The teaser for The Daily Wire&#8217;s latest project, “Run Hide Fight: Infidels,” is causing quite a stir online. 
The sequel to the hit 2020 action film “Run Hide Fight&#8221; — which dealt with a school shooting — takes place on a New England college campus that has been taken over by violent terrorists in a situation that’s chillingly true to life. 
“When radical Islamic terrorists hijack a liberal college’s pro-Palestine encampment to enforce barbaric Sharia law on students and execute infidels in a makeshift caliphate, a ragtag band of red-blooded students, a security guard tired of ‘Uncle Tom’ smears and a Delta Force vet must arm up to save their clueless peers and keep America from surrendering to the enemy on its own soil,” the logline of “Infidels” says.
The trailer includes footage from September 11, anti-Israel college protests, news reports on terror threats, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio telling Fox News, “Radical Islam has designs openly on the West.”
The trailer later shows an ISIS flag flying over a college campus and a departing message that says, “Coming soon … Or already here?”
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The film marks a comeback to the industry for actor Jonathan Majors. It’s reported to be a return to traditional action-packed storytelling that’s been missing from Hollywood for some time. 
Producer Dallas Sonnier revealed a little bit about the inspiration, telling <a href="https://pagesix.com/2026/06/25/hollywood/watch-trailer-for-disgraced-jonathan-majors-explosive-movie-return-where-he-frees-college-campus-from-islamic-terrorists/">Page Six</a>, “We all worship at the altar of [director] John Milius and Red Dawn. And Eastwood, and all the other wonderful action stars of the ’80s — Stallone and Schwarzenegger. Nobody’s making these types of movies anymore.” 
As for the film’s star, Sonnier said, “[Majors] loved the script, loved shooting the movie, is so great in the film, and he is totally 1,000% behind it.”

Run Hide Fight Infidels

WATCH: ‘Run Hide Fight: Infidels’ Takes On A Real World Nightmare

DailyWire+

Entertainment

Movies

How far can hard work, discipline, and a dream take you?
That question will be answered Saturday when Joe Pyfer takes on former UFC Middleweight Champion and #2 Pound for Pound fighter in the world, Israel Adesanya, at UFC Fight Night.
Now 29-years old, Pyfer has overcome heartbreaking circumstances to build the career he has today. Childhood abuse and a debilitating injury would be worthy excuses for giving up on his dreams.
But Pyfer is a different breed. In one of the greatest redemption stories in UFC history, Pyfer has ridden a three-fight win streak into a matchup that could put him into contention for a title shot. He’s looked downright dominant over the last year and a half, winning fights by submission, judges’ decision, and technical knockout, respectively. 
<h4><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/videos/journey-to-the-ufc-joe-pyfer?elementPosition=5&amp;row=14&amp;rowHeadline=Documentaries&amp;rowType=Portrait+Show+Carousel">WATCH JOURNEY TO THE UFC ON DAILY WIRE+</a></h4>
But Joe Pyfer fights aren’t just for the MMA experts. His knockouts are vicious, his wrestling is free-flowing and dynamic, and even the most casual viewer can expect an exciting event. When Pyfer fights, he puts on a show — and he’s been rewarded for it with Performance of the Night bonuses in two of his last three victories.
Simply put, he’s on fire.
This Saturday’s bout is all but guaranteed to be different from those one-sided battles, and the reason why is the man on the other side of the Octagon. Israel &#8220;The Last Stylebender&#8221; Adesanya helped define an era of mixed martial arts. A two-time champion, Adesanya reigned for a combined three and a half years,and has an abundance of experience on his side. He’s competed in twelve five-round UFC Championship fights compared to Pyfer’s current total of zero.
While Adesanya tries to dial back the clock to his glory days, a win here could serve as the latest apex of Joe Pyfer’s career.
If you want to see the full story of Joe Pyfer’s trials and tribulations on the way to this moment, The Daily Wire has you covered. “Journey To The UFC”takes the viewer behind the scenes of Pyfer’s entire combat sports career. Following Pyfer’s training from age 4 to 26, the movie features never-before-seen fight footage and exclusive interviews from Pyfer and those closest to him. It is all access, all action, and all emotion.

