There's something about historical dramas that really capture an audience. First Game of Thrones and then The Last Kingdom, the latest season of which premiered on Netflix in March 2022. Between its immersing fight scenes, incorporation of true historical events, and gripping plot, it's easy to see why fans just now catching up on the series may wonder, when will The Last Kingdom season 6 come out? Here's what you need to know to see the final chapter of Uhtred of Bebbanburg's saga.
Will there be a sixth season of The Last Kingdom?
After its fifth season, the Netflix show sadly came to an end. Lead actor Alexander Dreymon shared this trailer with fans on Instagram shortly before the season 5 premiere, and let's just say there was a mixture of excitement and sadness.
"I don't want it to finish 😢," said one person. Fans may be surprised to hear that the decision to end the show at its fifth season was destined to happen since the beginning. Because the show is based off the Bernard Cornwell's The Saxon Stories, creators always knew that the show would naturally follow the progression of the books.
So, what's next for the characters in The Last Kingdom?
The story of Uhtred of Bebbanburg's quest to unite kingdoms continues on—just not in the The Last Kingdom series. The Netflix film Seven Kings Must Die, released in April 2023, covers the last three books of Cornwell's saga, including War of the Wolf (2018), Sword of Kings (2019) and War Lord (2020). None of these books had been written when the show premiered in 2015, so they weren't included in the original series plans.
In an interview with Radio Times, executive producer Nigel Marchant mentioned, "Season 5 does feel like the end of the TV series, and the movie will be much more standalone. It’ll be an extra treat for the fans of the TV series, but you could also watch it even if you’ve never seen the TV show."
Even though The Last Kingdom season 5 ends with everything seemingly resolved (Uhtred's battle for Bebbanburg is behind him, and he's getting closer to fulfilling his father's goal of uniting England), we learn in the movie Seven Kings Must Die that what happens next is not all sunshine and rainbows. With an enraged king and a growing family, things are far from over for Uhtred's journey.
How did the The Last Kingdom's star feel about the ending the show?
Uhtred Alexander Dreymon shared this heartfelt goodbye on social media after wrapping up The Last Kingdom:
His caption read, "I feel so lucky that I got to live part time in Uhtred's skin for so many years. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all."
They say, "All good things come to an end" and although, we know the story of unifying England will come to a satisfying ending with the release of the film, we'll miss escaping to the world of The Last Kingdom.
Chaise Sanders is an Associate Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers anything from lifestyle and beauty to entertainment and style. Wanna upgrade your skincare game? She's got you covered with the best facial cleansing brushes. Or maybe you're in need of a new true crime show to binge? Got that covered too! Prior to joining the Cosmo team, Chaise was an editor at Country Living (also part of the Hearst fam) where she interviewed celebs like Dolly Parton, LeAnn Rimes and even Martha Stewart. Now, as one of the Big Apple's newest residents, there's a good chance that you can catch her checking out an Insta-worthy cafe or spending way to much $$$ in vintage stores.
