King Lear: Anthony Hopkins heads astonishing cast for BBC's Bank Holiday epic

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Brace yourselves for weighty Bank Holiday drama with an impressive cast this coming Monday, as Sir Anthony Hopkins steps into the shoes of a modern, epic BBC rendition of King Lear.

Devised by Hopkins and director Richard Eyre, this new screen adaptation transports Shakespeare's already gritty historical narrative to a fictional version of 21st century Britain.

But what stands out from the off is its remarkable roster of acting talent:

Hopkins as LearEmma Thompson as GonerilEmily Watson as ReganFlorence Pugh as CordeliaJim Broadbent as GloucesterChristopher Eccleston as OswaldJohn Macmillan as EdmundAndrew Scott as EdgarJim Carter as KentTobias Menzies as Cornwall

Many of those names speak for themselves. Rising star Pugh, meanwhile, shot to prominence with her extraordinary lead turn in the dark period drama Lady Macbeth, one of our films of 2017.

"Richard Eyre has assembled an unmissable cast to embody his vision for a timeless but deeply resonant screen adaptation of King Lear," says Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama.

A modern take on a 'monstrous, tragic tale'

King Lear's story revolves around the 80-year-old monarch of the title, whose downfall begins when he decides to split his kingdom among his daughters according to how much they express their love for him.