We few, we happy few, we band of brothers... and sisters, and acquaintances, may soon have the chance to see Agincourt on the big screen, with the news that Elizabeth screenwriter and The Tudors creator Michael Hirst has been hired to adapt Bernard Cornwell's book on the historic battle.
The book tells the story of the Battle of Agincourt, which saw Henry V's vastly outnumbered English force cry havoc, let slip the dogs of war and defeat a much larger French force in 1415. It was one of the bloodiest battles of the Middle Ages, with between seven and ten thousand French killed (although only 112 English - well done, guys!). Cornwell's book tells the story through the eyes of a humble British longbowman called Nicolas Hook rather than the nobles or King.
This is some way off at present: production's set to get underway in late 2010 for a spring 2011 shoot on a relatively slim $35 million budget. We suppose it would be too much to ask that the film be released on St Crispin's Day, October 25, when the battle was actually fought. But we're sure that gentlemen in England now a-bed shall think themselves accursed if they don't go see it. so at least it'll do well on this side of the Channel.