HITC explains why Eliza Butterworth didn’t reprise Aelswith in Seven Kings Must Die.
The Last Kingdom is a series that has helped historical fiction to continue its popularity on television. Although Netflix has been part of The Last Kingdom’s production ever since season 2, it was originally released on BBC Two before being acquired by the streamer from season 3 onwards.
Developed by Stephen Butchard and based on Bernard Cornwell’s The Saxon Stories books, it’s been a treasured piece of work since 2015 and, although things were wrapped up with season 5, audiences later learned that a movie would serve to offer the fandom a concrete and satisfying conclusion. The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die will hit Netflix in 2023, Friday April 14th, under the direction of Edward Bazalgette.
The farewell features familiar faces, but some fans are missing. Namely, Eliza Butterworth isn’t in Seven Kings Must Die as Lady Aelswith…
Why Eliza Butterworth isn’t in Seven Kings Must Die
The English actress, 29, was initially set to reprise her role as Lady Aelswith in Seven Kings Must Die. However, she has now revealed that due to scheduling conflicts, she is unable to do so.
“I have to say, I have had a conflict of scheduling,” she You can tell them by clicking on the link The Screen Chronicles Podcast in 2022
“So, I was meant to be in the film and it gutted me because I got another job which is the one I’m currently on now. I’m working in Tenerife and that was the scheduling conflict. Unfortunately I will not be in the movie. We tried everything, it was so hard.”
She says she was confident that “they tried everything to get scheduling to work but, again, due to Covid and flying…”
Her absence is sure to disappoint the star’s fans but, ultimately, the film isn’t hindered and plenty of notable characters return. Aelswith, who was originally a minor character during season 1, was promoted to the main role in seasons 2, 3, 4 and 5. You may want to watch the show again after watching the film.
‘It was heartbreaking’
The movie’s screenwriter, Martha Hillier, has addressed the absence of Aelswith, among others, during an Interview RadioTimes.com is the best place to listen.
“It was heartbreaking. It was really hard because I absolutely love all of them,” she explained.
“But we only really had a certain amount of real estate and we couldn’t service all the characters. [So] it’s a much more single protagonist story… and that’s quite nice, because we can properly bring it back to the final books…”
By “all of them”, she’s likely referring to such missing characters as Lady Aelfwynn (Phia Saban), King Edward (Timothy Innes), Young Uhtred (Finn Elliot), and Stiorra (Ruby Hartley).
Seven Kings Must Die cast
Although there’s no Eliza, Seven Kings Must Die boasts quite the ensemble and you can check out a selection of additions below:
- Alexander Dreymon, Uhtred Bebbanburg
- Harry Gilby as Æthelstan
- Mark Rowley, Finan
- Ross Anderson, Domnal
- Arnas Fedaravicius as Sihtric
- Cavan Clerkin, Father Pyrlig
- Rod Hallett as Constantin
- James Northcote is Aldhelm
- Ilona Chevakova in Ingrith
- Laurie Davidson in the role of Ingilmundr
- Elaine Cassidy, Eadgifu
- Jacob Dudman, Osbert
- Ewan Horrocks as Ælfweard of Wessex
Seven Kings Must Die exclusively available on Netflix
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