A new drama about the Battle of Hastings starring Happy Valley’s James Norton and Game Of Thrones actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau has shunned England and shot all its scenes in Iceland.
King And Conqueror used the unlikely locations of a campsite and nature reserve in Iceland, with Film in Iceland, the country’s film commission, offering the production generous financial incentives.
Productions that shoot in the country can claim a rebate of up to 35 per cent of total costs.
The drama, produced by US broadcaster CBS and to be shown on the BBC, charts the rivalry between England’s King Harold, played by Norton, and William the Conqueror, played by Coster-Waldau.
It will recreate 1066’s Battle of Hastings, which took place near Hastings, close to the modern-day town of Battle, named after the conflict.
Historians accept that the battle could not be filmed there because it was wooded then but now comprises fields and hedgerows. But they say it could have been filmed in an area such as the New Forest.
Instead, producers – who include Norton – chose Hjallaflatir, a campsite in the Icelandic nature reserve of Heiomork.
The campsite’s rocky appearance could hardly look more different to the terrain around Battle both now and in the 11th century.
Alan Judd, of the Battle and District Historical Society, pointed out that Iceland would also struggle to recreate the Norman invasion in East Sussex, which preceded the battle.
He said: ‘The landings were mainly around Pevensey, which is all pebble and shingle and flint from chalk. There is no chalk in Iceland, so the beaches probably don’t look anything like ours.’
The battle ended with the death of Harold, said to have been killed by an arrow in the eye.
Richard Sharpley, emeritus professor of tourism at the University of Central Lancashire, said: ‘Keeping it all ‘local’ would significantly reduce the environmental impact whilst also bringing economic benefits to location areas during production, and potentially ‘film tourism’ benefits in the longer term. From a purist perspective, a British historical series should really be filmed here, though I appreciate that choices have to be made about appropriate locations.’
A Film in Iceland spokesman said: ‘King And Conqueror was applicable for our refund incentive. Iceland has a reimbursement incentive based on legislation that offers productions in Iceland up to 35 per cent refund on all production costs incurred in Iceland.’
A spokesman for the eight-part series, co-produced by Iceland’s RKV Studios, declined to comment on incentives but said Iceland was the ideal location for a drama set in England, Normandy, Flanders and Norway. The series will air on BBC1 and BBC iPlayer in 2025.
The BBC said: ‘The BBC is committed to homegrown storytelling, with recent series filmed across the UK including Wolf Hall,
Ludwig, Showtrial, Nightsleeper, Doctor Who and Sherwood, alongside bringing viewers the best acquired series from around the world, often featuring outstanding British creatives.’
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