King Lear (2008): Cast, Plot & Where to Watch
King Lear is a 2008 drama directed by Trevor Nunn, starring Ian McKellen as King Lear, Jonathan Hyde and William Gaunt. It runs 2 hours 30 minutes. Stream it on Broadway HD and BroadwayHD, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 30m (150 min)
- Director
- Trevor Nunn
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
English - After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is King Lear About?
The premise of King Lear without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
An aging King invites disaster, when he abdicates to his corrupt, toadying daughters, and rejects his loving and honest one.
King Lear Themes & Keywords
· 28 tags- flattery
- shakespeare play
- tragedy
- betrayal
- land grant
- profession of love
- playing a concertina
- playing spoons
- singer
- poisoned champagne
- wine poisoning
- execution by hanging
+16 more Show fewer
- eyes gouged out
- sister sister relationship
- illegitimate son
- half brother half brother relationship
- trumpet fanfare
- pistol
- sword duel
- masked man
- blinded for life
- sororicide
- duke
- messenger
- letter
- death of king
- struggle for power
- death of father
Where to Watch King Lear
Stream it on Broadway HD and BroadwayHD, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
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King Lear Cast & Characters
Ian McKellen leads the cast as King Lear, with Jonathan Hyde as Earl of Kent and William Gaunt as Earl of Gloucester. Directed by Trevor Nunn; 13 actors are credited in all.
- Director Trevor Nunn
-
Ian McKellen as King Lear - Jonathan Hyde as Earl of Kent
- William Gaunt as Earl of Gloucester
-
Philip Winchester as Edmund
Also Starring in King Lear
· 9 more- Romola Garai Cordelia
- Guy Williams Duke of Cornwall
- Frances Barber Goneril
- Peter Hinton Duke of Burgundy
- Monica Dolan Regan
- Ben Meyjes Edgar
- John Heffernan Oswald
- Sylvester McCoy The Fool
- Julian Harries Duke of Albany
King Lear Plot Summary
What happens in King Lear from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 6-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Ian McKellen as King Lear opens with a tense debate between the Earl of Gloucester and the Earl of Kent about Lear’s plan to abdicate, divide the realm, and crown his daughters based on declarations of love. Gloucester introduces his illegitimate son, Philip Winchester as Edmund, a sharp-witted schemer who will seize opportunities as the plot thickens. The court gathers as Lear announces that Cordelia, Romola Garai as Cordelia, will be married to either the Duke of Burgundy or the King of France, and that he will abdicate, granting a third of the kingdom to each daughter if they openly profess their love. Goneril, Frances Barber as Goneril, and Regan, Monica Dolan as Regan, deliver flattering speeches, while Cordelia answers in a measured, honest way that unsettles Lear.
Full summary
The whole story of King Lear, scene by scene
King Lear Also Known As
4 alternative titles, including “Kuningas Lear” and “李尔王”.
- Also known as
-
- Kuningas Lear
- 李尔王
- Крал Лир
- Король Лір
Seen King Lear?
Movies Like King Lear
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including King Lear, King Lear and King Lear.
King Lear FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch and post-credit scenes of King Lear, each answered in a sentence.
How long is King Lear?
King Lear runs 2 hours 30 minutes (150 minutes).
When was King Lear released?
King Lear was released on August 6, 2008.
Who directed King Lear?
King Lear was directed by Trevor Nunn.
More films by Trevor Nunn Who is in the cast of King Lear?
King Lear stars Ian McKellen as King Lear, Jonathan Hyde as Earl of Kent and William Gaunt as Earl of Gloucester, among 13 credited actors.
Where can I watch King Lear?
In the US, King Lear is streaming on Broadway HD and BroadwayHD and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video (availability from JustWatch).
Does King Lear have a post-credit scene?
No. King Lear has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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