World Without End (miniseries)
Please do not use {{Infobox television film}} directly. See the documentation for available templates. World Without End is an eight episode television miniseries based on the novel of the same name by Ken Follett. It is the follow up to the 2010 miniseries The Pillars of the Earth, also based on a Follett novel. World Without End is set 150 years after The Pillars of the Earth and chronicles the experiences of the fictional English town of Kingsbridge during the start of the Hundred Years' War and the outbreak of the Black Death. The cast is led by Cynthia Nixon, Miranda Richardson, Ben Chaplin, Peter Firth, Charlotte Riley, and Tom Weston-Jones. The mini series varies significantly in both the plot and characterizations from the novel.
The series was produced by German-based Tandem Communications, Ridley Scott's Scott Free Productions, Take 5 Productions, and Galafilm. Filming took place in Hungary, Slovakia and Austria. Executive producers include Ridley and Tony Scott, Rola Bauer, David W. Zucker, Tim Halkin, Jonas Bauer, and John Weber. John Pielmeier adapted the screenplay and Michael Caton-Jones directed all eight episodes.
World Without End will be broadcast on television stations worldwide including Channel 4 in the United Kingdom, Showcase in Canada, and ReelzChannel in the United States.
Overview
Set in England during the 1300s, the series chronicles the lives of ordinary citizens as the King leads the nation into the Hundred Years' War with France, all while Europe is bracing for the Black Death. Caris (Charlotte Riley), a visionary woman, and her lover Merthin (Tom Weston-Jones) build a community that stands up to the Crown and the church.[1]
Cast and characters
- Cynthia Nixon as Petranilla
- Miranda Richardson as Mother Cecilia
- Ben Chaplin as Sir Thomas Langley
- Peter Firth as Roland
- Charlotte Riley as Caris
- Tom Weston-Jones as Merthin
- Rupert Evans as Godwyn
- Nora von Waldstätten as Gwenda
- Oliver Jackson-Cohen as Ralph
- Sarah Gadon as Phillippa
- Hera Hilmar as Margery
- Carlo Rota as Edmund
- Aure Atika as Queen Isabella
- Tom Cullen as Wulfric
- David Bradley as Brother Joseph
- Indira Varma as Mattie Wise
- Ian Pirie as Elfric
- Caroline Boulton as Sister Elizabeth
- Blake Ritson as Edward III
- Megan Follows as Maud
Production
While acquiring the rights to The Pillars of the Earth from Ken Follett, Tandem Communications also secured a first right to negotiate a deal for World Without End, the sequel to the first novel.[1] The project was announced in December 2010.[2] The World Without End miniseries was co-produced by Tandem with Scott Free Productions, Canadian-based Take 5 Productions and Galafilm.[1] John Pielmeier, who adapted The Pillars of the Earth, wrote the screenplay.[3] Michael Caton-Jones signed on as director in March 2011.[3]
Casting for the main roles was completed in June 2011, and filming began a month later in Europe.[1] Shooting took place primarily in Hungary, where an entire medieval town was constructed on a 12,000-m2 backlot. Additional location shoots took place in Slovakia and Austria.[1]
Broadcast
World Without End has been acquired by Sat.1 in Germany, Channel 4 in the United Kingdom, Shaw Media in Canada, Cuatro in Spain, ORF in Austria, Sky Italia in Italy and TV2 in Hungary.[1][4] In the United States, Starz, which aired The Pillars of the Earth, could not reach an agreement with Tandem to air the show.[1] The series was acquired by ReelzChannel instead.[5]
It premiered on 4 September 2012 on Showcase in Canada.
In the U.S., the eight hours were broken up into four 2-hour episodes, the first episode airing on 17 Oct 2012 on ReelzChannel.[5]
The eight hours were similarly divided into four episodes when broadcast in Italy on Sky Movies between 11 November and 2 December 2012. The series was broadcast under the title of Mondo Senza Fine with a choice of Italian dubbed audio or with the original English audio.
Episodes
| No. | Title | Directed by | TV adaptation by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Knight" | Michael Caton-Jones | John Pielmeier | 4 September 2012 | |
|
Queen Isabella defeats her husband King Edward II in battle and crowns their son who becomes King Edward III. The now-former Earl of Shiring is arrested for treason. | |||||
| 2 | "King" | Michael Caton-Jones | John Pielmeier | 11 September 2012 | |
| 3 | "Prior" | Michael Caton-Jones | John Pielmeier | 18 September 2012 | |
| 4 | "Check" | Michael Caton-Jones | John Pielmeier | 25 September 2012 | |
| 5 | "Pawns" | Michael Caton-Jones | John Pielmeier | 2 October 2012 | |
| 6 | "Rook" | Michael Caton-Jones | John Pielmeier | 9 October 2012 | |
| 7 | "Queen" | Michael Caton-Jones | John Pielmeier | 16 October 2012 | |
| 8 | "Checkmate" | Michael Caton-Jones | John Pielmeier | 23 October 2012 | |
Home media releases
World Without End was released by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on 4 December 2012 in DVD and Blu-ray Disc formats. The two-disc sets contain the featurette "The Making Of Ken Follett's World Without End."[6]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Andreeva, Nellie (2011-07-27). "Tandem & Scott Free Set Cast For $44 Million Miniseries 'World Without End'". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2012-02-29.
- ^ Meza, Ed (2010-12-08). "Tandem greenlights 'World Without End'". Variety. Retrieved 2012-02-29.
- ^ a b Kenneally, Tim (2011-03-30). "Michael Caton-Jones Directs Follett's 'World Without End'". The Wrap. Retrieved 2012-02-29.
- ^ Sweney, Mark (2012-02-29). "Channel 4 buys Pillars of the Earth sequel". The Guardian. Retrieved 2012-02-29.
- ^ a b Nededog, Jethro (2012-05-22). "'World Without End' Miniseries Heads to ReelzChannel". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2012-05-22.
- ^ Lambert, David (12 October 2012). "World Without End - Blu-rays, DVDs Announced for Ken Follett's Follow-up to 'Pillars of the Earth'". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Retrieved 12 October 2012.