The Last Kingdom – Copyright. Carnival Film & Television
The Last Kingdom has slowly become a giant show on Netflix. Season 4 of The Last Kingdom has finally been announced to release on Netflix in April 2020. Here’s everything we know so far about the series, including where it is in production, who’s starring in season 4, and what we can expect.
The Last Kingdom is a Netflix Original series based on The Saxon Stories by author Bernard Cornwell. Originally, the series was produced by BBC America and was co-produced by Netflix.
As of the third season, Netflix had picked up the production entirely, and it became a full Netflix Original and the rest, as they say, is history.
Taken from his ancestral home after his uncle’s betrayal, young Osbert is raised by the Danes. Renamed Uhtred, he is raised as a son by Earl Ragnar.
When Ragnar’s banished shipmaster returns to enact his revenge upon Ragnar, he pins the blame on Uhtred. Having no choice but to flee, he and his lover Brida retreat to the Kingdom of Wessex. Forced to serve King Alfred, Uhtred is given the task of training Alfred’s armies to fight the invading Danes. Uhtred dreams of being able to return to his ancestral home and reclaim his birthright.
When is the release date of The Last Kingdom season 4?
At long last, Netflix finally announced that season 4 of The Last Kingdom would stream on Netflix starting Sunday, April 26th, 2020.
Shield walls at the ready, Arselings! Prepare for battle as Season 4 of The Last Kingdom comes to NETFLIX on Sunday 26th April ⚔️ #TheLastKingdom #Season4 pic.twitter.com/6P6axGz9p0
— The Last Kingdom (@TheLastKingdom) March 19, 2020
What time will The Last Kingdom season 4 be on Netflix?
It’s going to be a great Sunday morning for Netflix subscribers in Europe, and an excellent evening for those living in Australia and New Zealand when The Last Kingdom season 4 finally drops. Below is the timetable that The Last Kingdom season 4 will be released in various regions across the world.
| Time Zone | Time available to stream |
|---|---|
| Pacific Standard Time | 12:00 AM (GMT-8) |
| Mountain Standard Time | 1:00 AM (GMT-7) |
| Central Standard Time | 2:00 AM (GMT-6) |
| Eastern Standard Time | 3:00 AM (GMT-5) |
| British Daylight Savings Time | 08:00 AM (GMT) |
| Central European Time | 09:00 AM (GMT+1) |
| Eastern European Time | 10:00 AM (GMT+2) |
| India Standard Time | 13:30 PM (GMT+5:30) |
| Japan Standard Time | 16:00 PM (GMT+8) |
| Australian Eastern Time | 18:00 PM (GMT+10) |
| New Zealand Day Light Time | 20:00 PM (GMT+12) |
The Last Kingdom Season 4 Trailer
On April 12th, 2020, Netflix released the first look at season 4 with a huge and promising trailer. Unfortunately, the trailer has only been uploaded to Twitter so far, and we’ll include a YouTube trailer should we get it.
The new trailer promises some action-packed battle sequences, and from our view, it looks like the budget has been significantly increased for this season.
Your cries have been heard, Arselings! The season 4 trailer is here. Just a little taste of what is to come. #TheLastKingdom pic.twitter.com/d2Kc86brQB
— The Last Kingdom (@TheLastKingdom) April 12, 2020
The Last Kingdom season 3 recap
Uhtred was forced to flee Wessex after accidentally killing a holy man in the presence of King Alfred. Fleeing north, Uhtred reunited with his adoptive brother Ragnar. The Danish were uniting to lead an invasion force south to conquer areas of Mercia and, thus, Wessex further.
The King’s nephew, Aethelwold, spent the entirety of the season scheming to take the crown from Alfred. This ultimately leads to the death of Ragnar when Aethelwold kills him while he sleeps.
This split the Danish forces as Brida became distracted with finding her lover’s killer. Uhtred joined Brida in the search for Ragnar’s killer and found a way for Ragnar’s soul to reach Valhalla as he died without his sword in hand.
Edward takes control of Alfred’s forces – Copyright Carnival Film & Television
Edward led his father’s forces in the first fight against the Danes. Leading to a Wessex victory against Heasten’s forces. After the defeat of Heasten’s force, the Danish army is weakened and must wait out the winter before attacking.
They send Aethelwold back to Wessex as a spy, to which the traitor’s life is spared, but he loses an eye for his crime. Aethelwold continues to scheme as Alfred’s condition worsens. Uhtred was able to reconcile with Alfred before the King’s passing. Finally learning of Alfred’s true feelings for Uhtred, he was pardoned by the King on the condition of swearing fealty to his son Edward. Uhtred eventually learns about Aethelwold’s murder of Ragnar, and the coward flees Wessex to rejoin the Danes.
Aethelwold after losing his eye – Copyright Carnival Film & Television
With Alfred’s passing, Edward is crowned as king of Wessex. As spring approaches, the Danish army moves south to begin its invasion. Aetholwold, having convinced Sigebriht is a bannerman of Edward, is confident he can turn the tide of battle when it arrives.
