Ritchie’s Forgotten Medieval Fantasy Is Being Removed From Free Streaming, Officially Ending Its U.S. Window
A franchise that never began
Ritchie’s fantasy epic was designed to launch a series of at least four sequels, eventually leading to an Avengers-style team-up movie. Its poor theatrical performance brought those plans to an end.
The film came out in 2017, after Ritchie found success with Sherlock Holmes and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. It is currently streaming free in the United States, though it will not remain available for much longer.
Earlier franchise attempts
Ritchie had previously tried to extend RocknRolla, released in 2008, but the effort did not take off. His 2015 spy film The Man from U.N.C.L.E. also failed to produce a sequel. Later projects continued to show franchise ambitions, including Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, Aladdin, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, Fountain of Youth and In the Grey.
A shift to streaming television
Ritchie’s franchise efforts eventually found more success on television. He became associated with Netflix’s The Gentlemen, Paramount+’s MobLand and Prime Video’s Young Sherlock. The 2017 fantasy was among roughly half a dozen theatrical franchise attempts. Its brief remaining availability for free streaming offers U.S. viewers a chance to watch it before it leaves.
Key points
- The 2017 fantasy was intended to launch at least four sequels and a team-up film.
- Poor theatrical performance ended the planned franchise.
- The movie is streaming free in the United States for a limited time.
- Ritchie also directed RocknRolla and The Man from U.N.C.L.E., neither of which led to a sequel.