Paul Bettany and Alan Tudyk once pitched an A Knight’s Tale sequel idea to director Brian Helgeland, and though it’s the perfect sequel story, it’s for the best that it never happened. The two actors, who starred alongside Heath Ledger in the original 2001 movie, inspired Helgeland to bring their pitch to Sony and Netflix, who entertained the idea before deciding it was unlikely to succeed. This is a bit of a disappointment, especially considering the ever-growing cult-classic status of A Knight’s Tale. Still, Netflix’s fears regarding a sequel are precisely why it shouldn’t happen.
A Knight’s Tale was among Ledger’s earlier movies and successfully aided his rise to fame in the early 2000s. Directed and written by Helgeland, the movie took clever inspiration from Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. It was the blend of medieval pomp and modern popular culture that really made A Knight’s Tale stand out, with a lovably relatable group of pals at its center to drive all the fun home. Helgeland’s movie was a fair success, and a sequel was considered immediately. However, despite a variety of ideas being presented over the years, A Knight’s Tale2 never happened.
When A Knight’s Tale was released, Helgeland already had a sequel idea in which Jocelyn (Shannyn Sossamon) was kidnapped by Count Adhemar (Rufus Sewell), and William (Ledger) and his gang wind up on a pirate ship in their efforts to get her back. According to the director (via Screen Rant), Sony didn’t go for this idea, but years later, he got a call from Bettany and Tudyk, who played Geoffrey Chaucer and Wat, respectively, in the original film. They had devised an idea for a sequel over dinner, and this time, Sony was interested.
Bettany and Tudyk’s idea for A Knight’s Tale 2 followed William’s teenage daughter, who, after her father’s death at war, desired to become a knight despite women being prohibited. Desperate to make her dream come true, the girl would set out in search of William’s old gang, including Battany and Tudyk’s Geoff and Wat, as well as Mark Addy’s Roland and Laura Fraser’s Kate, hoping that they would agree to teach her to joust. Of course, the old group would ultimately come around, and everyone would once again need to keep the true identity of their Knight Lord a secret.
There have been a lot of A Knight’s Tale 2 ideas bounced around by fans over the years, but Tudyk and Bettany’s pitch makes the most sense. The “girl pretends to be a man so she can fight” plotline is a literary cliche, but that’s all part of the charm of a movie like A Knight’s Tale. The true draw of this sequel film would be the chance to bring the original gang back together again, mixing nostalgia with the unique brand of comedy the cast brought to the screen in 2001. What’s more, William dying between the events of A Knight’s Tale and A Knight’s Tale 2 would appropriately honor Ledger’s memory and character.
Since Ledger passed away in 2008 and couldn’t return for a sequel, an A Knight’s Tale reboot has been the most common request. However, the idea of a new actor being placed in this role (or one similar) ignores the excellent work the original star did in the 2001 movie. Bettany and Tudyk’s story idea would see the gang mourn William’s death and celebrate his memory, which, in a way, pays tribute to the man who initially portrayed him. Then, seeing these characters teach Will’s daughter how to change her stars would turn A Knight’s Tale2 into the perfect full-circle moment.
Though this A Knight’s Tale 2 idea sounds like the prime way to continue the 2001 story, Netflix’s algorithm predicted that it wouldn’t be successful, so the idea was dropped by the streaming giant and Sony. It’s a little disappointing that this reunion will likely never play out on screen, but when it comes down to it, it’s probably for the best. Any nostalgic sequel carries the power to tarnish its predecessor, and since A Knight’s Tale is a beloved piece of Ledger’s tragically short filmography, this is too great a risk.
What’s more, A Knight’s Tale is one of those stories that reflects the “glory days” of a person’s life. William and his friends were you, wild and free, enjoying the lavish life that their scam allowed them and celebrating together once their dreams became reality. It’s all young love and reckless risks, which is something that doesn’t last forever for anyone. The 2001 movie is a nostalgic memory come and gone, and any attempt to duplicate this with A Knight’s Tale 2 is bound to disappoint.