Kieran Bew (Da Vinci’s Demons) will lead the cast of ITV’s new Beowulf series as the legendary title character.

Described as “a western set in the Dark Ages of Britain’s mythic past”, the new 13-part drama is created by James Dormer (Strike Back), Tim Haines and Katie Newman.

Kieran Bew will star alongside William Hurt (Humans) as Hrothgar, Joanne Whalley (Wolf Hall) as Rheda, Ed Speleers (Downton Abbey) as Slean and David Ajala (Black Box) as Rate.

Beowulf is set in the mythical Shieldlands, “a place of spectacle and danger populated by both humans and fantastical creatures”.

Filming begins on location in County Durham and Northumberland later this month, where a huge exterior set is already being constructed.

The cast also includes Ian Puleston-Davies (Coronation Street), Ellora Torchia (Indian Summers), Gisli Orn Gardarsson (Spooks and Spirits) Susan Aderin (The Last Detective), Kirsty Oswald (Ripper Street), Laura Donnelly (Outlander), Edward Hogg (Indian Summers), Alex Price (Father Brown), Jack Rowan (Silent Witness) and Itoya Osagiede (Okora: The Prelude).

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