Return to Bebbanburg, directed by Matilda Carrington, is a stirring medieval epic set in the nascent years of the Kingdom of Northumbria. Released in 2025, this film fictionalizes the legendary rise of Uhtred of Bebbanburg and offers viewers a vivid mix of political intrigue, familial drama, and sweeping battle sequences—all wrapped in a tale both personal and patriotic.
The film picks up decades after Uhtred’s legendary conquest of Bebbanburg. Now aging and battle-worn, he faces his greatest challenge yet: defending his ancestral castle against a coalition of Viking warlords and rival Anglo-Saxon earls who view his rule as an affront to traditional loyalties. When whispers spread of a secret inland army mobilizing to take Bebbanburg, Uhtred must reunite his fractured kin—his embittered daughter Elswyth, his estranged nephew young Osric, and a handful of loyal thanes—on the eve of destruction.
Through flashbacks, the script reveals Uhtred’s early years: the trauma of being kidnapped by Vikings, the companionship of fellow warriors, the heartache of leaving home, and the oath to return. These memories sharpen the stakes in the present, giving Uhtred’s motivations emotional weight as he struggles to preserve not just walls and lands, but the identity of Bebbanburg itself.
Masterminded by battle choreographer Henrik Olsen, the conflict scenes are visceral and unsparing. From the tense night-raid on the western approach to the climactic siege at the castle gates, every clash of shield and sword rings with authenticity. Cinematographer Amina Nkosi captures the rugged beauty of northern England—mist-shrouded moors, granite battlements, and the icy flow of the River Tyne—contrasted with the fiery chaos of war
Tom Rhys-Paine shines as Uhtred—a man forged by warfare, driven by loyalty, but softened by fatherly concern. His dynamic with daughter Elswyth (played by Emma Rees), who wavers between revolt and respect, adds poignant generational tension. The bonus is a charismatic portrayal of the Viking warlord Hemming (Lars Bjørnstad), whose respect for Uhtred’s honor occasionally eclipses their hatred.
Thematically, the film explores legacy, belonging, and what it means to lead when one’s identity is both cultural and martial. Uhtred grapples with the fear that Bebbanburg may crumble, but learns that true power lies in forging unity from divided loyalties.
Return to Bebbanburg is a strong medieval drama that juggles epic battles with quiet emotional arcs. It honors historical imagination rather than strict accuracy, leaning into romance, family, and heroism. Though it revisits familiar Anglo-Saxon tropes—noble warrior, threatened kingdom—it carries them off with conviction and cinematic flair.
