner set to a German libretto by the composer, loosely based on the medieval 12th-century romance ''Tristan and Iseult'' by Gottfried von Stras ...
'' (1865), libretto by composer *
Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, essayist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most o ...
: ''
Parsifal ''Parsifal'' ( WWV 111) is a music drama in three acts by the German composer Richard Wagner and his last composition. Wagner's own libretto for the work is freely based on the 13th-century Middle High German chivalric romance ''Parzival'' of th ...
'' (1882), libretto by composer *
Karl Goldmark Karl Goldmark (born Károly Goldmark, Keszthely, 18 May 1830 – Vienna, 2 January 1915) was a Hungarian-born Viennese composer. Peter Revers, Michael Cherlin, Halina Filipowicz, Richard L. Rudolph The Great Tradition and Its Legacy 2004; , p ...
: ''Merlin'' (1886), libretto by Siegfried Lipiner *
Hubert Parry Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 1st Baronet (27 February 1848 – 7 October 1918), was an English composer, teacher and historian of music. Born in Richmond Hill, Bournemouth, Parry's first major works appeared in 1880. As a composer he is ...
: ''Guinevere'' (1886) *
Amadeu Vives Amadeu Vives i Roig (; 18 November 1871 – 2 December 1932) was a Spanish musical composer, creator of over a hundred stage works. He is best known for '' Doña Francisquita'', which Christopher Webber has praised for its "easy lyricism, flue ...
: ''Arthús'' (1895) *
Isaac Albéniz Isaac Manuel Francisco Albéniz y Pascual (; 29 May 1860 – 18 May 1909) was a Spanish virtuoso pianist, composer, and conductor. He is one of the foremost composers of the post-romantic era who also had a significant influence on his con ...
: ''
Merlin The Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN) is an interferometer array of radio telescopes spread across England. The array is run from Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire by the University of Manchester on behalf of UK Re ...
'' (1897–1902), intended to be the first of a trilogy, libretto by
Francis Money-Coutts, 5th Baron Latymer Francis Burdett Thomas Nevill Money-Coutts, 5th Baron Latymer (18 September 1852 – 8 June 1923) was a London solicitor, poet, librettist, and wealthy heir to the fortune of the Coutts banking family. He is now remembered chiefly as a patron ...
*
Ernest Chausson Amédée-Ernest Chausson (; 20 January 1855 – 10 June 1899) was a French Romantic composer. Life Born in Paris into an affluent bourgeois family, Chausson was the sole surviving child of a building contractor who made his fortune assisting Ba ...
: ''
Le roi Arthus ''Le roi Arthus'' (''King Arthur'') is an opera in three acts by the French composer Ernest Chausson to his own libretto. It was composed between 1886 and 1895, and first performed 30 November 1903 at the Théâtre de la Monnaie, Brussels, afte ...
'' (1903), libretto by composer *
Rutland Boughton Rutland Boughton (23 January 187825 January 1960) was an English composer who became well known in the early 20th century as a composer of opera and choral music. He was also an influential communist activist within the Communist Party of Gre ...
: ''The Birth of Arthur'' (1909), libretto by Reginald Buckley *
Harrison Birtwistle Sir Harrison Birtwistle (15 July 1934 – 18 April 2022) was an English composer of contemporary classical music best known for his operas, often based on mythological subjects. Among his many compositions, his better known works include '' T ...
: ''
Gawain Gawain ( ), also known in many other forms and spellings, is a character in Matter of Britain, Arthurian legend, in which he is King Arthur's nephew and one of the premier Knights of the Round Table. The prototype of Gawain is mentioned und ...
'' (1991), libretto by
David Harsent David Harsent (born in Devon in 1942) is an English poet who for some time earned his living as a TV scriptwriter and crime novelist. Background During his early career he was part of a circle of poets centred on Ian Hamilton and forming somet ...


Film


English-language theatrical films

Relatively straightforward adaptations of the legends, reconstructed history, or modern Arthurian material.


