7 reasons to be excited about 'Cursed,' the new show based on the legend of King Arthur

"Cursed" is an upcoming fantasy series on Netflix that reimagines the famous legend of King Arthur.

GMA News Online got to speak to the show’s amazing cast in a virtual roundtable interview, including Katherline Langford (“13 Reasons Why”), Devon Terrell ("Barry"), Gustaf Skaarsgard ("Vikings") and Daniel Sharman ("Teen Wolf"), as well as the creators Tom Wheeler and Frank Miller.

Netflix also gave us a chance to see "Cursed" in advance, so we rounded up seven cool things to be excited about before the show premieres this summer.

^{Photo courtesy of Netflix}

1. Who ever said Excalibur had to choose a king? This sword chose a queen.

“Cursed” centers on Nimue (Langford), a powerful young woman destined to become the powerful being known as "The Lady of the Lake."

Her life takes a dramatic turn when a mysterious “sword of power” comes into her possession (and if you know about the sword Excalibur, you know it only works for the rightful king — in this case, queen). She meets a humble mercenary named Arthur (Terrell) and witnesses the wrath of lords fighting over a crown, as well as a band of fearsome religious soldiers called the “Red Paladins.”

The series is based on the graphic novel of the same name created by Frank Miller and Tom Wheeler.

2. Nimue is one bad-ass heroine

“Cursed” follows Nimue as she braves a trial-filled journey filled with love, tragedy and self discovery.

Sure, we see our heroine wield a sword and use special powers to defeat her enemies, but the series also follows Nimue as she exhibits the courage and responsibility required to be able to protect her fellow magical creatures called the “Fey.”

As Katherine told GMA News Online: “It felt like her whole journey revolves a lot around coming into her own and coming into herself as a young woman and, in order to do that, she has to embrace all the parts of her that other people don’t understand.”

^{Photo courtesy of Netflix}

3. A Skarsgård is playing Merlin

The wise and powerful ancient who plays an important part in the sword’s destiny is played by Swedish actor Gustaf Skarsgård, who is known for his memorable performance as Floki in the historical TV series “Vikings” and Karl Strand in the science fiction Western “Westworld.”

You might also know his brothers Alexander Skarsgård, who played Tarzan in the “The Legend of Tarzan” and Bill Skarsgård, who played Pennywise the Clown in “It.”

Their father, on the other hand, is none other than veteran actor Stellan Skarsgård, who recently starred in Marvel’s “Thor” and “Chernobyl.”

4. We’re here for the diversity

According to Katherine, one of the biggest messages young people like herself can draw from this story is that being “different is good.”

“You have to embrace all of you and have the courage to be yourself because when you are yourself, you’re the strongest,” the actress told GMA News Online.

“Cursed” touches on several issues of inequality, including the injustice and fear experienced by minorities and members of the LGBTQ+.

5. Not one, but several charming guys hover around Nimue

Our strong and powerful heroine comes across not one but several charmers in the series.

One of them is a penniless mercenary who rolls with a gang of cutthroats named Arthur, who’s played by American-Australian actor Devon Tyrell.

Also hovering around Nimue is an armor-clad friend named Gawain also known as the “Green Knight” (Matt Stokoe), as well as a skilled warrior who hunts her down known as the “Weeping Monk” (Daniel Sharman).

^{Photo courtesy of Netflix}

6. Expect a beautiful, storybook-like journey

It’s a fantasy novel! Of course there will be castles, magic, and horses.

“Cursed” will take viewers to some of the most spectacular sites in England, including medieval structures and thick forests.

Also, be on the lookout for the mesmerizing artwork that tie the scenes together. The series is based on a graphic novel, after all.

7. It shows that medieval problems are still problems today

Otherworldly as it may seem, the fantasy series deals with very real issues during the Dark Ages like senseless wars, religious persecution, and gender discrimination.

“We are finding that some of these enduring issues and problems in these stories that are a thousand years old are still sadly kind of relevant today,” Wheeler told GMA News Online.

“And I think that’s part of why these stories have the strength that they do and are as strong as they are today, so it’s important to us to talk about these things and sometimes they just come up in the writing because that’s what’s going on in the world,” he added.

“Cursed” is set to premiere on Netflix on July 17.

—JCB, GMA News