The BBC has officially announced that the current series of Merlin will be the last.

The ファンタジー drama will bow out with “a spectacular conclusion” this Christmas, the BBC has confirmed in a statement released at midnight. The special two-part finale will see Merlin’s re-telling of the Arthurian legend reach “its natural and dramatic end”.

Co-creators and Executive Producers, Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy commented: “This is the series where the storylines truly reach their apex. We always felt the story of the legend was best told across five series, leading to a spectacular finale that draws on the best known elements of this much-loved story and brings to a conclusion the battle for Camelot. We’d like to thank the amazing cast and crew for their professionalism and dedication, the BBC, FME and all of our partners globally for their incredible support and encouragement across the last five series. But chiefly, our thanks go to Merlin’s remarkable and loyal audience around the world for their enthusiasm for the characters and Camelot universe.”

Though not unexpected, it is sad that hear that Series 5 will be the final hurrah for Merlin.

To be fair, the production had always suggested that this would be a five 年 show, but in many ways there is still a lot of untapped potential for the characters 与えられた their relative youth. As each 年 has progressed, the 表示する has increased its both production values and ambition. Series 5 has been a world away from where Merlin started and has become essential Saturday night viewing, holding its own against The X Factor.

This year, with the institution of the Round Table, the death of Elyan in ‘The Dark Tower’ and the reintroduction of Mordred at the start of the series, it was clear that the stakes were increasing. Also, the 最近 news that actor Eoin Macken (Gwaine) was doing a US TV pilot seemed to indicate that at least his character would not be coming back.

In most versions of Arthurian legend it is Mordred who kills Arthur in battle, often perishing also. For the BBC’s take on the story, which has cast Mordred as a young Druid who possesses magic, he is a mirror for Merlin. We suspect that his desire to live in world free to use his abilities may be the key to Arthur’s undoing. Merlin, on the other hand, has continually put his dreams aside for what he believes is the greater good.

While Arthur’s fate has been foretold, Merlin’s will doubtless be the もっと見る surprising. In Malloy’s Le Morte d'Arthur he is the victim of a sorceress named Nimue, whom he adores. She learns everything she can from him but then tires of his affections and leaves him entombed forever.

Of course, Numueh was Merlin’s big bad in the first series, but in other versions of the tale that character is known as Vivien, Viviane または Niniane and sometimes she is the Lady of the Lake, または Morgana’s mother. Her trap is variously a rock, an ice cave または an invisible tower. Either way it doesn’t look good for Merlin! It’s worth remembering that this 雌豚, 種まき, 種をまく has a penchant for giving us a fresh take on legend, so perhaps they will provide something completely different.

And after the series ends, what is 次 for Merlin?

There has been talk of a potential Merlin animated series, but executive producer Julian Murphy told CultBox that this could only really be considered once the TV series had ended. We imagine one avenue to explore is the tales of Merlin after the fall of Arthur, または perhaps such a 表示する could occupy series gaps and fill in detail.

On the positive side, this could allow the chance for the central character to breathe, free from the show’s constraints, and have some solo adventures which would be unlimited によって budget. Alternatively, such an アニメーション might feel hampered によって knowing the specifics of the characters’ ultimate fates, または worse still, it might be restricted によって being aimed at an even younger audience than the 表示する currently enjoys.

There has also been the suggestion of a movie trilogy, an idea first mooted at this year’s Comic Con in San Diego によって the show’s co-creator and executive producer Johnny Capps. He indicated there were a couple ways this might pan out, either as a reboot which could restage certain key elements of the show’s five 年 run, または perhaps as a continuation of the tale. Either would be interesting, though we wonder what might sustain a Merlin movie trilogy without the key points of Arthurian Legend to underpin it?

Colin モーガン, モルガン (Merlin) commented: “From the beginning this was always going to be a five 年 journey that we embarked on and I think the 表示する has run its natural course. The 表示する has grown and grown each 年 and now we’ve arrived at its strongest point and we’ve achieved what we set out to do… I know this is the end, and I know this is goodbye, but thank あなた for being there on the journey with us because it has been a lot of fun!”

Bradley James (King Arthur) said: “The Merlin years have provided me with fond memories, great experiences and beloved フレンズ and all the while we were supported によって a devoted ファン base who made the 表示する a unique, surreal and special experience. My words won't do justice to the honour of being King Arthur so I shall just say that it has been an exceptional one and that knowing the 表示する has been a part of so many people's lives, has been humbling."

Katie McGrath (Morgana) said: "I have always 発言しました the success of the 表示する has stemmed from our audience being able to relate to the characters on different levels - being based on the universally loved Arthurian legend is only a tiny part of its success - it's a story about acceptance and growing up. The breathtaking finale of this series leaves あなた with no doubt that characters have been on their journeys and had their stories told - it's completely the right time to draw our telling of the story to a close."

エンジェル Coulby (Guinevere) added: "It has been a very special and memorable five years making Merlin. I feel extremely proud to have been part of such a brilliant 表示する and such a great team. I think we've told the story we set out to tell, which ends with the fantastic two part finale によって the way! I believe the key to any successful 表示する is making sure あなた leave people wanting more!"

Richard Wilson (Gaius) said, “Firstly I would like to say that I'm extremely sad that Merlin has come to an end. Speaking as Gaius, I feel I have mentored the young wizard as far as I can - he is much smarter and greater than me now and I am simply exhausted!"

What 次 for the cast?

Away from the story itself, Merlin has been a superb launching ground for its young cast who will doubtless take their ファン base with them onto new projects;

Colin モーガン, モルガン (Merlin) has two movie credits to his name already, Parked and Island, while Bradley James (Arthur) starred in this summer’s Fast Girls. Tom Hopper (Pervical) also has two upcoming film credits, Grace and Danger and Knights of Badassdom, as well as the role of Billy BONES（ボーンズ）-骨は語る- in a US Treasure Island prequel series Black Sails.

Adetomiwa Edun (Elyan) is currently appearing in BBC Two’s The 時 and エンジェル Coulby (Gwen) can soon be seen in Stephen Poliakoff’s Dancing on the Edge, the tale of a black jazz band in the 1930’s.

Alexander Valhos has been cast in Privates, a mini-series following National Service conscripts in 1960, as well as taking the lead role in Big Finish audio series The Confessions of Dorian Gray.

Katie McGrath (Morgana) will be starring in Labyrinth, a mini-series based on the best-selling Kate Mosse book. John Hurt (the Voice of the Dragon) is also involved in the project, which will be shown in the UK on Channel 4.

Whatever happens, we can expect plenty of action to be packed into Merlin’s remaining five episodes. Merlin still has to deal with the threat of ‘Killer Queen’ Gwen, and we can expect the return of at least one もっと見る familiar face before the story can 移動する on to its epic two-part finale.

BBC One Controller Danny Cohen added: “Merlin’s mix of magic, adventure and humour quickly became a hit with BBC One audiences and has continued to thrill families over the last five years on Saturday nights. I admire the creators’ decision to end Merlin on a high, but also know that we will miss it in the BBC One schedule. On behalf of BBC One I would like to thank Shine and all those involved in the making of the 表示する both on and off screen. I hope ファン will tune in over the coming weeks to see the spectacularly dramatic final episodes, and we have ambitious plans for new drama in the Saturday evening slot in 2013.”

link

link

link