“It’s My Sequel!”

Macfadyen Robert The Bruce
The once and recast King

Twenty-three years later, actor Angus Macfadyen is again playing Scotland’s guardian and King Robert the Bruce, in the movie titled – appropriately enough – Robert The Bruce. Set several years after the execution of William Wallace, (famously played by Mel Gibson in 1995’s Braveheart) the movie picks up after Bruce has been made King of the Scots.

While Wallace’s story (as loosely told in Braveheart) was certainly worthy of being told, Robert’s is equally – and many would fairly argue more so – fascinating. Where much of the politics in Braveheart was created strictly for the movie for the sake of drama, the history of Robert’s political maneuvering among his fellow Scottish lords makes for historical reading just as interesting as his conquests in battle. According to a spokesman for the production:

“If people think William Wallace was a bigger hero than Robert the Bruce, they might think again after seeing this film.”

A Defining Moment In History

Macfadyen Robert the bruce movie Bannockburn
Illustrated etching of the Battle of Bannockburn

Little is known regarding the specifics of Robert The Bruce. That said, just as Braveheart had its high point – from the standpoint of an action set-piece – in the Battle of Stirling, one can only assume that the Battle of Bannockburn (click here for a wonderful breakdown of the battle) will feature significantly in the film, as it was a defining victory in Scotland’s war for independence.

There Can Be Only One

Robert The Bruce
God says I’m going to be ok, but whoever releases their movie last is fooked

Zeitgeist being what it is, Robert The Bruce is not the only film in production regarding the exploits of Scotland’s greatest hero. Netflix has its own iteration of the story, starring Chris Pine (Star Trek: Beyond, Wonder Woman) as the titular hero in Outlaw King. Acting chops aside, history tells us that Robert Bruce was, aesthetically, hardly the pretty boy. Whether timing – or makeup – can supersede one project over the other remains to be seen. Principle photography for both has been completed and Netflix is set to release their version first so we’ll see.

Regardless, the story of Robert the Bruce’s political and military battles against the English powers that attempted to bring Scotland to its knees are worth further exporation, regardless of the medium.

[amazon_link asins=’B000HX4ZF6,1780271832,B001THHXDU’ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’filmgoblin-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’5dbd284b-4f47-11e8-bb50-17bf990470f6′]