The Pillars of the Earth (miniseries)
| Company type | Television miniseries |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 2010 |
Area served | United States, Canada, United Kingdom |
Key people | Ian McShane, Hayley Atwell, Rufus Sewell, Matthew Macfadyen, Eddie Redmayne |
| Products | Television drama series |
| Parent | Tandem Communications, Muse Entertainment Enterprises, Scott Free Productions |
The Pillars of the Earth is a television miniseries consisting of eight episodes, released in 2010 and based on Ken Follett's 1989 novel bearing the same title. It debuted in the United States on Starz and in Canada on The Movie Network/Movie Central on July 23, 2010, followed by its UK premiere on Channel 4 in October of that year. The production earned three nominations at the 68th Golden Globe Awards, including one for Best Miniseries or Television Film, with acting nominations awarded to Ian McShane and Hayley Atwell.
Overview
Mirroring the novel’s narrative, the miniseries centers on the erection of a cathedral in the fictional locale of Kingsbridge amid the 12th-century English civil war known as The Anarchy.
Differences from the novel
Various character portrayals were adjusted: Waleran appears older while Remigius is depicted younger compared to their literary counterparts; actors playing Alfred, Jack, Richard, and Aliena initially appear older; characters such as Henry of Blois, Andrew Sacrist, Milius, and Thomas Becket are excluded. The series omits Regan’s incestuous obsession with her son William present in the book. Some backstories were revised—Philip’s rescue by Abbot Peter replaces the novel’s version involving Francis, and a thief attacking Martha is combined into the character of the monk Johnny Eightpence. Additionally, Jack and Aliena have only one child in this adaptation.
Alterations to character arcs include: Shareburg is executed by burning at the stake instead of hanging; Ellen is not depicted as pregnant during her curse scene; romantic interactions between Ellen and Tom differ from the book; Alfred’s bullying behavior is toned down; Bartholomew’s death occurs by execution rather than solitary imprisonment; Jack does not engage in a duel with Walter nor suffer a broken hand; Percy Hamleigh’s demise follows a different path, and Jack’s poisoning was introduced for heightened drama.
Plot modifications consist of: the saint’s remains are lost due to a church fire instead of being preserved; Tom commissions Jack to carve St. Adolphus; Henry of Blois does not visit the cathedral grounds; Jack accompanies Philip to Lincoln rather than Richard; a new rescue scene involving Aliena in a lake is added; Jack’s journey to Spain is omitted, substituted by carving a wooden statue instead of receiving one; new storylines are introduced such as Philip losing his priorship, Cuthbert attempting to assassinate Jack, and William killing Regan, particularly featured in episode 7.
Episode 8
The concluding episode departs notably from the novel's storyline.
In Follett’s original work, William becomes Sheriff late in his life and tries to apprehend Richard for Alfred’s murder. Richard seeks sanctuary within the cathedral before departing on a crusade, while Aliena inherits the Earldom. Waleran falls into disgrace due to his involvement in Thomas Becket’s assassination and discloses Jack’s lineage. William is executed for Becket’s murder. Jonathan assumes the role of Prior at Kingsbridge, and Philip advances to Bishop.
Conversely, in the miniseries, William rapidly ascends to Sheriff following his loss of the Earldom. Waleran manipulates Alfred into self-inflicting an injury with a poisoned knife to implicate Jack falsely. William arrests Jack, who undergoes trial overseen by Waleran and receives a death sentence by hanging. At the critical moment, Jack’s mother reveals Waleran’s scheme framing Jack along with a letter exposing Waleran and the Hamleighs’ connection to the White Ship disaster. The crowd then turns against William and executes him by hanging instead. Waleran attempts to flee but perishes after falling from the cathedral roof. Philip remains as Prior of Kingsbridge.