Aethelred of Mercia declares that Mercia will not take part in the war and pulls his forces. Uhtred convinces King Edward to attack the invading force before they arrive to catch them off guard. Summoning his forces, the army of Wessex rides out to meet the Danish invaders.
Catching the Danes off guard, the initial attack works to Wessex’s advantage. With superior numbers, the Danes soon begin to hold back the Wessex army. Arriving in time to aid Wessex is Aethelfold’s (Sister of Edward and wife of Aethelred) Mercian army.
Turning the tide of battle against the Danes, Sigebriht betrays Aethelwold and joins the side of Wessex. As Aethelwold attempts to flee the battle Brida and Uhtred catch him. Using what is left of Ragnar’s blood, Uhtred pierces the pouch, holding the blood into Aethwold’s heart, ensuring that Ragnar’s soul is sent to Valhalla.
Who’s appearing in The Last Kingdom season 4? Who’s been cast?
The full list of returning cast members has been confirmed to be the following:
| Role | Cast Member |
|---|---|
| Uhtred Ragnarsson | Alexander Dreymon |
| Father Beocca | Ian Hart |
| Aethelred | Toby Regbo |
| Brida | Emily Cox |
| King Edward | Timothy Innes |
| Aelswith | Eliza Butterworth |
| Finan | Mark Rowley |
| Aethelflaed | Millie Brady |
| Cnut | Magnus Bruun |
| Haesten | Jeppe Beck Laursen |
| Aelfric | Joseph Milson |
We can also confirm two new actors that will be joining the cast members for the fourth season of The Last Kingdom:
- Stefanie Martini will play the role of Eadith, who is Aethelred’s new love conquest
- Jamie Blackley will play Eardwulf, who is described as Aethelred’s new right-hand man
- Ruby Hartley is scheduled to play Stiorra, who is Uhtred’s daughter
Pictured (left to right): Stefanie Martini, Jamie Blackley, Ruby Hartley
Ossian Perret (Grantchester) has been cast in The Last Kingdom. Their roles were finally confirmed in a Twitter post by the official account for the series.
A new season brings new characters & cast members in to the fold. Introducing Stefanie Martini as Eadith & Jamie Blackley as her brother, Eardwulf. Eysteinn Sigurdarson joins as Sigtryggr, Ruby Hartley as Stiorra, Finn Elliot as Young Uhtred & Ossian Perret as Wihtgar. pic.twitter.com/6sA896w3mI
— The Last Kingdom (@TheLastKingdom) April 7, 2020
How the book adaptations will influence The Last Kingdom season 4
Previously, each season covered roughly two books from which the story is adapted from. Season 3 ended during the events of Death of Kings. Some plot points from Death of Kings could be used for the beginning of season 4. If they move on from Death of Kings and choose to go onto the events of The Pagan Lord, a significant time jump is set to occur.
After season 4 there are still three books ready to be adapted. The series has seen some significant differences compared to that of the books, so even if the series is to exceed the story of the books (season 6 or 7) the writers will likely be fine continuing the story themselves. The biggest factor is the age of characters in the novels because Uhtred is in his Mid 50’s in the events of The Pagan Lord and The Empty Throne.
Season 4 Will Cover the events from 3 books of The Saxon Stories: Copyright – HarperCollins
What to expect from The Last Kingdom season 4 on Netflix
Carnival Films have provided the official synopsis for the fourth season of The Last Kingdom:
“After the death of Alfred, the alliances between the kingdoms are fractured. Uhtred believes the timing is right to challenge his uncle Aelfric, played by Joseph Millson (Casino Royale, Banished), and take back his ancestral home, Bebbanburg. However fate shifts in a different direction, leading Uhtred to realise that his destiny is tied to Alfred’s dream of a united land. This, and Uhtred’s feelings for Aethelflaed, drive him back into the politics that threaten to break out into war.”
A Return to Bebbanburg?
While we were speculating on the plot of the fourth season, Uhtred’s journey to his ancestral home was one of the plot threads we mentioned. Uhtred’s fate from the synopsis above will continue to lead him away from Bebbanburg and back to the Kingdom of Wessex. After the events of the last season, Uhtred has created some fierce enemies in the form of Cnut and Haesten who will come looking to take revenge upon Uhtred for his role in the ambush against the Danish forces.
A New King Rises?
King Edward will struggle in his first years as the new king of Wessex. With a legacy such as his father’s to follow, naturally many men who were once loyal to Alfred may not be so loyal to their young king. Edward will need the help of Uhtred to unite the lands and create Alfred’s dream of England. Aethelflaed co-controls the kingdom of Mercia, alongside her husband Aethelred but with the latter plotting to kill his wife, it may be up to Uhtred to save her. Which will likely end up with the pair finally admitting their feelings for each other?
