EntertainmentMoviesAction MoviesFirst look at Sex Education star as the villain in new historical epic William TellWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
EntertainmentMoviesAction MoviesFirst look at Sex Education star as the villain in new historical epic William TellWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Crossbow Films Ltd)

Set in Switzerland in 1307 it stars Claes Bang (Dracula, Bad Sisters) as Tell, a huntsman and veteran of the crusades who returns home looking to settle down with his family. But with the country facing aggression from neighbouring Austria in their pursuit for more land, Tell once again takes up arms, putting him in the path of Gessler (Connor Swindells) – the vindictive viceroy to Austria’s brutal ruler (Ben Kingsley).
“It’s great playing a nasty piece of work like Gessler because the possibilities of what you can get away with are endless,” Swindells tells Total Film magazine in the upcoming issue, which features a preview of William Tell. “I never thought I would get an opportunity like this in my career, so I’ve taken every minute of it with pure joy.”
Take an exclusive look at Swindell’s armour-clad Gessler in the heat of battle below:
(Image credit: Crossbow Films Ltd)

Swindells – best known as fan-favourite Adam in Netflix’s Sex Education – is far from the only rising, largely British star in the stacked cast. Also appearing are Jonah Hauer-King (The Little Mermaid), Ellie Bamber and Amar Chadha-Patel (Willow), Solly McLeod (The Dead Don’t Hurt) and Jake Dunn (Renegade Nell); alongside the more established likes of Kingsley, Jonathan Pryce, Golshifteh Farahani, Rafe Spall and Emily Beecham.
William Tell will receive its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, on September 10th. There is currently no US or UK release date. You can read more about it and a whole lot else besides in the new issue of Total Film featuring The Penguin on the cover when it releases on Thursday 12 September.
Read much more about the issuehere, and check out the covers below:
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(Image credit: Sky/HBO/Total Film)

(Image credit: Sky/HBO/Total Film)

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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
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2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
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5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
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3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
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