UFC 320: Magomedov v Pyfer

He Had Nothing. Now He’s Chasing Everything The American Dream Promised

Sports

Wrestling

Actor Jonathan Majors will return to the screen for the first time in four years, and it will be for an as-yet-unnamed Daily Wire production.
The 36-year-old star, best known for his roles in “Creed III” (2023) and “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” (2023), will begin working on the project this week in South Carolina, per <a href="https://deadline.com/2026/02/jonathan-majors-movie-comeback-daily-wire-south-carolina-1236737180/">Deadline</a>. 
Not many details are immediately available about the movie beyond the fact that it’s an action film similar to 80s and 90s classics such as “Red Dawn” and “Toy Soldiers.” Kyle Rankin (“Run Hide Fight”) wrote the screenplay and will serve as director, while Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro and Dallas Sonnier of Bonfire Legend will be producing the project.
Travis Mills (“Frontier Crucible&#8221;), Lillian Campbell (“The Pendragon Cycle”), and Sydney Aucreman (“Terror On The Prairie”) will also serve as producers, the outlet noted.
TMZ founder Harvey Levin weighed in on the news, saying Majors was returning to movies after being &#8220;screwed&#8221; by Hollywood following a court case which resulted in the actor being found guilty of one count of misdemeanor third-degree assault and one count of second-degree harassment against his former girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, but being acquitted of other more serious charges.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Jonathan Majors is back on a film set more than two years after his assault case. <a href="https://t.co/66s9VArdgF">pic.twitter.com/66s9VArdgF</a>
— TMZ (@TMZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/TMZ/status/2027115462463537383?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;The jury voted unanimously that it didn&#8217;t happen,&#8221; Levin said of the alleged assault in an Uber. The TMZ founder added that the Uber driver testified as well and suggested that Majors slightly pushed Jabbari into the vehicle but did not assault her in the car. &#8220;He won that case,&#8221; Levin added. &#8220;But Hollywood is so skittish that they basically banished him.&#8221;
&#8220;He&#8217;s back, and he&#8217;s a big star,&#8221; Levin said. &#8220;I gotta say, I always thought that Hollywood screwed him.&#8221;
The Daily Wire has made a notable push into entertainment through DailyWire+, releasing several feature films in various genres, including “Run Hide Fight” (2020), a thriller about a teenage girl who fights back against school shooters, which drew significant attention. 
The company also produced “Shut In” (2022), a survival thriller, and “Terror on the Prairie” (2022), a Western starring Gina Carano, who was fired from Disney’s “The Mandalorian” and ostracized from Hollywood after Lucasfilm objected to her social media posts. “Lady Ballers,” a sports comedy tackling men in women’s sports, was released in 2023.
There have also been several popular documentary films, including “What Is a Woman?” (2022), a documentary hosted by Matt Walsh that exposed the madness of left-wing gender theory. That was followed up with “Am I Racist?” (2024), another Matt Walsh documentary that dealt with affirmative action and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
In 2026, “The Pendragon Cycle,” an adaptation of Stephen R. Lawhead&#8217;s beloved series of novels, was released on DailyWire+. This ambitious series was done with incredible scale and production value and has been getting tremendous buzz from viewers. “Pulp Fiction” screenwriter Roger Avary <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pulp-fiction-writer-says-the-pendragon-cycle-left-him-completely-blown-away?author=Amanda+Harding&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=%E2%80%98Pulp+Fiction%E2%80%99+Writer+Says+%E2%80%98The+Pendragon+Cycle%E2%80%99+Left+Him+%E2%80%98Completely+Blown+Away%E2%80%99">said</a> he was “completely blown away” during an appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast earlier this month. 
To access all DailyWire+ entertainment content, head to <a href="http://dailywire.com/subscribe">DailyWire.com/subscribe</a>.

