King Arthur and his knights have awoken to bring tourists to his land as the latest Jerry Bruckheimer (Pirates of the Caribbean) produced Hollywood blockbuster premieres in London today (15 July 2004) and hits cinemas across the UK from 30th July.
King Arthur is being heralded as the most realistic version of the historical facts behind the myth. To tie in with its global release, VisitBritain - the authority for tourism in Britain - has joined forces with Touchstone Pictures and Buena Vista International and published a King Arthur Movie Map to help position Britain as the definitive destination for British and international visitors interested in the ancient legend.
This summer, audiences will discover the roots of one of Britain's most enduring legends with the release of King Arthur, starring an all-star British cast including Clive Owen, Keira Knightley, Ray Winstone and Wales' Ioan Gruffudd. Director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) and screenwriter David Franzoni (Gladiator) bring a spectacular, epic tale of chivalry, bravery, and one man\'s destiny to the big screen. Thrilling adventure, edge-of-your-seat action and historical grandeur come together in this contemporary and fresh look at the origins of a legendary hero. The film sets the record straight historically, by taking us back to the 5th century - the Roman Britain of the Dark Ages. Stripped of the elaborate magic and romance of the medieval stories, King Arthur presents a new but authentic image of Arthur, Guinevere, Merlin and the Knights of the Round Table.
The UK's leading Arthurian expert John Matthews - who has spent more than 30 years studying the Arthurian legend and was the consultant historian on the film - believes the stories are based on a real historical figure who was a Roman commander on Hadrian\'s Wall in Cumbria in the 5th Century. He said:
"In my opinion the film comes closer to historical truth than any yet made. It will be a reminder for many people that the legend of King Arthur will always have its roots here in Britain. The film will capture audiences' imagination and inspire them to visit Britain and discover more about the reality behind the man, the myth and the legend."
The unique guide features key destinations and attractions synonymous with Arthurian legend from the Dark to Medieval Ages, as well as Roman Britain's historical sites and locations. 25 Arthurian and Roman locations on the map include Tintagel Castle, Merlin's Grave and Hadrian's Wall, along which much of the film's action and story is played out. Stirling's King's Knot and Caerleon on Usk in Gwent also feature, in addition to Roman locations such as Eboracum (York) and Londinium (London). On the reverse of the map, VisitBritain has identified locations that appear in more than 50 new movies, classic film favourites and TV shows from the 60s to the present day.
Nadine Docherty, Non-Tourism Partnerships Manager at VisitBritain said:
"As global competition for international travellers increases, VisitBritain continues to look beyond the traditional means of drawing attention to all that Britain offers as a destination and widen the audience for news about Britain's uniqueness. Around 1 in 5 overseas visitors are inspired to visit Britain because of something they've seen in a movie or on TV and, through our work with major motion picture studios, VisitBritain can reach huge numbers of consumers and persuade them to come here."
The England version of the King Arthur map for British consumers is available by calling 0845 456 2003 or visiting the website, www.visitengland.com. Printed in five languages for international visitors, a map featuring locations throughout the whole of Britain is available by contacting VisitBritain's international call centres or online at www.visitbritain.com/moviemap. Both versions of the map will be available at the Britain and London Visitor Centre, 1 Regent Street, London.
The King Arthur Movie Map is the latest project that VisitBritain - the authority for tourism in Britain - has in development with international film distribution companies. It is the seventh in VisitBritain's hugely successful movie-map series, which also includes 'Master and Commander', 'Johnny English - Mission to Britain' and 'Harry Potter - Discover the Magic of Britain' as well as those based on Bollywood films and Hollywood blockbusters and 'Brit-flicks'.