Britannia (TV series)

Lore & Background

The series is set in 43 AD, when the Romans invaded Britain, 90 years after Julius Caesar failed to conquer it. General Aulus Plautius and his second-in-command Lucius aim to succeed where Caesar failed. Aulus learns that the Druids are the driving force behind the tribes and determines that to conquer the people, he must conquer their gods. He undertakes a vision quest and begins speaking to a demon king named Lokka. Young Cait of the Cantii tribe flees after a Roman attack and attaches herself to Divis, a mad Druid with mystical powers who has been exiled by the Druid leader Veran. Kerra, princess of the Cantii, takes her own steps to address the Roman threat, angering her father, who sends her to be judged by the Druids.

Reader's Guide

Britannia is notable as the first co-production between Sky UK and Amazon Prime Video, blending historical events with fantasy elements such as Druidic magic and demonic figures. The series used pop songs as theme music: Donovan's 'Hurdy Gurdy Man' (series 1), 'Season of the Witch' (series 2), and T. Rex's 'Children of the Revolution' (series 3). The first season received generally favorable reviews, with a 76% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The series was cancelled after three seasons in March 2023. In 2024, writer Benjamin Crushcov filed a lawsuit claiming the series was based on his spec project Tribus, but the case was dismissed in May 2025.

Did You Know?

• Pop songs were used as theme music for all three series, including Donovan's 'Hurdy Gurdy Man' and T. Rex's 'Children of the Revolution'.
• Filming of the third series was shut down in March 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic and resumed in September 2020.
• A lawsuit filed by writer Benjamin Crushcov in 2023, claiming the series was based on his project Tribus, was dismissed in 2024.