When people go looking for the Henry V movie cast, they usually aren't just looking for one list of names. They're usually caught between two massive, era-defining cinematic moments. On one hand, you have the 1989 Kenneth Branagh masterpiece that basically saved Shakespeare on film. On the other, there’s the 2019 Netflix moody epic The King, starring Timothée Chalamet. They are worlds apart. One is covered in mud and sweat; the other is draped in high-fashion medieval angst.
Shakespeare's "H5" is the ultimate "local boy makes good" story, if that boy happened to be a reformed party animal who conquered France. But the actors who fill these boots change the entire vibe of the story.
Honestly, the casting choices define whether the movie feels like a patriotic rally or a dark commentary on the pointlessness of war. You've got legends like Derek Jacobi narrating the past and Robert Pattinson doing... well, whatever that French accent was in 2019. It’s a lot to untangle.
The 1989 Kenneth Branagh Henry V movie cast: A British invasion
In 1989, Kenneth Branagh was a 28-year-old upstart. He decided to direct and star in a version of Henry V that would go head-to-head with Laurence Olivier’s legendary 1944 version. He didn't just succeed; he created what many consider the definitive Henry V movie cast.
Branagh himself played King Henry. He wasn't the distant, regal figure Olivier was. He was gritty. He was covered in actual filth by the end of the Battle of Agincourt. His performance is famous for the "St Crispin's Day" speech, which he delivers not as a king on a high horse, but as a tired soldier standing on a cart.
The supporting cast was a literal "Who's Who" of British acting royalty. You had Emma Thompson as Catherine of Valois. At the time, she and Branagh were the "it" couple of the UK theater scene, and their chemistry in the final courtship scene is charmingly awkward. Then there’s Derek Jacobi as the Chorus. Instead of being an invisible narrator, Jacobi wanders through modern film sets and dark soundstages in a trench coat, bridging the gap between the audience and the 15th century.
It didn't stop there. A very young Christian Bale shows up as the Boy. It’s one of his earliest roles, and he brings a heartbreaking innocence to the slaughter of the luggage camp. Brian Blessed bellows his way through the role of Exeter, and Ian Holm (yes, Bilbo Baggins himself) provides a grounded, tactical presence as Fluellen. This cast worked because they were mostly RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company) veterans. They knew how to make the verse sound like natural speech, which is a rare skill.
How the 2019 "The King" shook up the Henry V movie cast tradition
Fast forward thirty years. Netflix releases The King. While technically an adaptation of several "Henriad" plays, it’s the version most modern viewers think of when they search for the Henry V movie cast.
Timothée Chalamet takes the lead here. If Branagh was a soldier-king, Chalamet is a reluctant, waifish sovereign. He looks like he’s drowning in his armor, which is entirely the point. Director David Michôd wanted to show the weight of the crown on a young man who never wanted it.
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The biggest scene-stealer, though? Joel Edgerton as Falstaff. Usually, Falstaff is a comic-relief drunkard who dies off-screen in Henry V. In this movie, he’s a battle-hardened veteran and Henry’s best friend. It’s a massive departure from Shakespeare’s text, but Edgerton plays it with such weary soulfulness that you don't even care about the creative liberties.
And we have to talk about Robert Pattinson as the Dauphin. He is barely in the movie, but he occupies 90% of the conversation around it. With a long blonde wig and a French accent that can only be described as "outrageous," he provides the perfect foil to Chalamet’s brooding intensity. It’s camp. It’s weird. It shouldn't work, but it does.
Then there is Lily-Rose Depp as Catherine. Unlike Emma Thompson’s playful version, Depp’s Catherine is sharp, cynical, and arguably the smartest person in the room. She calls Henry out on his nonsense in a way that feels very 21st-century, despite the corsets.
Comparing the heavy hitters
If you look at the two casts side-by-side, the priorities are clear:
- Henry: Branagh is the warrior; Chalamet is the philosopher.
- The Mentor: Ian Holm (1989) is a professional soldier; Joel Edgerton (2019) is a tragic father figure.
- The Antagonist: Michael Maloney’s Dauphin (1989) is a serious threat; Pattinson’s (2019) is a taunting troll.
The 1944 Laurence Olivier Cast: The Patriotic Blueprint
We can't ignore the OG. Laurence Olivier’s 1944 film was funded in part by the British government to boost morale during World War II. Because of that, the Henry V movie cast here is stylized. It’s colorful. It starts in a recreation of the Globe Theatre.
