Despite being titled 'Part 1' and 'Part 2,' the two episodes are actually adapted from 'Henry VI' Parts 1, 2, and 3 and then broken into two parts.
In March 2015, Benedict Cumberbatch gave a reading at the burial of the real Richard III. Cumberbatch was already in production for playing the part of Richard, whose body had been found in 2012 buried under a car park.
This is the second time that Benedict Cumberbatch and Andrew Scott are working together. The first time was on acclaimed show Sherlock.
Adrian Dunbar (Plantagenet) & Keeley Hawes (Queen Elizabeth) also worked together on Line of Duty (2012) as Ted Hastings & Lindsay respectively, as well as on Ashes to Ashes (2008) as Martin Summers & Alex Drake respectively.