Richard II (2012 film)
Richard II is a 2012 British television film based on William Shakespeare's play of the same name. It is the first of four television adaptations of Shakespeare's second history tetralogy commissioned by BBC Two under the series title The Hollow Crown. Richard II was directed by Rupert Goold, who adapted the screenplay with Ben Power. Ben Whishaw stars as the titular Richard II of England. It was first broadcast on 30 June 2012 on BBC2.
Whishaw's performance earned him the 2013 British Academy Television Award for Leading Actor. The program was also nominated for the Best Single Drama award.Cast
The BBC scheduled the screening of Shakespeare's history plays as part of 2012's Cultural Olympiad, a celebration of British culture coinciding with the 2012 Summer Olympics. Sam Mendes signed up as executive producer to adapt all four of Shakespeare's tetralogy in September 2010. He is joined as executive producer by Pippa Harris, Gareth Neame, and Ben Stephenson.
Richard II was shot entirely on location, including at St David's Cathedral, Pembroke Castle and Packwood House. It completed filming in July 2011.
One of the characters in Richard II, the Duchess of Gloucester, is absent from this film adaptation.