Adaptations of the original Arthurian Legend

These films are generally based on
Matter of Britain The Matter of Britain (; ; ; ) is the body of medieval literature and legendary material associated with Great Britain and Brittany and the list of legendary kings of Britain, legendary kings and heroes associated with it, particularly King Art ...
which are set in medieval time period and King Arthur's the main character. * '' The Adventures of Sir Galahad'' (1949), a film serial starring
George Reeves George Reeves (born George Keefer Brewer; January 5, 1914 – June 16, 1959) was an American actor. He was best known for portraying Superman, Clark Kent/Superman in the television series ''Adventures of Superman (TV series), Adventures of ...
, most known for playing
Superman Superman is a superhero created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, which first appeared in the comic book ''Action Comics'' Action Comics 1, #1, published in the United States on April 18, 1938.The copyright date of ''Action Comics ...
, as Sir Galahad as he attempts to keep Excalibur safe from the evil Saxons and Merlin's magic with the help of Morgan La Fey. * ''
Knights of the Round Table The Knights of the Round Table (, , ) are the legendary knights of the fellowship of King Arthur that first appeared in the Matter of Britain literature in the mid-12th century. The Knights are a chivalric order dedicated to ensuring the peace ...
'' (1953), a film based on ''
Le Morte d'Arthur ' (originally written as '; Anglo-Norman French for "The Death of Arthur") is a 15th-century Middle English prose reworking by Sir Thomas Malory of tales about the legendary King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, Merlin and the Knights of the ...
,'' directed by
Richard Thorpe Richard Thorpe (born Rollo Smolt Thorpe; February 24, 1896 – May 1, 1991) was an American film director best known for his long career at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. His obituary called him "a capable and versatile director willing to take on any ass ...
with Robert Taylor as Lancelot,
Ava Gardner Ava Lavinia Gardner (December 24, 1922 – January 25, 1990) was an American actress during the Golden Age of Hollywood. She first signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1941 and appeared mainly in small roles until she drew critics' att ...
as Guinevere, and
Mel Ferrer Melchor Gastón FerrerAncestry Library Edition (August 25, 1917 – June 2, 2008) was an American actor, director, and producer, active in film, theatre, and television. He achieved prominence on Broadway before scoring notable film hits with ...
in the role of Arthur. * '' The Black Knight'' (1954), a film starring
Alan Ladd Alan Walbridge Ladd (September 3, 1913 – January 29, 1964) was an American actor and film producer. Ladd found success in film in the 1940s and early 1950s, particularly in films noir and Westerns. He was often paired with Veronica Lake in ...
as the titular
Black Knight The black knight is a literary stock character who masks his identity and that of his liege by not displaying heraldry. Black knights are usually portrayed as villainous figures who use this anonymity for misdeeds. They are often contrasted with ...
, a blacksmith named John who creates an alter ego to go after the men who are responsible for killing the mother of the woman he loves who are led by the traitorous Sir Palamides, played by
Peter Cushing Peter Wilton Cushing (26 May 1913 – 11 August 1994) was an English actor. His acting career spanned over six decades and included appearances in more than 100 films, as well as many television, stage and radio roles. He achieved recognition f ...
. * ''
Lancelot and Guinevere ''Lancelot and Guinevere'' (known as ''Sword of Lancelot'' in the U.S.) is a British 1963 medieval fantasy adventure film starring Cornel Wilde, Jean Wallace (his real-life wife at the time), and Brian Aherne. This lesser-known version of the C ...
'' a.k.a. ''Sword of Lancelot'' (1963), a film directed by
Cornel Wilde Cornel Wilde (born Kornél Lajos Weisz; October 13, 1912 – October 16, 1989) was a Hungarian-American actor and filmmaker. Wilde's acting career began in 1935, when he made his debut on Broadway. In 1936 he began making small, uncredited ap ...
, who also stars as Lancelot, with
Jean Wallace Jean Wallace (born Jean Walasek or Wallasek; October 12, 1923 – February 14, 1990) was an American television and film actress. Early life Wallace was born in Chicago, Illinois to John T. Walaszek and Mary A. Walaszek (''née'' Sharkey). ...
as Guinevere, and
Brian Aherne William Brian de Lacy Aherne (2 May 190210 February 1986) was an English actor of stage, screen, radio and television, who enjoyed a long and varied career in Britain and the United States. His first Broadway appearance in '' The Barretts of ...
as Arthur. * ''
Siege of the Saxons ''Siege of the Saxons'' is a 1963 British medieval adventure film directed by Nathan H. Juran and released by Columbia Pictures. Starring Janette Scott and Ronald Lewis, the film is set in the time of King Arthur, but, as with many Arthurian t ...
'' (1963), a British film inspired by the plot of
Robin Hood Robin Hood is a legendary noble outlaw, heroic outlaw originally depicted in English folklore and subsequently featured in literature, theatre, and cinema. According to legend, he was a highly skilled archer and swordsman. In some versions o ...
in which King Arthur is killed by Edmund of Cornwall as he attempts to usurp Arthur's throne, but Arthur's daughter Katherine (played by
Janette Scott Thora Janette Scott (born 14 December 1938) is a British retired actress. Life and career Scott was born on 14 December 1938 in Morecambe, Lancashire, England. She is the daughter of actors Jimmy Scott and Thora Hird and began her career as ...
) is able to escape with the help of a thieving archer named Robert Marshall who only steals from the rich (played by Ronald Lewis). * ''
Camelot Camelot is a legendary castle and Royal court, court associated with King Arthur. Absent in the early Arthurian material, Camelot first appeared in 12th-century French romances and, since the Lancelot-Grail cycle, eventually came to be described ...
'' (1967), a film adaptation of the Broadway musical which is based on the novels
The Ill-Made Knight ''The Ill-Made Knight'' is a fantasy novel by British writer T. H. White, the third book in the series '' The Once and Future King''. It was first published in 1940, but is usually found today only in collected editions of all four books of th ...
and
The Candle in the Wind ''The Candle in the Wind'' is a fantasy novel by English writer T. H. White, the fourth book in the series '' The Once and Future King''. Written in 1940, it was first published in 1958 in the collected edition. It deals with the last weeks of ...
from T.H. White's Once and Future King series. The film is directed by
Joshua Logan Joshua Lockwood Logan III (October 5, 1908 – July 12, 1988) was an American theatre and film director, playwright and screenwriter, and actor. He shared a Pulitzer Prize for co-writing the musical '' South Pacific'' and was involved in writing ...
and stars
Richard Harris Richard St John Francis Harris (1 October 1930 – 25 October 2002) was an Irish actor and singer. Having studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, he rose to prominence as an icon of the British New Wave. He received numerous a ...
as Arthur,
Vanessa Redgrave Dame Vanessa Redgrave (born 30 January 1937) is an English actress. In her career spanning over six decades, she has garnered List of awards and nominations received by Vanessa Redgrave, numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a Tony A ...
as Guinevere, and
Franco Nero Francesco Clemente Giuseppe Sparanero (born 23 November 1941), known professionally as Franco Nero, is an Italian actor. His breakthrough role was as the title character in the Spaghetti Western film '' Django'' (1966), which made him a pop cul ...
as Lancelot. * '' Lancelot du Lac'' (1974), a film by
Robert Bresson Robert Bresson (; 25 September 1901 – 18 December 1999) was a French film director. Known for his ascetic approach, Bresson made a notable contribution to the art of cinema; his non-professional actors, Ellipsis (narrative device), ellipses, an ...
based on Arthurian legend, the
Lancelot-Grail The ''Lancelot-Grail Cycle'', also known as the Vulgate Cycle or the Pseudo-Map Cycle, is an early 13th-century French Arthurian legend, Arthurian literary cycle consisting of interconnected prose episodes of chivalric romance originally writte ...
cycle and the works of
Chrétien de Troyes Chrétien de Troyes (; ; 1160–1191) was a French poet and trouvère known for his writing on King Arthur, Arthurian subjects such as Gawain, Lancelot, Perceval and the Holy Grail. Chrétien's chivalric romances, including ''Erec and Enide'' ...
, with Vladimir Antolek-Oresek as Arthur, Luc Simon as Lancelot and Laura Duke Condominas as Guinevere. * ''
Excalibur Excalibur is the mythical sword of King Arthur that may possess magical powers or be associated with the rightful sovereignty of Britain. Its first reliably datable appearance is found in Geoffrey of Monmouth's ''Historia Regum Britanniae''. E ...
'' (1981), a film by
John Boorman Sir John Boorman (; born 18 January 1933) is a British film director, producer and screenwriter. He is best known for directing feature films such as '' Point Blank'' (1967), '' Hell in the Pacific'' (1968), ''Deliverance'' (1972), '' Zardoz'' ...
based largely on ''
Le Morte D'Arthur ' (originally written as '; Anglo-Norman French for "The Death of Arthur") is a 15th-century Middle English prose reworking by Sir Thomas Malory of tales about the legendary King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, Merlin and the Knights of the ...
'', featuring
Nicol Williamson Thomas Nicol Williamson (14 September 1936 – 16 December 2011) was a British actor. He was once described by playwright John Osborne as "the greatest actor since Marlon Brando". He was also described by Samuel Beckett as "touched by genius" an ...
as Merlin and
Helen Mirren Dame Helen Mirren (; born Ilyena Lydia Vasilievna Mironov; 26 July 1945) is an English actor. With a career spanning over six decades of Helen Mirren on screen and stage, screen and stage, List of awards and nominations received by Helen Mirre ...
as Morgana, with
Nigel Terry Peter Nigel Terry (15 August 1945 – 30 April 2015) was an English stage, film, and television actor, typically in historical and period roles. He played Prince John in Anthony Harvey's film '' The Lion in Winter'' (1968) and King Arthur in ...
as Arthur,
Nicholas Clay Nicholas Anthony Phillip Clay (18 September 1946 – 25 May 2000) was an English actor. Early life Clay was born in Streatham, London on 18 September 1946, the son of a professional soldier in the British Army's Royal Engineers. The famil ...
as Lancelot,
Cherie Lunghi Cherie Mary Lunghi (born 4 April 1952) is an English film, television, theatre actress and voice-over artist. She is known for her roles in many British dramas. Her international fame stems from her role as Guenevere in the 1981 film ''Excalib ...
as Guinevere,
Patrick Stewart Sir Patrick Stewart (born 13 July 1940) is an English actor. With a career spanning over seven decades of Patrick Stewart on stage and screen, stage and screen, he has received List of awards and nominations received by Patrick Stewart, variou ...
as King Leodegrance and
Liam Neeson William John Neeson (born 7 June 1952) is an actor from Northern Ireland. He has received List of awards and nominations received by Liam Neeson, several accolades, including nominations for an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, BAFT ...
as Gawain. * ''
First Knight ''First Knight'' is a 1995 medieval historical drama film based on Arthurian legend, directed by Jerry Zucker. It stars Sean Connery as King Arthur, Richard Gere as Lancelot, Julia Ormond as Guinevere and Ben Cross as Malagant. The film follow ...
'' (1995) is based on the abduction of Guinevere by the knight Malagant. It featured
Sean Connery Sir Thomas Sean Connery (25 August 1930 – 31 October 2020) was a Scottish actor. He was the first actor to Portrayal of James Bond in film, portray the fictional British secret agent James Bond (literary character), James Bond in motion pic ...
as Arthur,
Richard Gere Richard Tiffany Gere ( ; born August 31, 1949) is an American actor. He began appearing in films in the 1970s, playing a supporting role in ''Looking for Mr. Goodbar (film), Looking for Mr. Goodbar'' (1977) and a starring role in ''Days of Hea ...
as Lancelot, and
Julia Ormond Julia Karin Ormond (born 4 January 1965) is an English film and television actress. She rose to prominence by appearing in '' The Baby of Mâcon'' (1993), '' Legends of the Fall'' (1994), '' First Knight'' (1995), '' Sabrina'' (1995), '' Smilla ...
as Guinevere. * '' Sir Lanval'' (2011)'','' a film adaptation of the late 12th century narrative poem by
Marie de France Marie de France (floruit, fl. 1160–1215) was a poet, likely born in France, who lived in England during the late 12th century. She lived and wrote at an unknown court, but she and her work were almost certainly known at the royal court of Kin ...
. Lanval is a young knight at Arthur's court who attracts the attention of both Queen Guinevere and an otherworldly fairy maiden. * ''
Arthur and Merlin ''Arthur and Merlin'' is a 2015 independent British feature film directed by Marco van Belle and written by Kat Wood and Marco van Belle. The film, which stars Kirk Barker, Stefan Butler, Nigel Cooke and David Sterne, is based on the original Celt ...
'' (2015), Arthur (Kirk Barker) is a banished Celtic warrior, and Merlin (Stefan Butler) a hermit wizard. (direct-to-video) * '' King Arthur: Legend of the Sword'' (2017) is a live-action film which follows a young Arthur who is learning how to master the sword Caliburn and fight his way back as rightful heir and king of ancient Britain.
Charlie Hunnam Charles Matthew Hunnam (; born 10 April 1980) is an English actor. He portrayed Jax Teller in the FX (TV channel), FX drama series ''Sons of Anarchy'' (2008–2014), for which he was twice nominated for the Critics' Choice Television Award for ...
played the titular role.


Adaptations of Tristan legend

English Language films that are based on the legend of Tristan and Iseult, which originated in the 12th century * '' Tristan & Isolde'' (2006) a film adaptation of the legend produced by
Ridley Scott Sir Ridley Scott (born 30 November 1937) is an English film director and producer. He directs films in the Science fiction film, science fiction, Crime film, crime, and historical drama, historical epic genres, with an atmospheric and highly co ...
and his brother
Tony Scott Anthony David Leighton Scott (21 June 1944 – 19 August 2012) was a British film director and producer. He made his theatrical film debut with ''The Hunger (1983 film), The Hunger'' (1983) and went on to direct highly successful action and t ...
and directed by Kevin Reynolds, starring
James Franco James Edward Franco (born April 19, 1978) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has starred in numerous films, including Sam Raimi's Spider-Man (2002 film series), ''Spider-Man'' trilogy (2002–2007), ''Milk (2008 American film), Milk'' (200 ...
as Tristan and
Sophia Myles Sophia Myles () is an English actress. She is best known in film for portraying Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward in Thunderbirds (2004 film), ''Thunderbirds'' (2004), Isolde in ''Tristan & Isolde (film), Tristan & Isolde'' (2006), Darcy in ''Transfo ...
as Isolde.


Adaptations of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight ''Sir Gawain and the Green Knight'' is a late 14th-century chivalric romance in Middle English alliterative verse. The author is unknown; the title was given centuries later. It is one of the best-known Arthurian stories, with its plot comb ...
(Middle English: Sir Gawayn and þe Grene Knyȝt) is a late 14th-century Middle English chivalric romance. It is one of the best known Arthurian stories, the following films are directly based on the romance: * ''
Gawain and the Green Knight ''Sir Gawain and the Green Knight'' is a late 14th-century chivalric romance in Middle English alliterative verse. The author is unknown; the title was given centuries later. It is one of the best-known Arthurian stories, with its plot combi ...
'' (1973) * '' Sword of the Valiant: The Legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight'' (1984) * '' The Green Knight'' (2021)


Films based on ''A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court''

Films based on
Mark Twain Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910), known by the pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist, and essayist. He was praised as the "greatest humorist the United States has produced," with William Fau ...
's novel ''
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court ''A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court'' is an 1889 historical novel by American humorist and writer Mark Twain. The book was originally titled ''A Yankee in King Arthur's Court''. Some early editions are titled ''A Yankee at the Court ...
'', about a modern man/woman who travels in time to Arthur's period. * ''
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court ''A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court'' is an 1889 historical novel by American humorist and writer Mark Twain. The book was originally titled ''A Yankee in King Arthur's Court''. Some early editions are titled ''A Yankee at the Court ...
'' (1921) * '' A Connecticut Yankee'' (1931) first sound film adaptation of Twain's novel, with
Will Rogers William Penn Adair Rogers (November 4, 1879 – August 15, 1935) was an American vaudeville performer, actor, and humorous social commentator. He was born as a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, in the Indian Territory (now part of Oklahoma ...
as the time-traveling Yankee and
William Farnum William Farnum (July 4, 1876 – June 5, 1953) was an American actor. He was a star of American silent cinema, and he became one of the highest-paid actors during this time. Biography Farnum was born on July 4, 1876, in Boston, Massachuset ...
as Arthur. * ''
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court ''A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court'' is an 1889 historical novel by American humorist and writer Mark Twain. The book was originally titled ''A Yankee in King Arthur's Court''. Some early editions are titled ''A Yankee at the Court ...
'' (1949) a musical film adaptation of Twain's novel, with
Bing Crosby Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, comedian, entertainer and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwi ...
as the time-traveling Yankee and
Cedric Hardwicke Sir Cedric Webster Hardwicke (19 February 1893 – 6 August 1964) was an English stage and film actor whose career spanned over 50 years. His theatre work included notable performances in productions of the plays of Shakespeare and Shaw, and hi ...
as Arthur. * ''
Unidentified Flying Oddball ''Unidentified Flying Oddball'' is a 1979 science fiction comedy film. It is based on Mark Twain's 1889 novel '' A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court'', directed by Russ Mayberry and produced by Walt Disney Productions. Released in the ...
'', aka ''The Spaceman and King Arthur'' or ''A Spaceman in King Arthur's Court'' (1979) * '' A Kid in King Arthur's Court'' (1995) * '' A Knight in Camelot'' (1998) * ''
Black Knight The black knight is a literary stock character who masks his identity and that of his liege by not displaying heraldry. Black knights are usually portrayed as villainous figures who use this anonymity for misdeeds. They are often contrasted with ...
'' (2001)


