History’s Knightfall adds Mark Hamill to the cast of Season 2 and more

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

It sounds as if STAR WARS alum Mark Hamill will be trading his light saber in for a weapon forged from fire and steel, as History has announced that the actor is joining the Season 2 renewal of the historical fiction drama series KNIGHTFALL. In addition to Hamill entering the fray, the network has also shared that Tom Forbes (TV's THE ROYALS) and Geneviere Gaunt (KIDS IN LOVE, LOST IN AUSTEN) will be added to the cast. Furthermore, the upcoming season will host a new showrunner and executive producer in Aaron Helbing (THE FLASH, SPARTACUS: WAR OF THE DAMNED), who looks to add his signature style to the medieval mayhem.

For those of you who've yet to check out KINGHTFALL, the show explores the medieval politics and warfare tactics of the Knights Templar, the all-powerful, shadowy military outfit of the Middle Ages charged with safeguarding Christianity’s most notorious treasures. The show focuses on a section of the fabled order of warrior monks who delve deep into the histories and methodologies of the Knight's Templar by exploring how they lived, why the fought, and what they died to protect.

When Hamill joins the cast, he'll assume the role of Talus, a battle-hardened Knight Templar veteran of the Crusades, who survived captivity for 10 years in the Holy Land and is tasked with training the new initiates to the Order.

Meanwhile, Forbes will portray Prince Louis, the violent and unpredictable son of King Philip and heir to the throne. Gaunt is Isabella, the daughter of King Philip and well on her way to becoming the woman who history would call “the she-wolf of France.” (via Deadline)

KNIGHTFALL had proven itself to be a major success for History, after its debut season reached an impressive 25 million viewers and then some. Currently, the show stands tall as the No. 3 drama among cable networks.

“In the face of ever-increasing competition, we’re proud of History’s track record of producing signature drama series that are epic in scope with complex characters,” said Eli Lehrer, History’s EVP of Programming. “Whether it’s the legendary Knights Templar, the extraordinary tale of medieval Norsemen, or the story of a formerly classified United States Air Force program investigating UFOs during the Cold War, these series reflect our commitment to bringing the defining, big canvas stories of history to life. We look forward to offering our viewers a grittier, darker Knightfall in season two and welcoming Mark to the cast.”

With KNIGHTFALL already enjoying a bit of much-deserved success, it should be interesting to see how the additions of Hamill, Forbes, and Gaunt lend to the program's overall numbers. As you know, there are plenty of Hamill fans out there that would follow the BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES voice actor into the sun if he asked them to, now imagine what that loyalty can do for KNIGHTFALL.

Have you watched KNIGHTFALL? What do you think of the show? Are you excited by what these new players can bring to the story? Is there another religious order you'd like to see get the KNIGHTFALL treatment on History? Let us know in the comments section below.

Source: Deadline Hollywood

About the Author

Born and raised in New York, then immigrated to Canada, Steve Seigh has been a JoBlo.com editor, columnist, and critic since 2012. He started with Ink & Pixel, a column celebrating the magic and evolution of animation, before launching the companion YouTube series Animation Movies Revisited. He's also the host of the Talking Comics Podcast, a personality-driven audio show focusing on comic books, film, music, and more. You'll rarely catch him without headphones on his head and pancakes on his breath.