The King's Man (2021)
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A British aristocrat forms a secret spy network to combat a shadow organization's influence over global politics in the early 20th century.
The story
In 1902, during the Second Boer War, British aristocrat Orlando, Duke of Oxford, and his family are caught in a tragic tragedy that leaves him determined to protect his son from the horrors of war. Twelve years later, Orlando has established a clandestine spy network to combat a shadow organization known as 'The Flock,' which seeks to manipulate global powers. When a series of geopolitical threats emerge, including the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the rise of radical factions, Orlando and his team must navigate a dangerous landscape of espionage and conspiracy to prevent a global catastrophe and protect the future of the world.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1902, Orlando, Duke of Oxford, loses his wife in a sniper attack and vows to keep his son, Conrad, away from war. Years later, Orlando runs a secret spy organization. When Conrad is nearly involved in the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Orlando realizes the plot is orchestrated by 'The Flock,' led by the 'Shepherd.' The group aims to destabilize empires, involving figures like Rasputin. After the assassination triggers World War I, Orlando and his team travel to Russia to eliminate Rasputin. Later, they deal with the Zimmermann Telegram and the threat of Mata Hari. Conrad, eventually forced into the army, is presumed dead in a skirmish. Orlando eventually tracks down the Shepherd, who is revealed to be Major Max Morton. After defeating him and securing evidence to bring the U.S. into the war, Orlando establishes the official Kingsman agency. A mid-credit scene shows Hanussen introducing Adolf Hitler to the Romanovs' assassin.
- First release year
- 2021
- Runtime (minutes)
- 131
- Production countries
- United Kingdom
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Matthew Vaughn
- Writers
- Matthew Vaughn · screenplay; Karl Gajdusek · screenplay; Matthew Vaughn · story
- Cast and characters
- Ralph Fiennes · Orlando Oxford; Aaron Taylor-Johnson · Archie Reid; Stanley Tucci · US Ambassador to the UK; Gemma Arterton; Rhys Ifans; Matthew Goode; Tom Hollander; Harris Dickinson
- Genres
- spy; action
- Themes
- Espionage; Legacy; War; Sacrifice
- Tone and mood
- Action; Historical; Serious
- Premise and plot tags
- Prequel; Spy Thriller; Historical Fiction
- Source material / true-story basis
- Kingsman comic series
- Franchise connections
- Kingsman
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for Ralph Fiennes' performance but criticism for being derivative. It was considered a box-office bomb.
- Reported review scores
- PostTrak · score: 77% · scale: percentage · review count: audience members
- Production trivia
- The film was originally scheduled for release in November 2019 but was delayed multiple times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.; The film's music was composed by Matthew Margeson, who replaced Henry Jackman from previous installments.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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