The Pillars of the Earth (2010– )

Set against a backdrop of war, religious strife and power struggles which tears lives and families apart.

Stars:

Ian McShane, Matthew Macfadyen, Eddie Redmayne

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 4 wins & 15 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Ian McShane	...	Waleran Bigod (8 episodes, 2010)
Matthew Macfadyen	...	Philip (8 episodes, 2010)
Eddie Redmayne	...	Jack (8 episodes, 2010)
Hayley Atwell	...	Aliena (8 episodes, 2010)
Sarah Parish	...	Regan Hamleigh (8 episodes, 2010)
Natalia Wörner	...	Ellen (8 episodes, 2010)
Anatole Taubman	...	Remigius (8 episodes, 2010)
John Pielmeier	...	Cuthbert (8 episodes, 2010)
Robert Bathurst	...	Percy Hamleigh (8 episodes, 2010)
Clive Wood	...	King Henry I (8 episodes, 2010)
Sam Claflin	...	Richard (8 episodes, 2010)
Liam Garrigan	...	Alfred (8 episodes, 2010)
David Oakes	...	William Hamleigh (8 episodes, 2010)
Tony Curran	...	Stephen (8 episodes, 2010)
Donald Sutherland	...	Bartholomew (8 episodes, 2010)
Alison Pill	...	Maud (8 episodes, 2010)
Gordon Pinsent	...	Archbishop (8 episodes, 2010)
László Áron	...	Architect (8 episodes, 2010)
Féodor Atkine	...	Abbot Suger (8 episodes, 2010)
Kelly Endresz-Banlaki	...	Princess (8 episodes, 2010)
Virág Bárány	...	Young Woman Whore (8 episodes, 2010)
David Bark-Jones	...	Francis (8 episodes, 2010)
Tamás Baross	...	Gabriel (8 episodes, 2010)
Oliver Bauer	...	Medieval Child (8 episodes, 2010)
Skye Bennett	...	Martha - young (8 episodes, 2010)
Freddie Boath	...	Henry - 15 years old (8 episodes, 2010)
Douglas Booth	...	Eustace - 15 years old (8 episodes, 2010)
Ottilia Borbáth	...	Townfolk #3 (8 episodes, 2010)
Jonathan Coy	...	Father Ralph (8 episodes, 2010)
Scott Curtis	...	Peasant (8 episodes, 2010)
Antal Czapkó	...	General (8 episodes, 2010)
Brooke Dean	...	Maud - 6 years old (8 episodes, 2010)
Matt Devere	...	Gloucester (8 episodes, 2010)
Kate Dickie	...	Agnes (8 episodes, 2010)
Lara Dzikowski	...	Townfolk #5 (8 episodes, 2010)
Gabriella Fon	...	Townfolk #1 (8 episodes, 2010)
Stu Gamble	...	Lad (8 episodes, 2010)
Kevin Griffiths	...	Lord #1 (8 episodes, 2010)
David Haderer	...	Robin Goodfellow (8 episodes, 2010)
Jody Halse	...	Johnny Eightpence (8 episodes, 2010)
Máté Haumann	...	Messenger #3 (8 episodes, 2010)
Jeremy Haward-Grau	...	Little Henry (8 episodes, 2010)
Emily Holt	...	Martha - older (8 episodes, 2010)
Péter Horkay	...	Steward (8 episodes, 2010)
Ákos Horváth	...	Simon Goodfellow (8 episodes, 2010)
Barna Illyés	...	Labourer (8 episodes, 2010)
Csaba Jakab	...	French Mason (8 episodes, 2010)
Sidney Johnston	...	Jonathan - 4-5 years old (8 episodes, 2010)
Mike Kelly	...	Messenger #2 (8 episodes, 2010)
Péter Kertész	...	Stephen's Physician (8 episodes, 2010)
Bernadett Kis	...	Midwife (8 episodes, 2010)
László Konter	...	Bishop (8 episodes, 2010)
Alexis Latham	...	One-armed Wool Man (8 episodes, 2010)
Antal Leisen	...	Townfolk #4 (8 episodes, 2010)
Peter Linka	...	Townsman (8 episodes, 2010)
Skye Lourie	...	Elizabeth (8 episodes, 2010)
Pál Makrai	...	French Master Builder (8 episodes, 2010)
Michael Mehlmann	...	Prior James (8 episodes, 2010)
George Mendel	...	Lord #2 (8 episodes, 2010)
Lisa Millett	...	Kate (8 episodes, 2010)
Piroska Molnár	...	Grandmama (8 episodes, 2010)
Ben O'Brien	...	Winchester Clerk (8 episodes, 2010)
Kende Orbán	...	Eustace - 4-5 years old (8 episodes, 2010)
Miklos Pavel	...	Sentry Edgar (8 episodes, 2010)
Mark Phelan	...	Otto (8 episodes, 2010)
Tibor Pintér	...	Shareburg (8 episodes, 2010)
John Rado	...	Sentry (8 episodes, 2010)
Kevin Rees	...	Jonathan - 30 years old (8 episodes, 2010)
Barnabás Réti	...	Brother Paul (8 episodes, 2010)
Richard Rifkin	...	Matthew (8 episodes, 2010)
András Sándor	...	Page (8 episodes, 2010)
Nicolas Sipek	...	Stephen's Fake Son - 4 years old (8 episodes, 2010)
Tibor Süle	...	Antoine (8 episodes, 2010)
Margaréta Szabó	...	Young Woman (8 episodes, 2010)
Tatiana Szalay	...	Gabriel's Mother (8 episodes, 2010)
Sándor Téri	...	Physician (8 episodes, 2010)
Dorian Thomas	...	Teenage Boy (8 episodes, 2010)
Geoffrey Thomas	...	Earl of Weymouth (8 episodes, 2010)
Zoltan Toth	...	Prince (8 episodes, 2010)
Zsófi Trecskó	...	French Peasant Woman (8 episodes, 2010)
Tamás Varga	...	Townfolk #2 (8 episodes, 2010)
András Várkonyi	...	Captain (8 episodes, 2010)
Zsolt Zágoni	...	Shiring Messenger #1 (8 episodes, 2010)
Marcell Závodi	...	Tommy - 9 years old (8 episodes, 2010)
Bianca Bauer	...	Medieval Child (8 episodes, 2010)
Rufus Sewell	...	Tom Builder (7 episodes, 2010)
Götz Otto	...	Walter (7 episodes, 2010)