Films based on Prince Valiant

Prince Valiant ''Prince Valiant in the Days of King Arthur'', often simply called ''Prince Valiant'', is an American comic strip created by Hal Foster in 1937. It is an epic adventure that has told a continuous story during its entire history, and the full s ...
is an American
comic strip A comic strip is a Comics, sequence of cartoons, arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often Serial (literature), serialized, with text in Speech balloon, balloons and Glossary of comics terminology#Captio ...
set within the Arthurian Legend. The following films were based on the comic strip: * ''
Prince Valiant ''Prince Valiant in the Days of King Arthur'', often simply called ''Prince Valiant'', is an American comic strip created by Hal Foster in 1937. It is an epic adventure that has told a continuous story during its entire history, and the full s ...
'' (1954) * ''
Prince Valiant ''Prince Valiant in the Days of King Arthur'', often simply called ''Prince Valiant'', is an American comic strip created by Hal Foster in 1937. It is an epic adventure that has told a continuous story during its entire history, and the full s ...
'' (1997)


Films set in the Roman Empire

These films generally feature King Arthur, in Roman Empire settings and as the main character. * ''
King Arthur According to legends, King Arthur (; ; ; ) was a king of Great Britain, Britain. He is a folk hero and a central figure in the medieval literary tradition known as the Matter of Britain. In Wales, Welsh sources, Arthur is portrayed as a le ...
'' (2004) a motion picture claiming to be more historically accurate (that was heavily criticised for its historical inaccuracies) about the legend of Arthur as a 5th-century, British-born, Roman commander, with respect to new
archaeological Archaeology or archeology is the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of Artifact (archaeology), artifacts, architecture, biofact (archaeology), biofacts or ecofacts, ...
findings; similar in story line to Jack Whyte's books. * ''
The Last Legion ''The Last Legion'' is a 2007 historical action adventure film directed by Doug Lefler and produced by Dino De Laurentiis. It is based on the 2002 novel of the same name by Valerio Massimo Manfredi. It stars Colin Firth, Ben Kingsley, Aishwary ...
'' (2007) a historical fantasy in which Roman Emperor
Romulus Augustulus Romulus Augustus (after 511), nicknamed Augustulus, was Roman emperor of the Western Roman Empire, West from 31 October 475 until 4 September 476. Romulus was placed on the imperial throne while still a minor by his father Orestes (father of Ro ...
is Arthur's father and Excalibur is
Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (12 or 13 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC) was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in Caesar's civil wa ...
's sword. * '' Pendragon: Sword of His Father'' (2008) (direct-to-video)


Animated films

* '' Knight-mare Hare'' (1955), Looney Tunes animated shorts with Bugs Bunny taking on Arthurian legend. * ''
Knighty Knight Bugs ''Knighty Knight Bugs'' is a 1958 Warner Bros. ''Looney Tunes'' cartoon directed by Friz Freleng. The short was released on August 23, 1958, and stars Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam. ''Knighty Knight Bugs'' is the only Bugs Bunny cartoon to win an ...
'' (1958), Looney Tunes animated shorts with Bugs Bunny taking on Arthurian legend. * '' The Sword in the Stone'', a 1963 Disney animated film about Arthur's childhood, loosely adapted from T.H. White's novel of the same name. * ''
Willy McBean and his Magic Machine Willy or Willie is a masculine, male given name, often a diminutive form of William or Wilhelm, and occasionally a nickname. It may refer to: People Given name or nickname * Willie Allen (basketball) (born 1949), American basketball player and ...
'' (1965), as stop-motion animated film loosely based on Arthurian Legend. * ''
Pound Puppies and the Legend of Big Paw ''Pound Puppies and the Legend of Big Paw'' is a 1988 American Animation, animated Musical film, musical adventure film based on the Tonka toy line and the Hanna-Barbera Pound Puppies (1986 TV series), television series of the same name, which ai ...
'' (1988) contains an early scene taking place in the "Dark Ages" and featuring a young
Arthur Arthur is a masculine given name of uncertain etymology. Its popularity derives from it being the name of the legendary hero King Arthur. A common spelling variant used in many Slavic, Romance, and Germanic languages is Artur. In Spanish and Ital ...
as he finds Excalibur and becomes king. * ''
Quest for Camelot ''Quest for Camelot'' (released internationally as ''The Magic Sword: Quest for Camelot'') is a 1998 American animated musical fantasy film produced by Warner Bros. Feature Animation, directed by Frederik Du Chau, and very loosely based on the ...
'' (1998) with King Arthur ruling over a besieged Camelot. * ''
Shrek the Third ''Shrek the Third'' (also known as ''Shrek 3'') is a 2007 American animated fantasy comedy film loosely based on the 1990 children's picture book '' Shrek!'' by William Steig. Directed by Chris Miller and co-directed by Raman Hui from a sc ...
'' (2007), parody of the arthurian legend. * '' Scooby-Doo! The Sword and the Scoob'' (2021), Scooby-Doo direct-to-DVD film taking on Arthurian legend.


Modernization and parodies

Productions whose plot "updates" or otherwise moves the legend to modern times. * ''
Parsifal ''Parsifal'' ( WWV 111) is a music drama in three acts by the German composer Richard Wagner and his last composition. Wagner's own libretto for the work is freely based on the 13th-century Middle High German chivalric romance ''Parzival'' of th ...
'' (1904) (based on Wagner opera) * '' Knights of the Square Table'' (1917) * ''
King Arthur Was a Gentleman ''King Arthur Was a Gentleman'' is a 1942 British black-and-white comedy musical film directed by Marcel Varnel and starring Arthur Askey, Evelyn Dall, Peter Graves and Ronald Shiner. It was written by Marriott Edgar and Val Guest, and was produc ...
'' (1942) * ''
Squareheads of the Round Table ''Squareheads of the Round Table'' is a 1948 short subject directed by Edward Bernds starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges ( Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard). It is the 106th entry in the series released by Columbia Pi ...
'' (1948) * ''
Knutzy Knights ''Knutzy Knights'' is a 1954 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard). It is the 156th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the ...
'' (1954) * ''
Monty Python and the Holy Grail ''Monty Python and the Holy Grail'' is a 1975 British comedy film based on the Arthurian legend, written and performed by the Monty Python comedy group (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin) and ...
'' (1975), a comedic parody of the traditional King Arthur legend. It was later adapted into a successful Broadway musical called ''
Spamalot ''Spamalot'' (also known as ''Monty Python's Spamalot: A Musical (Lovingly) Ripped Off from the Motion Picture ''Monty Python and the Holy Grail) is a musical theatre, stage musical with score by John Du Prez and Eric Idle, with lyrics and book ...
''. Arthur was played by
Graham Chapman Graham Chapman (8 January 1941 – 4 October 1989) was a British actor, comedian and writer. He was one of the six members of the Surreal humour, surrealist comedy group Monty Python. He portrayed authority figures such as The Colonel (Monty Py ...
in the film. * ''
Knightriders ''Knightriders'' is a 1981 American action drama film written and directed by George A. Romero and starring Ed Harris, Gary Lahti, Tom Savini, Amy Ingersoll, Patricia Tallman, and Christine Forrest. It was filmed entirely on location in the ...
'' (1981) * ''
The Fisher King ''The Fisher King'' is a 1991 American fantasy comedy drama film written by Richard LaGravenese and directed by Terry Gilliam. Starring Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges, with Mercedes Ruehl, Amanda Plummer and Michael Jeter, the film tells th ...
'' (1991) * ''
Army of Darkness ''Army of Darkness'' is a 1992 American dark fantasy comedy film directed, co-written, and co-edited by Sam Raimi. The film is the third installment in the Evil Dead, ''Evil Dead'' film series and the sequel to ''Evil Dead II'' (1987). Starring ...
'' (1992), Third in the Evil Dead trilogy sees the protagonist, Ash, sent back to medieval Britain where he defends Lord Arthur from an army of the dead. * '' Seaview Knights'' (1994) (direct-to-video) * ''
Kids of the Round Table Kid, Kids, KIDS, and K.I.D.S. may refer to: Common meanings * Colloquial term for a child or other young person ** Also for a parent's offspring regardless of age * Engage in joking * Young goat * The goat meat of young goats * Kidskin, lea ...
'' (1995) * '' Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders'' (1996) (direct-to-video) * ''
The Mighty ''The Mighty'' is a 1998 American coming of age buddy comedy-drama film directed by Peter Chelsom and written by Charles Leavitt. Based on the book '' Freak the Mighty'' by Rodman Philbrick, it stars Sharon Stone, Gena Rowlands, Gillian ...
'' (1998) * '' Merlin: The Return'' (2000) * ''
The Sorcerer's Apprentice "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" () is a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe written in 1797. The poem is a ballad in 14 stanzas. Story The poem begins as an old sorcerer departs his workshop, leaving his apprentice with chores to perform. Tired of ...
'' (2001) * ''
The Sorcerer's Apprentice "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" () is a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe written in 1797. The poem is a ballad in 14 stanzas. Story The poem begins as an old sorcerer departs his workshop, leaving his apprentice with chores to perform. Tired of ...
'' (2010) * '' Merlin and the War of the Dragons'' (2008)(direct-to-video) * '' Transformers: The Last Knight'' (2017) * ''
The Kid Who Would Be King ''The Kid Who Would Be King'' is a 2019 urban fantasy action-adventure film written and directed by Joe Cornish. A British/American venture, the film stars Louis Ashbourne Serkis, Tom Taylor, Dean Chaumoo, Rhianna Doris, Angus Imrie, Rebec ...
'' (2019) * ''
Hellboy Hellboy is a superhero created by Mike Mignola and appearing in comic books published by Dark Horse Comics. The character first appeared in ''San Diego Comic-Con Comics'' #2 (August 1993), and has since appeared in various miniseries, one-shots ...
'' (2019)