If Edward can hold the Kingdom of Wessex and keep his Mercian allies then he has a great platform to continue a conquest that would lead to capturing the lands held by the Danes such as Lundene and the Kingdom of East Anglia.
A Time Skip?
We’ve been expecting to see a time jump and Eliza Butterworth’s Instagram has all but confirmed it. Actress Ruby Hartley has been cast as Uhtred’s daughter Stiorra. We haven’t seen any information on the fate of Uhtred’s sons Uhtred and Osbert.
Ruby Hartley in The Last Kingdom season 4. From Eliza Butterworth’s Instagram Stories. pic.twitter.com/8Yd2UALjN7
— Crown_For_A_King (@Crown_ForAKing) September 17, 2019
Ruby Hartley will be making her television debut in The Last Kingdom, and the casting choice is near perfect. In the books, Uhtred has noted just how much her late mother, Stiorra, resembles, so much so that it has even hurt our favorite Viking to look at his daughter.
Ruby Hartley (left) and Peri Baumeister as Gisela (left) – Copyright Carnival Film & Television
As you can see from the picture above, the resemblance is uncanny!
Where in production is The Last Kingdom season 4?
We can now confirm that filming for the fourth season of The Last Kingdom has come to an end as of October 2019.
This was confirmed in a tweet by the series’ official twitter account:
That’s a wrap! Here’s to a job well done. #TheLastKingdom #Season4 pic.twitter.com/tYawbMMEOS
— The Last Kingdom (@TheLastKingdom) October 5, 2019
On October 7th, the cast posted a video exclaiming their anticipation for the upcoming fourth season.
Bigger. Bloodier. Better. #TheLastKingdom family has retreated from the battlefield and rolled into the edit suite! While some celebrate, and others lick their wounds, there's work yet to be done to bring #thelastkingdom Season 4 to our screens. Patience, Arselings, patience. pic.twitter.com/veMaCNRzH6
— The Last Kingdom (@TheLastKingdom) October 7, 2019
We got our first look at the progress of The Last Kingdom in late Summer 2019 when Netflix released some images for the fourth season of The Last Kingdom.
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- The Last Kingdom Uhtred Season 4 Set Photo
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- The Last Kingdom Uhtred Season 4 Set Photo 2
Over the course of the production, the cast & crew were uploading photos to their social media accounts.
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- The Last Kingdom Season 4 Netflix Pedro Uhtred
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- The Last Kingdom Season 4 Netflix Set Photo Toby Regbo
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- The Last Kingdom Season 4 Netflix Set Photo 1
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- The Last Kingdom Uhtred Season 4 Cnut
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- The Last Kingdom King Edward Season 4
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- The Last Kingdom Uhtred Season 4 Set Photo 4
Magnus Bruun, who portrays the Dane Cnut in The Last Kingdom, has certainly been having fun in his role. His most recent update with actress Emily Cox suggests we’ll be expecting more bloody action with Cnut and Brida at the heart of it.
There’s a lot of mayhem going on in this show, but behind the scenes it’s all fun and games… #TheLastKingdom #season4 #shinyhappypeopleholdinghands pic.twitter.com/vgWFZYlDsz
— Magnus Bruun (@MagnusBruun5) June 25, 2019
We’ve also had some of the directors confirmed for season 4 of The Last Kingdom:
- Andy Hay is set to direct episodes 5 & 6 of season 4.
- David Moore, who has worked on Outlander, Shetland, and Jericho, is set to direct episodes 7 and 8.
In January 2020, we got word that the music of the show had been recorded, according to John Lunn. We also got a look at the new series in the editing room.
Also just finished recording the music for series 4 yesterday. The fantastic @eivormusic has done her usual brilliant stuff and more, and I need to thank my wonderful new assistant Danny Saul who has brought some sick new sounds in to the mix!
— John Lunn (@jlunn13) January 29, 2020
In the run-up to the release of season 4, more behind-the-scenes photos were shared on the official Twitter account for The Last Kingdom:
Shield walls at the ready, Arselings! Prepare for battle as Season 4 of The Last Kingdom comes to NETFLIX on Sunday 26th April ⚔️ #TheLastKingdom #Season4 pic.twitter.com/6P6axGz9p0
— The Last Kingdom (@TheLastKingdom) March 19, 2020
Preparing for battle…scenes.
Who’s excited for season 4, returning this year?#TheLastKingdom pic.twitter.com/xbrz9aDirz— The Last Kingdom (@TheLastKingdom) April 2, 2020
How many episodes will there be in The Last Kingdom season 4?
It’s been confirmed that the fourth season of The Last Kingdom will return with another ten episodes.
Are you excited for the fourth season of The Last Kingdom? Let us know in the comments below!
Netflix Synopsis: "As Alfred the Great defends his kingdom from Norse invaders, Uhtred -- born a Saxon but raised by Vikings -- seeks to claim his ancestral birthright."