Olivier is the star, the director, and the producer. His Henry is a statue come to life. He doesn't have the "common man" energy of Branagh or the "tortured teen" energy of Chalamet. He is a Great Man.
The cast featured Robert Newton as Ancient Pistol. Newton was famous for his "pirate" voice (he later played Long John Silver), and he brings a theatrical, eye-rolling energy to the comic scenes. Renée Asherson played Princess Katherine with a delicate, doll-like grace that fit the Technicolor aesthetic of the time. It’s a gorgeous movie, but the acting style is definitely from a different era. It’s declamatory. People project their voices like they’re trying to reach the back of a stadium.
Why the casting of the "Chorus" matters
In the play, the Chorus is a single actor who tells the audience to use their imagination. In the movies, this role is the ultimate "prestige" casting.
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In 1989, Derek Jacobi used his voice—one of the best in the business—to ground the movie in reality. In the 1944 version, the Chorus is an actor on a stage, reminding us we are watching a play.
Interestingly, The King (2019) cut the Chorus entirely. They wanted total immersion. They didn't want anyone breaking the fourth wall. This choice changed the movie from a "play on film" to a gritty historical drama. It’s a small casting decision that fundamentally shifts how the audience relates to the violence on screen.
Lesser-known gems: The hollow crown and beyond
If you really want to see the best Henry V movie cast of the modern era, you have to look at The Hollow Crown (2012). This was a BBC series of television films.
Tom Hiddleston plays Henry. If you only know him as Loki, you’re missing out. Hiddleston has the athletic physicality of Branagh but the internal struggle of Chalamet. He’s arguably the most "accurate" Henry according to the text.
The cast around him is insane. Julie Walters as Mistress Quickly. John Hurt as the Chorus (his voice is like sandpaper and honey). Anton Lesser as Exeter. This version feels the most like a family drama. You see Hiddleston’s Henry grow from the wild Prince Hal into the cold, calculating King. It’s a masterclass in character arc that most two-hour movies just can't fit in.
The "Agincourt" effect: How actors handle the mud
The most famous part of any Henry V is the Battle of Agincourt. This is where the Henry V movie cast earns their paycheck.
In the 1989 film, the actors spent weeks in the rain. Branagh wanted the "anti-Olivier" look. He wanted blood on the faces and mud in the teeth. When you see Brian Blessed or Ian Holm charging through the muck, that’s not CGI. They were miserable. That physical toll shows in their performances; they look exhausted because they were.
In The King, the battle is more of a claustrophobic mosh pit. Chalamet’s Henry gets tackled and almost smothered. The casting of the soldiers—many of whom were locals or professional extras trained in medieval combat—makes the scene feel terrifyingly real. It’s not about "brave" men; it’s about men trying not to drown in the mud.
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Looking for the "Best" Cast?
It depends on what you want from the story.
If you want the most Shakespearean experience, the 1989 Henry V movie cast is unbeatable. It respects the language while making it feel visceral.
If you want a modern, moody drama that focuses on the politics and the "lie" of war, the 2019 cast of The King is your best bet.
If you want historical grandiosity and the roots of cinema, go back to 1944 and Laurence Olivier.
There is also a 2007 filmed stage performance starring Jamie Parker at the Globe that is worth tracking down. Parker plays Henry with a sort of boyish charm that turns into a chilling coldness by the end. It’s a reminder that this character is, at his heart, a bit of a sociopath.
Actionable steps for your next watch
Don't just watch one. To really understand how casting changes a story, try this:
- Watch the St Crispin’s Day speech from Olivier (1944), Branagh (1989), and Hiddleston (2012) back-to-back on YouTube. You'll see how the energy shifts from "monarch" to "soldier" to "politician."
- Check out the credits. Look for names like Christian Bale or Ben Whishaw who appear in these casts early in their careers. These movies are often the "proving grounds" for the next generation of great actors.
- Read the "Chorus" opening. Read the first lines of the play and then watch how Derek Jacobi or John Hurt delivers them. It’s the best way to see how an actor's "persona" influences the script.
The Henry V movie cast isn't just a list of people in costumes. It's a reflection of how we see leadership and war in whatever year the movie was made. Whether it’s the grit of the 80s or the polished angst of the 2020s, Henry remains the most versatile role in the English language.