Foreign-language films

Foreign-language films based on the medieval Arthurian legends * '' Lancelot du Lac'' (France, 1974) * ''
Perceval le Gallois () is a 1978 historical drama film written and directed by Éric Rohmer, based on the 12th-century Arthurian romance ''Perceval, the Story of the Grail'' by Chrétien de Troyes. Synopsis The film chronicles Percival's knighthood, maturation and ...
'' (France, 1978) * '' Kaamelott: The First Chapter'' (France, 2021)


Films based on

Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, essayist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most o ...
's ''
Parsifal ''Parsifal'' ( WWV 111) is a music drama in three acts by the German composer Richard Wagner and his last composition. Wagner's own libretto for the work is freely based on the 13th-century Middle High German chivalric romance ''Parzival'' of th ...
''

Foreign-language films that are based on Wagner opera * ''
The Evil Forest ''The Evil Forest'' () is a 1951 Spanish drama film directed by Daniel Mangrané. It was entered into the 1952 Cannes Film Festival. Plot During World War III, two soldiers enter a ruined building. They find an old book containing the s ...
'' (Spain,?1951) * ''
Parsifal ''Parsifal'' ( WWV 111) is a music drama in three acts by the German composer Richard Wagner and his last composition. Wagner's own libretto for the work is freely based on the 13th-century Middle High German chivalric romance ''Parzival'' of th ...
'' (France & West Germany, 1982)


Films based on the Tristan legend

Foreign-language films that are based on the legend of Tristan and Iseult * ''
L'Éternel retour ''The Eternal Return'' (French: ''L'Éternel retour'') is a 1943 French romantic drama film directed by Jean Delannoy and starring Madeleine Sologne and Jean Marais. The screenplay was written by Jean Cocteau as a retelling of Tristan and Is ...
'' (France, 1943) * '' Feuer und Schwert'' (West Germany, 1981) * '' La Femme d'à côté'' (France, 1981) (modern day adaptation of the Tristan Legend) * ''
In the Shadow of the Raven ''In the Shadow of the Raven'' ( Icelandic: ''Í skugga hrafnsins'' ) is the title of a 1988 film by Hrafn Gunnlaugsson, set in Viking Age Iceland. The film was selected as the Icelandic entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 61st Aca ...
'' (Iceland, 1988) * ''
Pardes Pardes may refer to: Judaism * Pardes (legend), Jewish account of a Heavenly orchard * Pardes (Jewish exegesis), a Kabbalistic theory of biblical exegesis. * ''Pardès'', the European Journal of Jewish Studies, co-founded by Shmuel Trigano and ...
'' (India, 1997) (modern day adaptation of the Tristan Legend)


Other films

Foreign-language animation, derivative works, parodies and modern settings: * ''
New Adventures of a Yankee in King Arthur's Court ''New Adventures of a Yankee in King Arthur's Court'' () is a 1988 Soviet adventure film directed by Viktor Gres and based on American author Mark Twain's 1889 novel '' A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court''. The screenplay was written ...
'' (USSR, 1988) A Soviet adaptation of Mark Twain's novel ''
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court ''A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court'' is an 1889 historical novel by American humorist and writer Mark Twain. The book was originally titled ''A Yankee in King Arthur's Court''. Some early editions are titled ''A Yankee at the Court ...
'' * ''
Avalon Avalon () is an island featured in the Arthurian legend. It first appeared in Geoffrey of Monmouth's 1136 ''Historia Regum Britanniae'' as a place of magic where King Arthur's sword Excalibur was made and later where Arthur was taken to recove ...
'' (Poland & Japan, 2001) (A parody film that updates the legend to modern settings)


Television


English-language, Live-action Television series and films


Television films and specials

* ''
Camelot Camelot is a legendary castle and Royal court, court associated with King Arthur. Absent in the early Arthurian material, Camelot first appeared in 12th-century French romances and, since the Lancelot-Grail cycle, eventually came to be described ...
'' (1982) a videotaped stage performance of the Broadway musical based on T.H. White's
The Once and Future King ''The Once and Future King'' is a collection of fantasy novels by T. H. White about the legend of King Arthur. It is loosely based upon the 1485 work ''Le Morte d'Arthur'' by Sir Thomas Malory. It was first published in 1958 as a collection o ...
series, presented on HBO. * ''
Guinevere Guinevere ( ; ; , ), also often written in Modern English as Guenevere or Guenever, was, according to Arthurian legend, an early-medieval queen of Great Britain and the wife of King Arthur. First mentioned in literature in the early 12th cen ...
'' (1994), A
Lifetime Television Lifetime is an American basic cable channel that is part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, a subsidiary of A&E Networks, which is jointly owned by Hearst Communications and The Walt Disney Company. It features programming that is geared toward ...
movie A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...
based on the
Arthurian legend The Matter of Britain (; ; ; ) is the body of medieval literature and legendary material associated with Great Britain and Brittany and the legendary kings and heroes associated with it, particularly King Arthur. The 12th-century writer Geoffr ...
. The story is told from Queen
Guinevere Guinevere ( ; ; , ), also often written in Modern English as Guenevere or Guenever, was, according to Arthurian legend, an early-medieval queen of Great Britain and the wife of King Arthur. First mentioned in literature in the early 12th cen ...
's point of view, presenting her as the driving force behind the success of
Camelot Camelot is a legendary castle and Royal court, court associated with King Arthur. Absent in the early Arthurian material, Camelot first appeared in 12th-century French romances and, since the Lancelot-Grail cycle, eventually came to be described ...
. * The 2004
History Channel History (formerly and commonly known as the History Channel) is an American pay television television broadcaster, network and the flagship channel of A&E Networks, a joint venture between Hearst Communications and the Disney General Entertainme ...
special '' Quest for King Arthur'', hosted by
Patrick Stewart Sir Patrick Stewart (born 13 July 1940) is an English actor. With a career spanning over seven decades of Patrick Stewart on stage and screen, stage and screen, he has received List of awards and nominations received by Patrick Stewart, variou ...
, with an introduction by
Ioan Gruffudd Ioan Gruffudd (; ; born 6 October 1973) is a Welsh actor. He is known for his roles in film and television series in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia. Gruffudd became known for his portrayal of Harold Lowe in ''Titanic'' ( ...
, highlights several historical figures who may have contributed to Arthurian legend. It was shown on the History Channel just prior to the release of the 2004 film ''
King Arthur According to legends, King Arthur (; ; ; ) was a king of Great Britain, Britain. He is a folk hero and a central figure in the medieval literary tradition known as the Matter of Britain. In Wales, Welsh sources, Arthur is portrayed as a le ...
'', which featured Gruffudd as the character
Lancelot Lancelot du Lac (French for Lancelot of the Lake), alternatively written as Launcelot and other variants, is a popular character in the Matter of Britain, Arthurian legend's chivalric romance tradition. He is typically depicted as King Arthu ...
and doing a voice-over introduction. The obvious tie-in was to assert the historical accuracy of the film.


Television films and specials, modernization and parodies

* '' Once Upon a Classic: "
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court ''A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court'' is an 1889 historical novel by American humorist and writer Mark Twain. The book was originally titled ''A Yankee in King Arthur's Court''. Some early editions are titled ''A Yankee at the Court ...
"'' (TV film, 1978) An adaptation of Mark Twain's novel with
Paul Rudd Paul Stephen Rudd (born April 6, 1969) is an American actor. Rudd studied theatre at the University of Kansas and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts before making his acting debut in 1991. He was included on the ''Forbes'' Celebrity 100 li ...
as Hank/Sir Boss,
Richard Basehart John Richard Basehart (August 31, 1914 – September 17, 1984) was an American actor. Known for his "deep, resonant baritone voice and craggy good looks," he was active in film, theatre and television from 1947 until 1983. He won two National ...
as King Arthur and
Roscoe Lee Browne Roscoe Lee Browne (May 2, 1922 – April 11, 2007) was an American actor and theatre director, director. He resisted playing Stereotypes of African Americans, stereotypically black roles, instead performing in several productions with New York Ci ...
as Merlin. * '' Merlin and the Sword'' a.k.a. ''Arthur the King (''1985'')'' is an American television movie that was filmed in 1982 about a woman falling into an icy cave at Stonehenge and waking up in
Arthurian According to legends, King Arthur (; ; ; ) was a king of Britain. He is a folk hero and a central figure in the medieval literary tradition known as the Matter of Britain. In Welsh sources, Arthur is portrayed as a leader of the post-Ro ...
times. * '' Merlin and the Dragons'' (1991) * ''
The Four Diamonds The Four Diamonds is a fantasy themed, allegorical short story written by Chris Millard in 1972 shortly before succumbing to cancer at the age of 14. After returning from summer vacation, his teacher told Chris' class to write a story about what the ...
'' (1995) * '' A Knight in Camelot'' (1998) based on ''A Connecticut Yankee'' by Mark Twain * '' The Excalibur Kid'' (1999) * '' Avalon High'' (TV film, 2010) Britt Robertson is cast as Arthur as the setting of this Disney Channel Original Movie is a mix of battle sequences and a high school setting . Allie Pennington, (Robertson) learns she is the reincarnation of the legendary king.


