Game of Thrones' Jaime Lannister Changes His Banners to Conquer England

Summary:

• Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is set to portray William the Conqueror in CBS’s new TV show King and Conqueror.
• Coster-Waldau is largely known for playing Jaime Lannister in HBO’s Game of Thrones.
• King and Conqueror will start filming in 2024; the show will consist of eight episodes.

Famous for his iconic portrayal of Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones, Danish actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau continues on his quest to win every medieval war as he joins the cast of CBS’s King and Conqueror to portray the first Norman king of England. What is this series about and how does it tie together with Coster-Waldau’s previous role?

Fans Love Coster-Waldau Despite Him Being Lowkey

Game of Thrones gave a stage to many previously unknown actors, and while the lead-lead stars like Kit Harrington and Emilia Clarke profited the most from it, many others did, too. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau was among them: HBO’s most popular show launched the Danish actor into international stardom, and he more than deserved it.

Jaime Lannister, his Game of Thrones alter-ego, was a complex and multi-layered character. He came off as a ruthless narcissistic bastard at first, doing heinous acts like deliberately killing a child to conceal his incestuous relationship with his twin sister, but as time went by, Jaime went through immense suffering that changed him.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau masterfully portrayed Jaime’s personal journey from a rich a-hole to the compassionate and noble knight he was supposed to be all along. The dramatic and romantic character of Jaime Lannister truly came to life thanks to Coster-Waldau’s talent, and that’s enough for us to have full trust in the actor.

Even after rising to fame with his Game of Thrones success, Coster-Waldau didn’t try to bathe in the public’s attention. The actor went back to doing what he loves most and has largely remained lowkey since the finale of HBO’s show — but fans still adore him and want to see more of his work. Now, they have the perfect chance!

What Is Coster-Waldau’s New Lead Role?

King and Conqueror is CBS Studios’ new historical drama mini-series following the rivalry between the two pretenders to the English crown — William, Duke of Normandy, and Harold, Earl of Wessex. You might know the former better as William the Conqueror, the man who — spoiler alert! — took over the entirety of England.

Earl Harold will be portrayed by James Norton from McMafia, so Game of Thrones fans may rejoice: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau will play Duke William, the ultimate winner of the Conquest. King and Conqueror will consist of eight episodes and will start filming in 2024, meaning we shouldn’t expect it earlier than 2025 at best.

Funnily enough, for Coster-Waldau, his banner won’t change too much from his Kingslayer days: in Game of Thrones, he stood under the Lannisters’ red banner with a golden lion; in King and Conqueror, he will display the Normans’ red banner with…two golden lions. It’s too soon to judge, but the actor might just love the idea.

Seeing that the new CBS show will be written by Sherlock Holmes’s Michael Robert Johnson and led by the one and only Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, our expectations from King and Conqueror are reasonably high. There’s quite some time before the series’s release, and we’re definitely going to keep an eye out for future updates.

Here’s to another unworthy king slain by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau!