Official plot for Guy Ritchie’s King Arthur movie revealed

Recently, we were treated to a first glimpse at British director Guy Ritchie’s adaptation of the classic English tale of King Arthur, called Knights of the Round Table: King Arthur (although there is some contention on that title). Here’s the image of Charlie Hunman as the titular would-be king, as Guy Ritchie himself tweeted:

First day on KORT. pic.twitter.com/JPv8esPDnu

— Guy Ritchie (@realguyritchie) March 10, 2015

And now, a press release from Warner Bros. reveals to us the official plot synopsis to the film. It reads as follows:

The bold new story introduces a streetwise young Arthur who runs the back alleys of Londonium with his gang, unaware of the life he was born for until he grasps hold of the sword Excalibur—and with it, his future. Instantly challenged by the power of Excalibur, Arthur is forced to make some hard choices. Throwing in with the Resistance and a mysterious young woman named Guinevere, he must learn to master the sword, face down his demons and unite the people to defeat the tyrant Vortigern, who stole his crown and murdered his parents, and become King.

Declarations from the studio such as ‘bold’ and ‘streetwise’ may deter you, but it sounds like Ritchie’s take on the English legend (which is actually of French origin, if we’re being pedantic) may breathe some new life into the fantasy / historical epic genre. And as far as it sounds, Knights of the Round Table: King Arthur will be going down the ‘gritty reboot’ route; will that direction work? Regardless, Ritchie’s handling of another imaginary English figure, Sherlock Holmes, was a lot of fun. Could the same be for King Arthur?

Either way, lending more credence to the supposed title of Knights of the Round Table: King Arthur (as just opposed to the Knights of the Round Table) is that Ritchie seems to be planning a franchise, spanning six films, assumedly each for a different legendary Knight – let’s just hope the first film works on its own terms.