Television miniseries

* ''
The Legend of King Arthur ''The Legend of King Arthur'' is a British television fantasy serial, produced by the BBC in association with Time-Life Television and the Australian Broadcasting Commission, and broadcast on BBC 1 in 1979.Kevin J. Harty, "Cinema Arthuriana: A ...
'' (1979), a BBC adaptation of the story produced by
Ken Riddington Ken Riddington (8 May 1922 – 26 December 2014)Simon Farquha ''The Independent'', 12 March 2015. Some sources give his year of births as 1920. was an English television producer, who worked predominantly in BBC television drama from the 1970s onw ...
and starring
Andrew Burt Andrew Thomas Hutchison Burt (23 May 1945 – 16 November 2018) was a British actor, voiceover artist, and counsellor. Early life and education Andrew Burt was born on 23 May 1945 in Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, to Hutchison B ...
as Arthur. * ''
Merlin The Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN) is an interferometer array of radio telescopes spread across England. The array is run from Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire by the University of Manchester on behalf of UK Re ...
'' (1998), expands on Arthurian legend from Merlin's perspective, starring
Sam Neill Sir Nigel John Dermot "Sam" Neill (born 14 September 1947) is a New Zealand actor. His career has included leading roles in both dramas and blockbusters. Considered an "international leading man", he is regarded as one of the most versatile acto ...
. * ''
The Mists of Avalon ''The Mists of Avalon'' is a 1983 historical fantasy novel by American writer Marion Zimmer Bradley, in which the author relates the Arthurian legends from the perspective of the female characters. The book follows the trajectory of Morgaine ...
'' (2001), a feminist retelling based on the
Marion Zimmer Bradley Marion Eleanor Zimmer Bradley (June 3, 1930 – September 25, 1999) was an American author of fantasy, historical fantasy, science fiction, and science fantasy novels and is best known for the Arthurian fiction novel '' The Mists of Avalon'' and ...
novel, produced by
TNT Troponin T (shortened TnT or TropT) is a part of the troponin complex, which are proteins integral to the contraction of skeletal and heart muscles. They are expressed in skeletal and cardiac myocytes. Troponin T binds to tropomyosin and helps ...
, with
Julianna Margulies Julianna Margulies (; born June 8, 1966) is an American actress. After several small television roles, Margulies received wide recognition for her starring role as Carol Hathaway in the NBC medical drama series '' ER'' (1994–2000; 2009), fo ...
as Morgaine,
Anjelica Huston Anjelica Huston ( ; born July 8, 1951) is an American actress, director and model. She is best known for playing Morticia Addams in the ''The Addams Family'' and '' The Addams Family Values'', as well as often portraying eccentric and distincti ...
as
The Lady of the Lake The Lady of the Lake (, , , , ) is a title used by multiple characters in the Matter of Britain, the body of medieval literature and mythology associated with the legend of King Arthur. As either actually fairy or fairy-like yet human enchantres ...
, and
Samantha Mathis Samantha Mathis (born May 12, 1970) is an American actress and trade union leader who served as the Vice President, Actors/Performers of SAG-AFTRA from 2015 to 2019. The daughter of actress Bibi Besch, Mathis made her film debut in '' Pump Up ...
as
Gwenhwyfar Guinevere ( ; ; , ), also often written in Modern English as Guenevere or Guenever, was, according to Arthurian legend, an early-medieval queen of Great Britain and the wife of King Arthur. First mentioned in literature in the early 12th cen ...
. * ''
Merlin's Apprentice ''Merlin's Apprentice'' is a 2006 miniseries, a sequel to ''Merlin'', with Sam Neill and Miranda Richardson reprising their roles as Merlin and the Lady of the Lake. Loosely adapted from Arthurian legend, the plot takes place after the death of ...
'' (2006), a loose adaptation set after the death of Arthur, a sequel for Sam Neill as the wizard.


Television series

* The 1950s British television series ''
The Adventures of Sir Lancelot ''The Adventures of Sir Lancelot'' is a British television series first broadcast in 1956, produced by Sapphire Films for ITC Entertainment and screened on the ITV network. The series starred William Russell as the eponymous Sir Lancelot, a ...
'' (1956–57), recounts the knight's exploits and stars William Russell as the titular character, most known for his role as
Ian Chesterton Ian Chesterton is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'' and a companion of the First Doctor. He was played in the series by William Russell and was one of the members of the programme's first r ...
in
Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series, created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber and Donald Wilson (writer and producer), Donald Wilson, depicts the adventures of an extraterre ...
. It featured Arthur and many other characters from the legends and it was the first British television series ever to be made in colour (although surviving episodes of season 1 are in black and white), and one of the first to be aired by an American network. Although it suffered low ratings due to
CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS (an abbreviation of its original name, Columbia Broadcasting System), is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainme ...
’s
Burns and Allen Burns and Allen were an American comedy duo consisting of George Burns and his wife, Gracie Allen. They worked together as a successful comedy team that entertained vaudeville, film, radio, and television audiences for over forty years. The ...
airing at the same time slot. * The 1970s British television series, ''
Arthur of the Britons ''Arthur of the Britons'' is a British television show about the historical King Arthur. Produced by the ITV Wales & West, HTV regional franchise, it consisted of two series, released between 1972 and 1973. ITV had already a reputation for enter ...
'' (1972–1973), starring
Oliver Tobias Oliver Tobias Freitag (born 6 August 1947), known professionally as Oliver Tobias, is a Swiss-born, UK-based film, stage and television actor and director. Biography Born in Zürich, Switzerland, he is the son of the Austrian-Swiss actor Rob ...
, sought to create a more "realistic" portrait of the period and to explain the origins of some of the myths about the Celtic leader. * ''
Merlin The Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN) is an interferometer array of radio telescopes spread across England. The array is run from Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire by the University of Manchester on behalf of UK Re ...
'' (2008–2012) is the
BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
's second Arthurian adaptation after the 1979 mini-series, this time a retelling following a young Merlin and Arthur (played by
Colin Morgan Colin Morgan (born 1 January 1986) is an actor from Northern Ireland. He is known for playing the title character in the BBC fantasy series ''Merlin'' (2008–2012), Leo Elster in ''Humans'' (2015–2018), and Billy Clanton in Kenneth Branagh' ...
and
Bradley James Bradley James (born 1983 or 1984) is an English actor. He is best known for starring as Arthur Pendragon in the BBC series '' Merlin'' (2008–12), Damien Thorn in '' Damien'' (2016), Varga in '' Underworld: Blood Wars'', Giuliano de' Medici ...
, respectively) and their journey towards fulfilling their destiny. * ''
Camelot Camelot is a legendary castle and Royal court, court associated with King Arthur. Absent in the early Arthurian material, Camelot first appeared in 12th-century French romances and, since the Lancelot-Grail cycle, eventually came to be described ...
'' is a series on
Starz Starz (stylized in all caps as STARZ; pronounced "stars") is an American pay television network owned by Starz Entertainment, and is the flagship property of Starz Inc. Launched in 1994 as a multiplex service of what is now Starz Encore, ...
which is an adaptation of
Le Morte D'Arthur ' (originally written as '; Anglo-Norman French for "The Death of Arthur") is a 15th-century Middle English prose reworking by Sir Thomas Malory of tales about the legendary King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, Merlin and the Knights of the ...
that debuted February 25, 2011. It begins at the very earliest story with twenty-year-old Arthur (
Jamie Campbell Bower James Metcalfe Campbell Bower (born 22 November 1988) is an English actor and singer. He made his feature film debut in 2007 with a supporting role in '' Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street''. He went on to feature in '' The Twilight ...
), long lost son of Uther Pendragon, being crowned king and pulling the Sword of Mars from a stone after his half-sister Morgan (
Eva Green Eva Gaëlle Green (; ; born ) is a French British-based actress, known for appearing in blockbuster and independent films, in which she often portrays eccentric, villainous, and complex characters. The daughter of actress Marlène Jobert, she ...
) poisons their father. A more adult-oriented take on the Arthurian legends than the concurrent series ''Merlin'', it was cancelled after one season because of many scheduling conflicts of the cast and showrunners. * '' Cursed'' (2020) is a Netflix adaptation of the
Frank Miller Frank Miller (born January 27, 1957) is an American comic book artist, comic book writer, and screenwriter known for his comic book stories and graphic novels such as his run on ''Daredevil'', for which he created the character Elektra, and ...
graphic novel of the same name, following Nimue ( Katherine Langford) who wields Excalibur and Arthur ( Devon Terrell) who is a sellsword.


