The Green Knight is one of the most iconic films of 2021, and it has continued to be a trend to this day, especially due to some scenes that have made a strong impression on both audiences and critics.
The drama, which tells the fantastical medieval tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight reimagined, was directed by David Lowery. The screenplay was also written by the director but is based on the poem by The Gawain Poet.
Dev Patel is the one who brings the main character to life, but he wasn’t the only one to shine; he was accompanied by big stars such as Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton, Barry Keoghan, Sarita Choudhury and Joe Anderson.
How to watch ‘The Green Knight’ on streaming
The Green Knight has finally had its long-awaited streaming debut, and the reimagining has been added to the Max catalog, available for streaming starting Friday, March 1. It is also for purchase and rental on Prime Video and Apple TV.
The film stands out for its impressive art direction, costume design, and cinematography, offering a unique visual aesthetic that blends elements of medieval fantasy with a surreal and dark touch.
The narrative explores themes such as honor, bravery, the search for identity and the confrontation with mortality. Sir Gawain faces various trials on his journey, each designed to test his character and loyalty to chivalrous ideals.
Dev Patel is the one who brings Gawain to life, accompanied by Alicia Vikander as Essel, Joel Edgerton as The Lord, Joe Anderson in the role of Paris, Ralph Ineson as the Green Knight and Barry Keoghan as Scavenger, among others.
The director talked about making the film
Indie Wire had the opportunity to speak with the Texan director, David Lowery, who is not only an innovative storyteller but also holds The Green Knight in quite a special regard, especially for how he brought the idea to life.
During an interview with the outlet in 2021, the filmmaker confessed that he delayed the A24 release by a year and even considered quitting his career, as it was “a very existential year”.
Additionally, he also talked about how he made the film and said:
“I didn’t have the idea to turn it into a movie until about 11 months before we started shooting it. It was a very sudden obsession. I certainly always wanted to make a fantasy film. Whether it’s ‘Willow’ or ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ I’ve always loved that genre.
At that particular time in my life, I wanted to make a film about someone on a quest. I thought about the poem, and I thought it would be a good template for a film. I didn’t even know if I would necessarily adapt ‘Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’ or if I would use elements of that text for a film that would have been something different and entirely original.
I thought maybe I could make a film about a knight on horseback traveling through the landscape that I could shoot somewhere in Texas. Then I took the poem and started rereading it. That’s when the obsession took over; I went from thinking it was a starting point to falling completely in love with the text and wanting to bring it to the screen with as much care and affection as possible”.