James Norton reveals why he was cast as Harold in 'King and Conqueror'

James Norton’s casting in King and Conqueror wasn’t a creative process, but rather a logical one.

CBS Studios’ upcoming King and Conqueror features two main characters, Harold of Wessex and William the Conqueror. Norton wanted to be cast as William, but he was also the lead actor in The Nevers at the time. 

So, HBO told the actor he could be part of the new show but in a character that wouldn’t last many seasons in order to avoid any conflict in contracts.

Hence, the War & Peace star was cast in the role of Harold of Wessex, who came face-to-face with William at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, while William is played by Game of Thrones star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.

“[HBO] said you can go and do King and Conqueror but you must die because we can’t afford you to go for too long,” Norton told Deadline. “If it’s a hit they were worried there would be a conflict. That’s what often happens with actors’ contracts, you can just do small pieces. So my arm was forced”

Alongside James Norton and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, the cast of King and Conqueror includes Emily Beecham, Clémence Poésy, Eddie Marsan and Juliet Stevenson.