“Season
2 of the successful series The Tudors may not be faithful to
history but this exciting historical
drama based on the early reign of
King Henry VIII is a visual delight as,
against a backdrop of the colourful
Tudor period, the monarch woos,
marries and tires of Anne Boleyn...” A SEXY, SUMPTUOUS AND LAVISH PORTRAYAL of one of the most tumultuous
reigns in English history returns for a second sensational series as the Emmy
award-winning drama The Tudors: Season 2 is released to buy on Blu-ray
and DVD from 13 October (2008).
The demanding King Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers: Match Point, Mission:
Impossible III) has won the heart of the lovely Anne Boleyn (Natalie Dormer:
Casanova) but Henry is to discover that sometimes an obsession can change
the world.
The formidable Pope John III (the legendary Peter O'Toole) is head of the Catholic
church that stands in the way of Henry's desire to put aside his Queen, Catherine
of Aragon (Maria Doyle Kennedy: Mystics, television's As Queer As
Folk) in favour of his mistress, Anne Boleyn.
But as easily as he can dispense with his wife, Henry is also powerful enough
to turn his back on Catholicism and replace it with another religion, creating
for himself a position as head of the new Church of England and bringing down
on his head the fury of Rome. It is an action that will change the country forever
and spells danger for the devout Catholics — and as the pressures pile
on, Henry begins to suffer disturbing nightmares.
As Anne takes her place alongside Henry at Court — where even the smallest
indiscretion can spell disaster — the Fates are weighted against her. The
king's controversial decisions will have a backlash and there are enemies who
walk in the shadows while Anne attempts to deal with the passionate, political
and emotional turmoil of life at Court — enemies who would not balk at
threats, lies, deception and even murder to further their own cause or to bring
about the downfall of a Queen.
Remembered today as 'Anne of the Thousand Days', Henry's new Queen is desperate
to keep her husband's interest — even to the extent of choosing a lover
for him while she is pregnant — but is soon to fall victim to the transience
of his unquenchable desires, his desperation for a male heir, the machinations
of the Court and Anne's hitherto unknown enemies. Because waiting in the wings
is another beauty, Jane Seymour (Anna Briem: Journey To The Centre Of The
Earth) whose family is as keen as the Boleyns to see one of their own rise
to prominence and power.
Although purists will be disappointed if looking for stringent historical accuracy,
The Tudors: Season 2 is superb historical fiction and is well acted and
dramatised, with the passion, the danger, the infidelity and the malicious scheming
of the times mixed with a large pinch of spice to great effect.
This well-paced drama comes from Michael Hirst, creator of the Oscar-winning
Elizabeth and Elizabeth: The Golden Age. It was aired on primetime
BBC2 before being released on DVD immediately after the gripping season finale.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers returns to the role of Henry and Jeremy Northam (Gosford
Park) is Sir Thomas More. Also featured are: Henry Caville (Stardust,
Tristan & Isolde) as Charles Brandon; Nick Dunning as Thomas Boleyn;
James Frain as Thomas Cromwell; Padraic Delaney as George Boleyn; Jamie Thomas
King as Thomas Wyatt; John Kavanagh as Cardinal Campeggio; Sam Neill as Cardinal
Thomas Wolsey; Perdita Weeks as Mary Boleyn; Laura Jane Laughlin as Margaret
"Madge" Sheldon and Max von Sydow as Otto Truchsess von Waldburg. The haunting
music is by Trevor Moms and The Tudors was created and written by British
screenwriter Michael Hirst, who is also an Executive Producer.
Plotting and passion abound in this royal romp back through history, which is
also available to buy in a Blu-ray and DVD box set along with the acclaimed
first series. In addition, The Tudors: Season 2 boasts a host of exclusive
behind-the-scenes featurettes that bring you closer than ever to the world of
The Tudors.
• The Tudors: Season 2 is now available
to buy on Blu-ray and DVD (released 13 October, 2008), courtesy of Sony Pictures
Home Entertainment. (Contains female nudity).
"Although purists will be disappointed if looking for stringent historical accuracy,
The Tudors: Season 2 is superb historical fiction and is well acted and
dramatised, with the passion, the danger, the infidelity and the malicious scheming
of the times mixed with a large pinch of spice to great effect" — MotorBar
“Season
2 of the successful series