Television series, modernization and parodies

* ''
Raven A raven is any of several large-bodied passerine bird species in the genus '' Corvus''. These species do not form a single taxonomic group within the genus. There is no consistent distinction between crows and ravens; the two names are assigne ...
'' (1977) * '' Mr. Merlin'' (1981–82), Merlin lives in modern times. * '' Small World'' (1988) * '' Doctor Who - Battlefield'' (1988–1989) * '' Sir Gadabout: The Worst Knight in the Land'' (2002–2003), a children's spoof of the Arthurian legend. * ''
Stargate SG-1 ''Stargate SG-1'' (often stylized in all caps, or abbreviated ''SG-1'') is a military science fiction Adventure fiction, adventure television series within Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stargate, ''Stargate'' franchise. The show, created by Brad Wrig ...
'' Season 9 to 10 (2006–2007) * The BBC series ''
Merlin The Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN) is an interferometer array of radio telescopes spread across England. The array is run from Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire by the University of Manchester on behalf of UK Re ...
'' (2008–2012) is a re-imagining of the legend in which the future King Arthur and Merlin are young contemporaries in
Uther Uther Pendragon ( ; the Brittonic name; , or ), also known as King Uther (or Uter), was a legendary King of the Britons and father of King Arthur. A few minor references to Uther appear in Old Welsh poems, but his biography was first writ ...
's kingdom. Arthur quickly transitions from a spoiled young prince into a beloved king, while Merlin perfects his magic arts in secret. Inspired by ''
Smallville ''Smallville'' is an American superhero fiction, superhero television series developed by writer-producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, based on the DC Comics character Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The series was produce ...
'' (which was a similar show featuring
Superman Superman is a superhero created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, which first appeared in the comic book ''Action Comics'' Action Comics 1, #1, published in the United States on April 18, 1938.The copyright date of ''Action Comics ...
characters) and the subject of critical acclaim, ''Merlin'' ran for five series. * The ABC series ''
Once Upon a Time "Once upon a time" is a stock phrase used to introduce a narrative of past events, typically in fairy tales and folk tales. It has been used in some form since at least 1380 in storytelling in the English language and has started many narrative ...
'' (2011–2018) features many aspects from the Arthurian legends. Camelot is mentioned several times as a region within the Enchanted Forest. Also, Lancelot appears in the second and fifth seasons. In the fifth season, the heroes seek out the sorcerer
Merlin The Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN) is an interferometer array of radio telescopes spread across England. The array is run from Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire by the University of Manchester on behalf of UK Re ...
to battle the darkness that currently plagues hero-turned-villain
Emma Swan Emma Swan is a Character (arts), fictional character and the protagonist of American Broadcasting Company, ABC's Television program, television series ''Once Upon a Time (TV series), Once Upon a Time''. She is portrayed by Jennifer Morrison as a ...
. In the third episode of the season, King Arthur (portrayed once again by
Liam Garrigan Liam Garrigan (born 1981) is an English actor. As a youth, he attended classes at Kingston upon Hull's Northern Theatre Company and was a student at Wyke College, Kingston upon Hull. His first television role was in 2003 as Characters of Holby ...
) is revealed to be a villain. As the season progresses, his villainous acts are discovered by the heroes, including his killing of Merida's father, but he is eventually defeated and imprisoned. Towards the end of the season, he is killed by the god of the Underworld,
Hades Hades (; , , later ), in the ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology, is the god of the dead and the king of the Greek underworld, underworld, with which his name became synonymous. Hades was the eldest son of Cronus and Rhea ...
, and is sent to the Underworld. It is there he encounters a deceased Killian Jones, and they work together to help the heroes in the living realm defeat Hades. With the underworld in disarray, Arthur realizes a prophecy he heard that he would repair a broken kingdom wasn't talking about Camelot, but the Underworld. He then bids Killian farewell, and hopes to redeem himself by helping the souls of the deceased. * The Canadian TV show ''
Guinevere Jones ''Guinevere Jones'' is a fantasy television series and a series of four novels created by Elizabeth Stewart. It revolves around the adventures of the title character as she uses magic to fight evil, while at the same time dealing with problems an ...
'' (2002) features a reincarnation of Guinevere who is helped by the spirit of Merlin to learn magic and fight against Morgana, and dealing with High School problems. * The first season of the American television show '' The Librarians'' is centered on the efforts of an elderly
Lancelot Lancelot du Lac (French for Lancelot of the Lake), alternatively written as Launcelot and other variants, is a popular character in the Matter of Britain, Arthurian legend's chivalric romance tradition. He is typically depicted as King Arthu ...
(using his last name, Dulaque, as an alias) to restore
Camelot Camelot is a legendary castle and Royal court, court associated with King Arthur. Absent in the early Arthurian material, Camelot first appeared in 12th-century French romances and, since the Lancelot-Grail cycle, eventually came to be described ...
, which he considers to be a golden age of humanity. He manages to release magic back into the world using
Excalibur Excalibur is the mythical sword of King Arthur that may possess magical powers or be associated with the rightful sovereignty of Britain. Its first reliably datable appearance is found in Geoffrey of Monmouth's ''Historia Regum Britanniae''. E ...
in the second episode, ("And The Sword In the Stone"), and eventually uses a collection of artifacts gathered by the Librarians to access the Loom of Fate, which he tampers with to restore his youth and restart history at the beginning of Camelot. However,
Galahad Galahad (), sometimes referred to as Galeas () or Galath (), among other versions of his name (originally ''Galaad'', ''Galaaz'', or ''Galaaus''), is a knight of King Arthur's Round Table and one of the three achievers of the Holy Grail in Ar ...
(who has assumed the identity of the Library's caretaker, Jenkins), returns and distracts him long enough for the Librarians to undo the damage, causing Lancelot to disappear.


Animation


Television films and specials

* "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" (1970) was an animated early segment of the ''
Famous Classic Tales ''Famous Classic Tales'' is an animated anthology television series featuring animated adaptations of classic children's stories which aired on CBS from 1970 to 1984. The series was produced by the Australian division of Hanna-Barbera and Air Pro ...
'' specials, produced by the Hanna-Barbera Australian subsidiary, Air Programs International * '' A Connecticut Rabbit in King Arthur's Court'' (1978), also known as ''Bugs Bunny in King Arthur's Court'', a Looney Tunes TV special. * ''A Connecticut Mouse in King Arthur’s Court'' (1980), an episode of
The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show ''The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show'' (also known as ''The New Adventures of Tom and Jerry'') is an American animated television series produced by Filmation in association with MGM Television featuring the popular cartoon duo Tom and Jerry. The show ...


Television series

* The Australian animated cartoon series ''
Arthur! and the Square Knights of the Round Table ''Arthur! And the Square Knights of the Round Table'' is a 1966–1968 Australian animated series based on the legend of King Arthur of Camelot. The series was produced by Air Programs International and written by Melbourne playwright Alex Buz ...
'' (1966–1968) was a typically wacky take on Arthurian legend. * In ''
Sabrina the Animated Series ''Sabrina: The Animated Series'' is an American animated television series based on the Archie Comics series ''Sabrina the Teenage Witch''. Produced by Savage Studios Ltd. and Hartbreak Films in association with DIC P ...
'' episode " Hexcalibur" features Harvey Kinkle as the young King Arthur voiced by
Bill Switzer William Ashton Switzer is a Canadian actor. He is known for his work on the animated television series ''Mummies Alive!'' He had a leading role in '' Eerie, Indiana: The Other Dimension'' and he also performed in '' Sabrina: The Animated Series' ...
(very loose adaptation) * The animated series ''
The Legend of Prince Valiant ''The Legend of Prince Valiant'' is an animated television series based on the ''Prince Valiant'' comic strip created by Hal Foster. Set in the time of King Arthur, it is a family-oriented adventure show about an exiled prince who goes on a quest ...
'' (1991–1993) followed the adventures of three young warriors training to become Knights of the Round Table. The series featured Arthur, Merlin, Guinevere, and Gawain in its main cast and several other Arthurian characters in recurring roles. * The animated series '' King Arthur & the Knights of Justice'' (1992–1993) featured an
American Football American football, referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada and also known as gridiron football, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular American football field, field with goalposts at e ...
team called the Knights led by quarterback Arthur King. When the "real" Knights of the Round Table are captured, Merlin magically transports the Knights football team to Camelot to defend the kingdom and rescue the captured knights. * Starting within its List of Gargoyles episodes#Season 2 (1995–1996), "Avalon World Tour" story arc, a few episodes of Disney's Gargoyles (TV series), ''Gargoyles'' (1994–1997) devoted themselves partly to Arthur Pendragon, after NYPD detective Elisa Maza awakens the King from his "eternal slumber" within Avalon's "hollow hill" sanctuary. Arthur goes on to recover his sword Excalibur while visiting New York (and directly confronting List of Gargoyles characters#Macbeth, Macbeth while recovering it), and while in New York, knights List of Gargoyles characters#London Clan, the London Clan gargoyle Griff to become his traveling companion from Griff's assistance to the king in recovering Excalibur, as Arthur begins a quest to find Merlin. * ''Blazing Dragons'' (1996–1998), The series' protagonists are anthropomorphic dragons who are beset by evil humans, reversing a common story convention. The series parodies that of the King Arthur Tales as well as the periods of the Middle Ages * ''Dragon Booster'' (2004–2006), A teenager named Artha Penn teams up with a dragon named Beau and Artha was the chosen hero called the Dragon Booster. * The British animated cartoon series ''King Arthur's Disasters'' (2005–2006). Where Arthur is voiced by Rik Mayall. * The animated series ''Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia'' (2016–2018) features the wizard
Merlin The Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN) is an interferometer array of radio telescopes spread across England. The array is run from Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire by the University of Manchester on behalf of UK Re ...
as the creator of the Trollhunter's amulet, and his arch-enemy Morgan le Fay, Morgana as one of the main villains of the third season. The series ''Wizards: Tales of Arcadia'' (2020) features the return of Merlin and Morgana. Camelot also appears, as members of the main cast travel back to Arthurian times, in the process meeting King Arthur and Lancelot. * ''Unicorn: Warriors Eternal'' follows the Order of the Unicorn, a band of reincarnating magical warriors assembled by Merlin to battle an immortal evil entity that was once Morgana.


Foreign-language television series and films


Live-action television series

* The French series ''Kaamelott'' (2005–2009) features a humorous take on the legend. * ''Het Huis Anubis en de Vijf van het Magische Zwaard, Het huis Anubis en de vijf van het magische zwaard'' (Dutch Nickelodeon series, 2010–2011)


Animated television series

* ''King Arthur (TV series), King Arthur & the Knights of the Round Table (Entaku no Kishi Monogatari: Moero Arthur)'', a Japanese anime series produced by Toei Animation from 1979 to 1980, followed by ''King Arthur: Prince on White Horse (Moero Arthur: Hakuba no Oji)'' in 1980. * The episode "Minnade Daietto!" (English: "Eh! History Changed!?") of the 1991 Japanese anime series ''Mischievous Twins: The Tales of St. Clare's'' deals with the abduction of Guinevere, Queen Guinevere by Maleagant, Sir Maleagant and about how she is set free by Lancelot, Sir Lancelot. * The Japanese anime series ''Code Geass'' (2006–2007, 2008) featured The Knights of the Round, a unit of twelve elite knights in the Holy Empire of Britannia, each being assigned into the group by royalty and under direct command of the Emperor. Each knights pilot a Knightmare Frame, a humanoid shaped war machine. Their Knightmare Frame were named after the Arthurian Knights such as Lancelot, Gawain, and Tristan. The capital city of the Holy Britannian Empire, Pendragon, is also named after King Arthur's surname. * In the Japanese anime adaptation of the visual novel ''Fate/stay night'' (2006, 2014–2015), Arthur is portrayed as having been a woman (named Saber (Fate/stay night), Artoria/Altria) whose spirit is resurrected to serve a mage in the modern day as "Saber", with history recording her as a man for political correctness. She reprises this role in the adaptation's prequel ''Fate/Zero'' (2011–2012), which also features a version of Lancelot. Artoria also appears in the film ''Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works (2010 film), Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works'' (2010), and Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works, a recreated anime series (2014–2015) based on the latter, as well as a number of spinoffs based on the franchise. In addition, the OVA ''Fate/Prototype'' (2011) (based on an earlier draft of ''Fate/stay night's'' story) features a male version of King Arthur, known in the expanded universe as "Prototype Saber", often shortened to "Proto-Saber". Meanwhile, ''Fate/Apocrypha'' (2017) features Mordred as a Saber-class familiar, wielding the sword Clarent. * The Japanese anime ''Highschool DxD'' (2012, 2013, 2015, 2018), the Arthurian legend also plays an important factor in the series such as the Welsh Dragon, the White dragon and King Arthur's dual swords
Excalibur Excalibur is the mythical sword of King Arthur that may possess magical powers or be associated with the rightful sovereignty of Britain. Its first reliably datable appearance is found in Geoffrey of Monmouth's ''Historia Regum Britanniae''. E ...
and Caliburn, Merlin the wizard of Arthurian Legend was stated to be one of the most important pioneer of magic, two of the main character were direct descendants of King Arthur, Arthur Pendragon and Le Fay Pendragon, the latter being the love interest of the protagonist Issei Hyoudou. * Arthur serves as the main antagonist in the Japanese anime ''Nobunaga the Fool'' (2014). The anime is a sci-fi telling of famed ancient heroes from the west, such as Arthur, Caesar, and Alexander, going to war against famed ancient heroes from the east, such as Nobunaga, Mitsuhide, and Kenshin over control over two planets, both of which represent Europe and Japan. * In Season 2 Episode 15 List of Sword Art Online II episodes#ep15, "The Queen of the Lake" (2014) of Japanese anime ''Sword Art Online'', the main cast is given a quest to save an ancient race of elves from which the main characters races branch from. The reward for the quest is the item known as
Excalibur Excalibur is the mythical sword of King Arthur that may possess magical powers or be associated with the rightful sovereignty of Britain. Its first reliably datable appearance is found in Geoffrey of Monmouth's ''Historia Regum Britanniae''. E ...
, a legendary sword from Arthurian lore. * ''The Seven Deadly Sins (anime), The Seven Deadly Sins'' (2014–2020) is loosely based on Arthurian Legend, set in and around Lyonesse, Liones and Camelot, and featuring reimagined versions of Arthur, Merlin, and Viviane as supporting characters. **It's sequel Four Knights of apocalypse is also based on the Arthurian Legends. * ''Divine Gate'' (2016), Japanese anime based on the Smart phone game of same name, which retelling of Arthurian legend. * A sword-wielding character named Arthur appears in ''David Productions anime adaptation of the manga series ''Fire Force'' by ''Atsushi Ohkubo''. As his pyrokinetic ability, he wields a sword named Excalibur whose blade is made of plasma. Believing himself to be a knight, his power increases as these convictions grow. * An independent Japanese tokusatsu series entitled "Avalon, Knight of the Round Table" (円卓騎士アヴァロン, Entaku Kishi Avaron) was created by Shield and Sword Productions and released on YouTube.