Storyline

The Pillars of the Earth is set against a backdrop of war, religious strife and power struggles which tears lives and families apart. In that time, there rises a magnificent Cathedral in Kingsbridge. Against the backdrop, love-stories entwine: Tom, the master builder, Aliena, the noblewoman, the sadistic Lord William, Philip, the prior of Kingsbridge, Jack, the artist in stone work and Ellen, the woman from the forest who casts a curse. At once, this is a sensuous and enduring love story and an epic that shines with the fierce spirit of a passionate age. Follett masterfully weaves these stories through political turmoil of 12th century England, creating a relevant and viable world for today's audience and for generations to come.

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Plot Keywords:

cathedral | england | 12th century | king | tv mini series | 

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Taglines:

Building the Monumental Television Event of 2010

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Genres:

Drama | History | Romance | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Germany Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 July 2010 (USA)

Also Known As:

Los pilares de la Tierra

Filming Locations:

Tata, Hungary

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Tandem Communications, Muse Entertainment Enterprises, Scott Free Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 60 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Donald Sutherland and Rufus Sewell have both played Norse king Fortinbras, in Hamlet at Elsinore and Hamlet, respectively.

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Goofs

Throughout the series, Stephen and Matilda are both referred to as "Majesty". English kings and queens did not use the title "Majesty" until the middle of the 16th century, nearly 400 years after the setting of this series

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Connections

Featured in 2011 Primetime Creative Arts Emmys (2011)

User Reviews

Beautifully done!

"Pillars" is amazing! Yes, it does differ some from the original book but it's another story-telling device that enhances an enthralling tale from the 12th century that is fascinating and exquisitely portrayed. I read the book as well as its sequel and thoroughly enjoyed both. The characters in the mini-series were intriguing, beautifully casted and totally believable. There is no way every detail from the book could be worked into the 8+ hour movie for TV. Critics can take exception to some of the what-was-left-out rather than realizing reading a book and watching a movie involve entirely different enjoyment method levels. The mini-series is worth every effort to view. I sometimes watched episodes 2 or 3 times again to take it all in. The sets, special effects, displays of church control vs. every day life for many was portrayed amazingly well. Say what you will about fractured details, overall "Pillars of the Earth" is a fabulous experience that captivates and informs, most of all, invites interest in the metaphor of the building of some of Europe's most gorgeous reaches for heaven architecture-wise as well as the corruption and deceit of many who defied religious belief in the worst ways when they should have been stellar examples of loving leadership.