Cast
- Ian McShane portrays Waleran Bigod, initially Bishop of Kingsbridge and later elevated to Cardinal
- Rufus Sewell plays Tom Builder, the inaugural Head Builder of Kingsbridge Cathedral
- Matthew Macfadyen features as Prior Philip, who subsequently becomes Bishop of Kingsbridge
- Eddie Redmayne acts as Jack Jackson, the third individual to serve as Head Builder of Kingsbridge Cathedral
- Hayley Atwell appears as Lady Aliena, daughter of Earl Bartholomew and a merchant
- Sarah Parish takes on the role of Regan Hamleigh
- Natalia Wörner is cast as Ellen, formerly a nun and mother to Jack
- Anatole Taubman plays Remigius, Sub-Prior at Kingsbridge
- John Pielmeier portrays Cuthbert, a Brother residing in Kingsbridge Priory
- Robert Bathurst acts as Percy Hamleigh
- Clive Wood represents King Henry I
- Sam Claflin features as Richard, Earl of Shiring
- Liam Garrigan plays Alfred, the second Head Builder of the Cathedral
- David Oakes appears as William Hamleigh, ex-Earl of Shiring
- Götz Otto is Walter, valet and henchman to William
- Tony Curran portrays King Stephen
- Donald Sutherland acts as Bartholomew, Earl of Shiring and supporter of Empress Maud
- Alison Pill plays Empress Maude, Queen of England
- Gordon Pinsent represents Archbishop of Canterbury
Additional cast
Listed alphabetically
- Féodor Atkine as Abbot Suger
- David Bark-Jones in the role of Francis
- Skye Bennett as young Martha
- Freddie Boath portraying Henry at age 15
- Douglas Booth as 15-year-old Eustace
- Matt Devere playing Gloucester
- Kate Dickie cast as Agnes
- Ken Follett appearing as Merchant
- Jody Halse in the role of Johnny Eightpence
- Emily Holt portraying older Martha
- Sidney Johnston as Jonathan (4–5 years old)
- Skye Lourie playing Elizabeth
- Michael A. Mehlmann as Prior James
- Mark Phelan cast as Otto
- Tibor Pintér in the role of Shareburg
- Kevin Rees portraying Jonathan (30 years old)
- Brooke Dean as Maud at 6 years old
Production
The miniseries’ production spanned approximately one year with a budget estimated at US$40 million. Financing was provided by German company Tandem Communications, Canadian outfit Muse Entertainment Enterprises, and UK/US-based Scott Free Productions. Filming took place across Austria and Hungary during 2009. The concluding aerial sequence showcases present-day Salisbury, enhanced with CGI blending architectural elements from both Salisbury Cathedral and Wells Cathedral, symbolizing the fictional Kingsbridge Cathedral that inspired Follett’s story. This series was succeeded by a 2012 adaptation of its sequel World Without End.
Historical accuracy
The narrative adjusts historical timelines and events related to The Anarchy. For example, the births and deaths of Henry II and Henry I are condensed within episode one; whereas historically Henry II was born in March 1133 and Henry I passed away in December 1135. Additionally, the simultaneous capture of King Stephen and Robert of Gloucester during the 1141 Battle of Lincoln is inaccurately portrayed; in reality, Gloucester was taken prisoner months later at the Rout of Winchester.
Further historical discrepancies include premature deaths: The Archbishop of Canterbury (Theobald of Bec) is depicted as assassinated despite serving until 1161; Robert of Gloucester is shown executed in battle though he died peacefully in 1147 at Bristol Castle; and Eustace IV’s demise is dramatized as occurring in combat against his cousin Henry, while evidence suggests he died from natural causes.
Broadcast
The series premiere was simultaneously broadcast on both Starz and Encore, drawing an audience of 423,000 viewers on Starz and 267,000 on Encore, amounting to a combined total of 690,000. Starz presented episodes 1 and 2 together as the initial premiere, and similarly aired episodes 7 and 8 combined as the finale. In 2011, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation re-edited the series into nine separate episodes. Later, in December 2012, Australia's ABC aired the show in four weekly installments, each segment merging two episodes accompanied by a single introductory segment.
Reception
The series holds a 77% approval rating on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, based on 30 critic reviews, with an average score of 5.92 out of 10. According to the site’s summary, Pillars of the Earth features a skilled cast and high production quality, making it a compelling and eventful miniseries that is uncommon in contemporary television.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Organization | Category | Nominees | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie, or Special for "The Work of Angels" episode |
Marcel Pothier Christian Rivest Dominik Pagacz Guy Pelletier Antoine Morin Tom Trafalski Guy Francoeur |
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| 2011 | Gemini Awards | Outstanding Sound for a Miniseries, Movie or Special (One Hour) for "The Work of Angels" episode |
Marcel Pothier Christian Rivest Dominik Pagacz Guy Pelletier Antoine Morin Tom Trafalski Guy Francoeur |
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