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11 BRITANNIA:
SEASON TWO
ŭȀ˔ФDavid Morrissey, Mackenzie Crook, Eleanor Worthington-Cox,
Annabel Scholey
ưǘȢǺȌǐǐƔˀФJez Butterworth, Tom Butterworth, James Richardson
̧ưƔʖФAut umn 2019
̧ưƔǺɛФSky Atlantic
AƔǐǺɛФFantasy
The trippiest show on TV returns later this year, as Britannia Season Two plunges
us back into the world of Roman-occupied Britain, as General Aulus (David
Morrissey) continues his battle of wills with the British people, and especially with
druid leader Veran (Mackenzie Crook). The real battle, though, may be between the
Romans and the sheer alien weirdness of Britain.
“There are powers that are affecting the Romans in a very psychological way,”
Morrissey says. “It’s a very trippy world and some people can’t handle it... there’s
something in the nature of the land and it’s turning them, and I love that.”
Where Season One may have looked at the original Roman invasion, Season Two
focuses on occupation, as Aulus begins working with his new British ally Amena
to build a Roman city on British soil. “The Romans have slightly taken over, in an
Empire Strikes Back way; they’re in control – but are they?” says producer James
Richardson. “The druids are... slightly on the back foot, but there are new forces
coming in and it’s becoming about who’s in control of this situation and this world?”
Those ‘new forces’ are coming in from all angles, with Emperor Claudius arriving,
along with Veran’s long-absent brother Harka, who is also played by Crook. Veran’s
“whole life has been people hanging on his every word and every word he says is
considered and everything is loaded with symbolism and what have you,” Crook
says. “Whereas Harka, the brother, hasn’t had a lifetime of that, and so he’s not so
considered... So it’s funny to do Harka
as Veran’s rock and roll brother turning
up. I said to Jez, it’s like his brother has
just got out of prison and come back
home and starts stirring things up!”
Crook laughs.
While Harka is bringing new mystery
and tension to the show, Claudius is
bringing the mix of comedy and threat
that actor Steve Pemberton is so great
at. “He is both this comedic buffoon,
but he’s also the most powerful man
in the world, and Steve is brilliant at
playing both,” Richardson says. After
experimenting with the tone slightly in
Season One, Richardson promises that
Season Two will be full of the humour,
darkness, and glorious weirdness that
fans loved in Season One.”Expect more weirdness
in Season Two...