Jonathan Majors

Jonathan Majors Returns To The Screen In Daily Wire Action Movie

Celebrities

Hollywood

It&#8217;s opening weekend for &#8220;I Can Only Imagine 2&#8221; — the sequel to the faith-based smash hit &#8220;I Can Only Imagine,&#8221; which raked in $83 million in 2018, paving the way for more Christian entertainment.
&#8220;I Can Only Imagine 2&#8221; highlights the real story of Tim Timmons, a Christian singer who joins the hit-making band MercyMe at the height of the group&#8217;s career.
Timmons&#8217; own challenges helped MercyMe lead singer, Bart Millard, to face problems of his own.
MercyMe&#8217;s &#8220;I Can Only Imagine&#8221; was the song behind the first film, while the second film&#8217;s foundation is the song &#8220;Even If,&#8221; written by Timmons about his terminal cancer diagnosis.
Diagnosed with stage four cancer 25 years ago and given five years to live, he still has tumors on his liver today &#8212; but his battle with the disease and how he leaned on his faith, all while inspiring his bandmates to get through their hardships, is on full display in &#8220;I Can Only Imagine 2.&#8221;
&#8220;My story isn&#8217;t cancer; my story is finding joy through it. I think cancer is the dumbest story I know, but how we get through it is the beautiful story,&#8221; Timmons told The Daily Wire at the Nashville premiere. &#8220;For me to have this shown to the whole world and to invite the world to be grateful in the midst of grief is really powerful.&#8221;
When Timmons joined MercyMe, the band was selling out arenas and inspiring a generation, but you will see in the sequel that much was going on behind the scenes.
Millard, who grew up with an abusive father, is threatened by his past demons in the second film, which affects his already fragile relationship with his son, Sam. It&#8217;s Timmons who brings a new perspective to Millard&#8217;s life as the leading man learns about his bandmate&#8217;s hardships and health battles, which help Millard repair the relationships in his own life.
&#8220;At the height of our career, when things seemed to be going great, is when we were struggling the most at home,&#8221; Millard told The Daily Wire. &#8220;I appreciate the fact that this movie tapped into that because it&#8217;s real. If people can walk away saying &#8230; I&#8217;m not in this alone, then it&#8217;s worth it.&#8221;
Timmons is portrayed by actor Milo Ventimiglia, who said &#8220;I Can Only Imagine 2&#8221; will help others find their inner strength.
&#8220;For me, it just reaffirms the way of being out in the world,&#8221; Ventimiglia told The Daily Wire. &#8220;We all go through those tough times in life; put your faith to work.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/LyndenBlake?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LyndenBlake</a> interviews the cast, crew, and special guests on the red carpet for I Can Only Imagine 2, out today! ✨
Watch the original film, I Can Only Imagine, now streaming on DailyWire+. <a href="https://t.co/XaQB1y1MwN">pic.twitter.com/XaQB1y1MwN</a>
— DailyWire+ (@dailywireplus) <a href="https://twitter.com/dailywireplus/status/2024977990375850133?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2026</a></blockquote>
At the red carpet rollout for the movie in Nashville, The Daily Wire&#8217;s own Reagan Conrad joined other big names from the Music City, including Amy Grant, to celebrate the film&#8217;s release.
Conrad said the sequel is proof there is a desire in the culture for more Christian movies.
&#8220;It is really encouraging because I know it is going to reach so many people with the word of Jesus,&#8221; Conrad said.
&#8220;I Can Only Imagine 2&#8221; is now playing in theaters everywhere. The original film, &#8220;I Can Only Imagine,&#8221; is now playing on DailyWire+.

Credit: Jason Kempin via Getty Images

After The Original Smashed The Box Office, There Is More Story To Tell In ‘I Can Only Imagine 2’

Christian Movies

The Daily Wire

U.S.

“The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin” is a masterpiece for so many reasons, including casting, storyline, scope, and scale. But some of the most impressive elements of the newly launched DailyWire+ fantasy series are the heart-pounding stunts.
From idyllic European landscapes to sets filled with horses, armor, and elements of the ancient world, the adaptation of Stephen R. Lawhead’s Arthurian saga is done at a scale rarely attempted in modern television. The result is a show that’s truly extraordinary to behold.
In keeping with the scope of the production, The Daily Wire launched two real-world stunts designed to reflect the overall feeling of “The Pendragon Cycle,” bringing its imagery and themes into public spaces across multiple cities.
The first stunt centers on one of the most striking symbols: the bull.
Across Amsterdam, Spain’s Rotunda, New York City, Durham, and Miami, models posed alongside prominent bull statues, creating visual representations of Pendragon’s ancient symbolism.
The global bull statue stunt reflects the show’s commitment to scale. Much like the production’s emphasis on practical locations and real environments, the stunt relies on a physical presence rather than CGI. There’s a reason why several “Pendragon Cycle” cast members praised the authenticity of the series and noted how it contributed hugely to their performances.
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A video documenting the bull statue stunt is available now. There’s also a second stunt that takes the immersion one step further.
In Miami, The Daily Wire installed an interactive AR booth that allows participants to see themselves transformed into characters from “The Pendragon Cycle.” The experience converts real-world photos into Pendragon-inspired portraits, placing fans directly into the series.
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Those images aren’t just on social media. They’re also being displayed on Miami billboards, turning everyday participants into part of the show’s hype.
Together, these stunts reinforce that “The Pendragon Cycle” is a fantasy series unafraid to be bold and present in the real world. In an entertainment landscape often defined by run-of-the-mill premieres, “The Pendragon Cycle” chose to create a spectacle, and it chose well.
Watch the 7-part series “The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin” now — only on DailyWire+. New episodes every Thursday.