Audio

* ''The Sword in the Stone'', a 6-part BBC Radio series written by Marianne Helweg based on the book by
T. H. White Terence Hanbury "Tim" White (29 May 1906 – 17 January 1964) was an English writer. He is best known for his Arthurian novels, which were published together in 1958 as '' The Once and Future King''. One of his best known is the first of the s ...
and broadcast on BBC National Programme 11 June - 16 July 1939, with Robert Farquharson (actor), Robert Farquharson as Merlyn, Robin Maule as "Wart", Norman Shelley as Sir Ector, Carleton Hobbs as Archimedes and Geoffrey Wincott as King Pellinorer. * ''The Sword in the Stone'', a 1952 BBC Home Service adaptation by Marianne Helweg of T.H. White's novel, with Peter Ustinov as Merlyn, Jeremy Spenser as "Wart", Norman Shelley as Sir Ector, Geoffrey Wincott as King Pellinore and Patience Collier as Madame Mim. * ''Tale Spinners for Children: "The Knights of the Round Table"'' (UAC 11005) (1962), a recorded dramatization of the Arthurian legend starring Derek Hart, concentrating mostly on Sir Lancelot; certain events were simplified or changed to make the story more child-friendly (for instance, Mordred is merely an evil knight and the love affair between Lancelot and Guinevere is changed to make it an evil rumor spread by a henchman of Sir Mordred's to compromise Lancelot and Guinevere, resulting in their being framed when Lancelot is tricked into visiting the Queen in her chamber) and providing a happy ending. * ''The Sword in the Stone'', a 1981 BBC Radio 4 adaptation by Neville Teller of T.H. White's novel, with Michael Hordern as Merlyn, Toby Robertson as "Wart", David Gooderson as King Pellinore and Josephine Gordon as Madame Mim. * ''Arthur - the King'', a 7-part BBC Radio series written by Graeme Fife and broadcast on BBC Radio 4 11 November - 23 December 1990, with Keith Baxter (actor), Keith Baxter as Arthur, Paul Scofield as Merlin, Anna Massey as Morgan le Fay, Nicholas Farrell as Lancelot and Jill Balcon as Guinevere. * ''A Stone From Heaven'', a radio play in two parts ("The Wounding" and "The Healing", both broadcast on 15 April 1995) written by Lindsay Clarke, focusing on the Grail story and on Percival, Parsifal and Gawain, with Ian Jeffs as Parsifal, Michael Lumsden as Gawain, Gary Bond as Arthur, Eleanor Bron as Cunrie, Diana Quick as Orguleuse and Edward Petherbridge as Trevrizant. * ''Arthur'', a 6-part BBC Radio series written by Sebastian Baczkiewicz and Steve May and broadcast on BBC Radio 4's ''Afternoon Play'' 22 October - 26 November 2004, with Philip Glenister as Arthur, Ben Whishaw as young Arthur, Ian McDiarmid as Merlin, Jane Lapotaire as Morgan, Andrew Scarborough as Lanslot and Eve Myles as Gwenfar. * ''The Once and Future King'', a 6-part BBC Radio series written by Brian Sibley based on the book by
T. H. White Terence Hanbury "Tim" White (29 May 1906 – 17 January 1964) was an English writer. He is best known for his Arthurian novels, which were published together in 1958 as '' The Once and Future King''. One of his best known is the first of the s ...
and broadcast on BBC Radio 4 9 November - 14 December 2014, with Paul Ready as Arthur, David Warner (actor), David Warner as Merlyn, Alex Waldmann as Lancelot and Lyndsey Marshal as Guinever. * ''Albion: The Legend of Arthur'', a 2020 Audible Original Drama written by Robert Valentine described as a more realistic version of the Arthurian legends.


Paintings

* ''Morgan le Fay (painting), Morgan le Fay'', Frederick Sandys, 1864 * ''The Beguiling of Merlin'', Edward Burne-Jones, 1872–1877 * ''The Last Sleep of Arthur in Avalon'', Edward Burne-Jones, 1881–1898 * ''The Lady of Shalott (painting), The Lady of Shalott'', John William Waterhouse, 1888 * ''The Lady of Shalott Looking at Lancelot'', John William Waterhouse, 1894 * ''I Am Half-Sick of Shadows, Said the Lady of Shalott'', John William Waterhouse, 1915


Tapestry

* Holy Grail tapestries


Comics


Advertising

King Arthur is the namesake of a brand of flour, King Arthur Flour.


Games


Board games

* The board game ''Shadows Over Camelot'' features King Arthur as one of the main playable characters in the game. * In the science fiction miniature game ''Warhammer 40k'', the Emperor of Mankind drew many similar inspiration from Arthurian legends while the treacherous Warmaster Horus and Horus Heresy is similar to Mordred. * In the fantasy miniature game ''Warhammer Fantasy Battle'', the background of Bretonnia (Warhammer), Bretonnia is strongly based on Arthurian legends, including the Grail and the Lady of the Lake. * King Arthur alongside many of his knights appear under stylized names in the card game Yugioh in the "Knight of the Round Table" set. Merlin, the Lady of the Lake and Avalon are also referenced.


Role-playing games

* The role-playing game ''Pendragon (role-playing game), Pendragon'' details how to run adventure games set in the time of the Round Table. Its setting integrates Malory with post-Roman Britain, Celtic myth and English Folklore. * In ''Rifts (role-playing game), Rifts'' from Palladium Books, the main story of Britain revolves around the future equivalent of
King Arthur According to legends, King Arthur (; ; ; ) was a king of Great Britain, Britain. He is a folk hero and a central figure in the medieval literary tradition known as the Matter of Britain. In Wales, Welsh sources, Arthur is portrayed as a le ...
and his knights. This is not the original King Arthur awoken from Avalon and he has many different characteristics and strengths, not the least of which is his new blade, Calibur-X, a vibrating gun blade with magical properties. * The King Arthur Supplement for the GURPS role-playing game gives three different Arthurian settings, a historical setting based upon post-Roman Britain, a legendary setting based upon Malory, and a cinematic setting based upon modern stories.


