It is a challenge to tell a story from 14th century England and make themes feel relevant to modern times, but that is what director Paul Greengrass set out to do with his new film, The Uprising. Starring Andrew Garfield, Jamie Bell, Cosmo Jarvis, Thomasin McKenzie, Tom Hollander, Stephen Dillane, Katherine Waterston and Woody Norman, it tells the story of the 1381 Peasant's Revolt that followed in the wake of the plague.
Garfield, whose character is only known as Ploughman, is electric as the bereaved father and husband that lost his family to the Black Death. He's pushed to his limits when King Richard II (Norman) and his council of advisors -- including the incredible duo of Hollander and Dillane -- start taxing the citizens beyond their capacity.
His moment of pushing back against the crown sparked a movement that took over the nation, and eventually London. Although there was some discussion about The Uprising being the story of Robin Hood, it's more telling the real-life events that inspired the tale. Wat Tyler, played by Jarvis, is a major piece of leading the rebellion, as is Bell's priest, John Ball.
In all, the cast is stacked from top to bottom, something that Garfield and Greengrass appreciated.
"No matter where you looked, you were you were able to stay present in the moment because all you had to do is look into the eyes of Cosmo [Jarvis] or Thomasin [McKenzie] or Jamie [Bell] or Katherine [Waterston] or Woody [Norman] or you know, and any of that group," Garfield said in an interview with For The Win. "And then the extras -- I don't like using that word for these guys -- they were supporting artists and every eyeball you looked into dropped you directly into the Peasants' Revolt of 1381. So that's the dream."
The action in The Uprising gets going early and rarely lets up, allowing Greengrass to set up some sweeping battle scenes, a full overthrow of medieval London and more. Each actor gets their own time to shine, including those like Waterston, who plays the king's mother.
"Every day, I'd turn up and there'd be like six of my favorite actors of all time," Greengrass said of the collection of accumulated talent. "We were very blessed with the ensemble of the cast, and the supporting artists. It was a bit of a miraculous film, to be honest, that we could do so much and create such a grand spectacle. We didn't have a lot of money, but when you watch the film, you get swept along by this incredibly contemporary, incredibly dramatic, incredibly emotional story."
The Uprising is now playing in theaters.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: The Uprising director Paul Greengrass on being 'very blessed' by an incredible cast
