Jude Law and Alicia Vikander unrecognisable as Henry VIII and Katherine Parr in "Firebrand”

Jude Law and Alicia Vikander have delivered captivating performances as real-life King Henry VIII and his sixth wife, Katherine Parr, in Firebrand, a film directed by Karim Aïnouz. 

Based on the 2013 novel Queen's Gambit by Elizabeth Fremantle, the story unfolds the gripping tale of Parr's quest for survival after marrying the notoriously tyrannical monarch, who had already seen five wives meet tragic ends. 

Katherine and Henry remained married from 1543 until the king's death in 1547, but the queen's fate would forever change the kingdom.

Law embodies Henry VIII with an imposing presence, sporting regal attire, a fur coat, and a feathered hat, with makeup effects giving him an aged appearance. 

Vikander, who portrays Katherine Parr, dons a French hood and a bare face, delivering a powerful performance as she pushes her radical Protestant beliefs, even while under the shadow of the ruthless king.

The film also stars Sam Riley, Eddie Marsan, Simon Russell Beale, and Erin Doherty, and premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival last May. 

It's set for a theatrical release on June 14. 

The trailer, released recently, teases the tense drama as the narrator describes the blood-soaked kingdom and Katherine Parr's courageous rise to power.

Law went to great lengths to embody Henry VIII's character, enlisting a parfumier to create a bespoke scent that replicated the stench of the king's festering leg wound. 

"I read several interesting accounts that you could smell Henry three rooms away," he said. The specially created fragrance consisted of "blood, fecal matter, and sweat," effectively helping Law embrace the physical transformation necessary to embody Henry VIII.