Video games

*
Sir Lancelot
' is used as character in a 1984 platform / arcade game for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum. * ''Conquests of Camelot'' (1990) by Sierra Entertainment centers around the quest for the Holy Grail. * ''Knights of the Round (video game), Knights of the Round'' (1991) by Capcom is a light-hearted take on the Arthurian legend in a sword fighting beat-em-up similar to the video game ''Final Fight (video game), Final Fight''. * ''Bio-Hazard Battle'' (1992) the plots mention Avalon is another planet to be contaminated by bio-hazard warfare. * ''Young Merlin'', a 1994 Super NES game. * ''King Arthur & the Knights of Justice (video game), King Arthur & the Knights of Justice'' (1995) by Enix is based on the King Arthur & the Knights of Justice, cartoon series of the same name. * The ''Soul (series), Soul'' series (Started 1995) by Namco features Arthur (Soul Calibur), Arthur as a samurai. He wields a katana named Gassan. * ''Blazing Dragons (video game), Blazing Dragons'' (1996) by Crystal Dynamics and Nelvana in that the game controls Flicker, a young inventor in Camel-hot who dreamed about becoming a knight. It is based on the Blazing Dragons, cartoon TV series of the same name. * In ''Final Fantasy VII'' (1997), the final and most powerful summon materia is Knights of the Round which has 12 knights striking an enemy with the last knight obviously being King Arthur through his extended entrance and grander appearance. * ''Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings'' (1999): King Arthur represented by a champion infantry. * ''Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade'' (2002): a tactical JRPG contains many characters whose names allude to the King Arthur legend. Although there is no Arthur, characters include:
Guinevere Guinevere ( ; ; , ), also often written in Modern English as Guenevere or Guenever, was, according to Arthurian legend, an early-medieval queen of Great Britain and the wife of King Arthur. First mentioned in literature in the early 12th cen ...
, Igraine, Gorlois, Lancelot, Lance, Percival, Uther, Lot, Bors,
Merlin The Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN) is an interferometer array of radio telescopes spread across England. The array is run from Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire by the University of Manchester on behalf of UK Re ...
us, Lady of the Lake, Niime and Nacien. The game's prequel, ''Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade'', introduces Lady of the Lake, Ninian, but on the whole this game draws more from medieval French mythology than British and Arthurian. * ''Legion: The Legend of Excalibur'' by 7 Studios, a 2002 real-time strategy and action role-playing hybrid with the player controlling one of the Knights of the Round Table and few warrior groups to fight against evil Morgan Le Fay's undead army. * ''Fate/stay night'' (2004), a visual novel/eroge and anime, features a young female knight called Saber (Fate/stay night), Saber whose true name is Artoria/Altria Pendragon. She became King by pulling free the sword from the stone. Knowing that armies wouldn't follow a woman, she renamed herself King Arthur and used Merlin's magic to hide her gender. Bedivere attends to her as she is dying. ** ''Fate/Zero'' (2006), a prequel, features not only the above King Arthur/Saber, but also
Lancelot Lancelot du Lac (French for Lancelot of the Lake), alternatively written as Launcelot and other variants, is a popular character in the Matter of Britain, Arthurian legend's chivalric romance tradition. He is typically depicted as King Arthu ...
as a Black Knight under the class Berserker. ** The spinoff game ''Fate/extra'' (2010) features Gawain as an enemy-exclusive Saber-class character. ** The light-novel series ''Fate/Apocrypha'' (2012) - a parallel world spinoff based on a cancelled MMO concept - features
Mordred Mordred or Modred ( or ; Welsh: ''Medraut'' or ''Medrawt'') is a major figure in the legend of King Arthur. The earliest known mention of a possibly historical Medraut is in the Welsh chronicle ''Annales Cambriae'', wherein he and Arthur are a ...
as a Saber-class for one of the two factions, who, like King Arthur/Saber, is gender-swapped, detailed in the story as being a homunculus half-clone of King Arthur that was created from mixing the King's genes with those of
Morgan le Fay Morgan le Fay (; Welsh language, Welsh and Cornish language, Cornish: Morgen; with ''le Fay'' being garbled French language, French ''la Fée'', thus meaning 'Morgan the Fairy'), alternatively known as Morgan , Morgain /e Morgant Mor ...
. Mordred wields the sword Clarent. ** All of the aforementioned characters would later appear in the mobile game ''Fate/Grand Order'' (2015) alongside versions of Galahad, Gareth, Agravaine and Tristan. Lancelot would come to have another version summonable as the Saber-class in which he is sane, unlike his Berserker form. Artoria would also receive multiple versions of her character, notably a Lancer-class version wielding the spear Rhongomyniad, in addition to corrupted Alter forms and an alternate-universe male form known as "Proto-Saber". * ''King Arthur (video game), King Arthur'' by Krome Studios is based on the 2004 King Arthur (2004 film), film of the same name. * ''Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War'', a 2006 Namco game, is heavily based on the Arthurian legend, with allusions to Excalibur, Avalon, etc. * ''Stronghold Legends'' (2006) by Firefly Studios; campaign includes King Arthur's legend. * ''Tomb Raider: Legend'' (2006) by Crystal Dynamics revolves around the King Arthur legend resembling those of other cultures around the world; pieces of artifacts are forms of Excalibur. ** ''Tomb Raider: Underworld'' (2008) by Crystal Dynamics revolves around Lara trying to find Avalon to find her mother. * ''Excalibur: Morgana's Revenge'', a real time strategy and role-playing game by ExcaliburWorld Software from 2007. * ''King Arthur: The Role-playing Wargame'' a real time strategy and role-playing game by Neocore Games from 2009. ** ''King Arthur: Knight's Tale'' (2022) by NeocoreGames is a tactical role-playing game with a dark fantasy version of Arthurian legend where King Arthur is mad and you play as Mordred trying to stop him. ** ''King Arthur: Legion IX'' (2024) - a turn-based TRPG with a Roman theme, set in the universe of ''King Arthur: Knight's Tale''. * ''Sonic and the Black Knight'' (2009) on Wii features the main protagonist, Sonic the Hedgehog (character), Sonic the Hedgehog saving the city
Camelot Camelot is a legendary castle and Royal court, court associated with King Arthur. Absent in the early Arthurian material, Camelot first appeared in 12th-century French romances and, since the Lancelot-Grail cycle, eventually came to be described ...
from
King Arthur According to legends, King Arthur (; ; ; ) was a king of Great Britain, Britain. He is a folk hero and a central figure in the medieval literary tradition known as the Matter of Britain. In Wales, Welsh sources, Arthur is portrayed as a le ...
after he becomes corrupt and calls himself the Black Knight. After defeating the Black Knight/King Arthur, Merlin's granddaughter Merlina reveals to Sonic & the Knight of the Roundtable that the King Arthur they knew was a fake created by her grandfather. In the end, Sonic was revealed to be King Arthur himself, as Caliburn (actually
Excalibur Excalibur is the mythical sword of King Arthur that may possess magical powers or be associated with the rightful sovereignty of Britain. Its first reliably datable appearance is found in Geoffrey of Monmouth's ''Historia Regum Britanniae''. E ...
) said he was the one who decides who is worthy of the crown. * ''Smite (video game), SMITE'', a 2014 free-to-play game. * ''The Order: 1886'', story in this 2015 action adventure depicts the Knights of the Round Table in steampunk London battling to keep the world safe from supernatural breeds and enemy organisations. *''Assassin's Creed Valhalla'', a 2020 Assassin's Creed instalment set in Anglo-Saxon England and focusing on Vikings invaders. Players are able to acquire tablets from various sites across the England map, some of which are connected to Arthurian Legend. Players then head to Myrddin's (Merlin's) Cave, where they can use the tablets to reveal the sword Excalibur. Gareth, Sir Gareth's Holy Sword, the sword of one of the Knights of the Round Table, can also be acquired in-game. * ''Tainted Grail: Conquest'' (Ex-''Tainted Grail'' in 2020) (2021), a 3D, turn-based, roguelike deck-building game in a dark fantasy world of Avalon. It is adapted from the 2019 board game, ''Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon''. ** ''Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon'' (2025), an epic first-person, open-world RPG in the ''Tainted Grail'' lore, set long after King Arthur's death. * ''Cassette Beasts'' (2023) features Aleph, a character heavily based on Arthurian legends, as well as formerly going by the name Arthur. * ''King Arthur: Legends Rise'' (2024), a F2P, turn-based, squad-based RPG made in Unreal Engine 5. It's based on Arthur's dangerous adventures and has mythical monsters. * ''Legends of the Round Table'', a 2025 side-scrolling, PC RPG game with instrumental soundtrack and colorful, manuscript-like, 2D visuals authentic to the period.


MMOs

* Dark Age of Camelot (DAoC), a massively multiplayer online game created by Mythic Entertainment. A role-playing game with elements of Arthurian legend, released in 2001. The story takes place after King Arthur's death. * ''RuneScape (2001), a MMORPG'', King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table are portrayed as having settled in the game's fictional world while awaiting Britain's 'time of greatest need'. * ''Wizard101 (2008): Morganthe's Arc, Avalon story line (Arc 2 World 3) (video game)'' * Kingdoms of Camelot (KoC), a massively multiplayer online, real-time strategy, browser game created by Canadian studio Kabam. A build and warfare game, released in 2009 and linked to Facebook Game platform.


Music

* The concept album ''The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table'' (1975) by Rick Wakeman tells a version of the legend. * The 1986 concept album ''The Legend'' by Italo Disco singer Valerie Dore. * The 1995 album ''Imaginations from the Other Side'' and 2015 album ''Beyond the Red Mirror'' by the power-metal band Blind Guardian contain numerous songs referencing Arthurian legends, including "A Past and Future Secret", about the battle of Camlann, "Mordred's Song", and "The Holy Grail". * The 2004 expanded edition of heavy metal music, heavy metal singer Bruce Dickinson's 6th solo album '' The Chemical Wedding (Bruce Dickinson album), The Chemical Wedding'' features a song called "Return of the King," which heavily references Arthurian elements including Uther Pendragon. * The American power-metal band Kamelot has many songs with Arthurian elements in their discography.(''Once and Future King'' and ''Shadow of Uther'' * In 2003 hard rock musician Gary Hughes put out two albums, ''Once and Future King Part I'' and ''Once and Future King Part II'', based on the legend. * The German metal band Grave Digger (band), Grave Digger released a concept album about the story of King Arthur called ''Excalibur (Grave Digger album), Excalibur'' * English folk singer Maddy Prior released a 2001 concept album ''Arthur the King'' * The 1995 album ''The Final Experiment'' by Ayreon, its concept is located in King Arthur's timeline. * England-based metal band Cradle of Filth released their song "Haunted Shores" in 2014, which deals with the subject of King Arthur from a pagan perspective. * The British band The Mechanisms created an album ''High Noon Over Camelot'' which gives a western take on the tales. * Korean pop band Kingdom (group) released their top song "Excalibur" in 2021 as their debut single. As well as "Excalibur" they released songs "Black Crown" and "Long Live the King" which are less obviously influenced by Arthurian legend. Along with their songs, their debut album is titled ''History Of Kingdom: pt.I. Arthur'' which is named after band member Arthur and a reference to Arthur Pendragon. The influence of Arthurian legend in this band is unbelievable.


Anthem of Cornwall

* ''Bro Goth Agan Tasow'' ("Dear Land of Our Fathers"), the official anthem of Cornwall, includes the words: "Kingdom of King Arthur, ancient saints and the
Grail The Holy Grail (, , , ) is a treasure that serves as an important motif in Arthurian literature. Various traditions describe the Holy Grail as a cup, dish, or stone with miraculous healing powers, sometimes providing eternal youth or sustenanc ...
/No other land is more beloved."


See also

* Lists of movie source material * Fiction featuring Merlin


References


External links


''Rodney Parish's Arthurian Comics List''
Rodney Parrish.
''Camelot In Four Colors: A Survey of the Arthurian Legend in Comics''
Alan Stewart.

Michael Torregrossa, part of ''The Arthuriana/Camelot Project Bibliographies''. * [http://www.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/acpbibs/harty.htm Arthurian Film] by Kevin J. Harty {{DEFAULTSORT:Works based on Arthurian legends Cultural depictions of Arthurian legend, Games based on Arthurian legend, Arthurian literature, Arthurian theatre, Lists of films by source, Arthurian legend Works based on Arthurian legend, Lists of television series based on works