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Owain Glynd\u0175r: Blood and Glory. Image: Gwalia Films<\/p>\n Owain Glynd\u0175r: Blood and Glory. Image: Gwalia Films<\/p>\n
Stephen Price<\/p>\n
Doc Martin star Martin Clunes will be joined by Toby Jones and Maxine Peake in an upcoming Hollywood production detailing the life of Owain Glynd\u0175r, the last native Prince of Wales.<\/p>\n
Starring alongside Clunes (Doc Martin, William and Mary) as the Welsh hero, Toby Jones (Mr Bates vs The Post Office, Mr Burton) will play Owain\u2019s father, Gruffudd Fychan, while Maxine Peake (Dinnerladies, Gwen) will take on the role of Owain\u2019s wife, Mared Merch Dafydd.<\/p>\n
The Lord of the Rings-inspired drama, titled Owain Glynd\u0175r: Blood and Glory,\u00a0also features support from Welsh acting giants Michael Sheen (Frost\/Nixon, The Queen) as Charles VI of France and Dame Si\u00e2n Phillips (I Claudius, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy) as an unnamed peasant.<\/p>\n
Principle filming is expected to take place this spring in locations across North Yorkshire, as well as Pinewood Studios, London, with a pivotal love-making scene set to take place just outside Chepstow, with a full Wales-based canteen staff on hand for the two-day shoot.<\/p>\n
Clunes shared his excitement for the role, saying: \u201cIt\u2019s been so good to be back in Wales, assuming Chepstow is Wales that is, for part of the filming surrounded by so many incredible actors \u2013 many of whom I\u2019ve worked with beforehand.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe script grabbed me from the first read, and it was fascinating getting to learn about Owain\u2019s life \u2018on the job\u2019 so to speak, not having heard of him before.<\/p>\n
\u201cI joked with the team at Gwalia Films that I\u2019ve got the accent nailed from Out There, and then again for the Huw Edwards docu drama so they only chose me because they knew I\u2019d be able to save them money on helping the other actors perfect the Welsh accent too.\u201d<\/p>\n
And for fans of Clunes\u2019 earlier work, eagle-eyed viewers might spot a few cameos from fellow-stars of his beloved breakout production, Men Behaving Badly.<\/p>\n
He told Nation.Cymru: \u201cI\u2019m not sure if I\u2019m supposed to mention this, but Neil Morrissey, Caroline Quentin and Leslie Ash all feature in prominent roles.<\/p>\n
\u201cLeslie in particular blew me away with her part, and to see her take on more lines than both Sheen and Phillips just shows how much we\u2019ve underestimated her talent until now.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Acclaimed actors Maxine Peake and Toby Jones<\/p>\n
Maxine Peake, who plays the wife of Glynd\u0175r, and also The Lady of the Lake and a non-binary Merlin in a number of groundbreaking Arthurian-inspired dream sequences, said: \u201cLike Martin, I\u2019m no stranger to a Welsh role, and I\u2019m just thrilled to be flying the flag for Wales on the world stage.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe film is loosely inspired by the work of Emerald Fennell, so that fresh take on an old story really appealed to me \u2013 especially with the homoerotic elements that, although unspoken, bring an added dimension and humanity to a largely-forgotten character who I\u2019m sure very few Welsh people are aware of.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike Martin, I had no idea about the story before, but it\u2019s got such a Lord of the Rings feel that I\u2019m sure it\u2019ll capture new audiences who will be as excited as we were to immerse themselves in this absolute hero of British history.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rob Chode from Gwalia Films shared: \u201cWhen the script landed on our desks, we knew we had to get the cream of acting talent for the role, and Martin Clunes was everyone\u2019s first choice. It\u2019s an absolute thrill to watch him in action.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d also seen Peake and Jones tackle two important Welsh roles and with them on board the puzzle pieces fell into place.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRest assured there will be no shortage of Welsh actors in supporting roles, all held together with the skill of Wales-based director, Penda Fenn, and we expect a surge in tourism to Chepstow.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is Wales at its best. We can\u2019t wait for fans to get behind the man behind the myth \u2013 with just a little touch of fantasy, romantasy and Welsh magic added to the mix to bring this story up to date.<\/p>\n
\u201cGame of Thrones fans will not be disappointed. And who knows, if Welsh audiences get behind this first class production as we expect them to, we might even find ourselves at the beginning of a limitless Owain Glynd\u0175r multiverse.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe possibilities are endless.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Owain Glynd\u0175r: Blood and Glory is a Gwalia Films production funded with support from the Welsh Assembly\u2019s Merthyr Tydfil Depot, and will hit Welsh cinemas on 4 September 2026 following its London premiere on 3 September 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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