Sword in the Stone (2022 film)

Sword in the Stone is a 2022 American musical adventure fantasy film directed by Gore Verbinski from a screenplay by Rick Jaffa and Justin Marks. Co-produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Mandeville Films, the film is a live action adaptation of Walt Disney's 1963 animated film of the same name, itself an adaptation of T.H. White's novel of the same name. It features an ensemble and choir cast including Steve Martin as Merlin with Matthew Illesley, Zach Galifianakis, Brendan Gleeson, James Phelps, Charles Dance, Natalie Portman, Meryl Streep and Edward Norton in supporting roles.

In 1992 Disney Planned to Make a Live-action Sword in the Stone with Bob Spiers to Direct, and with Michael Caine as Merlin, Chris Pine as Arthur and Danny DeVito as Archimedes, but after 3 months of production the project was cancelled, a new live-action Sword in the Stone remake was announced in August 2019, with Verbinski hired to direct it; Martin, Galifianakis, Norton, and the rest of the cast signed on between November and December 2020. Filming took place in England from April to May 2021. With an estimated budget of around $305 million, it is one of the most expensive films ever made.

Sword in the Stone premiered at Spencer House in London on December 15, 2022, and was theatrically released in the United States in standard, Disney Digital 3-D, RealD 3D, IMAX, and IMAX 3D formats, along with Dolby Cinema on December 25, 2022 (Christmas Day). The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with many praising its faithfulness to the original animated film, performances of the cast (particularly Martin and Illesley), visual style, musical score, songs, costume design, and production values, the film grossed over $12 billion worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing live-action musical film, making it the second-highest-grossing film of 2022, and the tenth-highest-grossing film of all time. The film received several accolades, including three nominations at the 95th Academy Awards, six nominations at the 28th Critics' Choice Awards, and two nominations at the 76th British Academy Film Awards.

Cast
Steve Martin as Merlin

Matthew Illesley as Arthur

Zach Galifianakis as Archimedes (Voice)

Brendan Gleeson as Sir Ector

James Phelps as Sir Kay

Charles Dance as Sir Pellinore

Natalie Portman as Sculley Maid

Meryl Streep as Madam Mim

Edward Norton as Black Bart