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How ‘The Pendragon Cycle’ Took Its Epic Scale Beyond The Screen

Television

The Pendragon Cycle

“The Pendragon Cycle” is filled with strong, mythical characters, with one of the most quietly powerful figures being Taliesin. The bard who wields words as gracefully as a sword is played by James Arden, who gives life to the otherworldly yet undoubtedly human character in the epic tale. 
Arden told The Daily Wire that he was drawn to the character’s complexity and depth. “The fact that he&#8217;s a bard and a storyteller in a very kind of turbulent, violent world makes him already very unique,” he said.
Taliesin’s origin story sets the stage for that mystery. Viewers encounter him in a unique way early in the season. 
“He has no origin, you know, he&#8217;s just found on a riverbed, in a salmon weir,” Arden explained. He was raised like any other person but also had visions which became stories. “When he meets the Atlanteans, he can tell a story that I guess the rest of his people wouldn&#8217;t be able to do,” Arden said. “And by doing that … he has this kind of legendary, everyone-knows-who-he-is status.”
Arden was impressed by how the series creators were able to distill so much of Stephen R. Lawhead’s novel into a compelling, abridged story. 
“I&#8217;m amazed that they managed to turn it into a first season at all,” he said, noting that the first book alone could have filled multiple seasons. “They&#8217;ve done an amazing job of introducing Taliesin as a character without sacrificing the essence of who he is.”
Like some other “Pendragon” actors, Arden also mentioned the amazing sets as helping inspire his craft. The commitment to authenticity helped bring the legend to life, particularly the decision to shoot on location. “If you&#8217;re shooting in a forest, being able to feel the cold and feel the weather … it feels more organic and authentic,” he said. “You can just exist, and that&#8217;s a real gift.”
Watch the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/the-pendragon-cycle%20?utm_campaign=pendragon&amp;utm_content=20260122_tpdc_plantype_desktop&amp;utm_medium=website">7-part series now</a> — only on DailyWire+. New episodes every Thursday.
When asked about moments fans will remember long after the season ends, Arden pointed to a scene involving Taliesin and Charis being introduced as the Lady of the Lake. Filmed at night on a still, moonlit lake framed by hanging willows, the scene left a lasting impression. “If you like fantasy and you like the whimsy of a story, it&#8217;s everything that you could want in that moment,” he said. “It was just so magical.” 
Taliesin’s role as a spiritual archetype sets him apart from many of the show’s other characters. Arden describes him as “a towering figure of faith” whose purpose is rooted in compassion. 
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“His whole purpose in life is to be compassionate and warm and loving and kind,” he said. That clarity of virtue made the role surprisingly accessible. “Playing a good man who is fundamentally a good man in all of his values and virtues is quite easy,” Arden said. “You can just clear your mind.”
Though Taliesin is offered power, Arden says what defines him is restraint in the face of that choice. “He&#8217;s offered power and still decides not to,” he said. 
Off-screen, Arden describes a special camaraderie. The cast spent their first weeks together in Hungary training, riding horses, and learning to fight. “There was no ego,” he said. “It was just lovely actors wanting to create something really cool and sink into this beautiful fantasy world.” 
Not every memory was glamorous, however. Arden revealed several mishaps including a learning curve with riding horses, freezing shoots in the lake, and a misfortune involving a stirrup and “an area that I wouldn&#8217;t want a stirrup to swing towards.” 
Still, he wouldn’t trade those moments for anything. “Even though you might think, ‘Oh God, what a difficult day,’” Arden said, “It was just amazing because you&#8217;re surrounded by people who are lovely and warm and who care about the story.”
For Arden, Taliesin represents something rare in modern fantasy: a hero who shows his strength through gentleness and restraint. “His only motive is to create a world of peace and love … I think that&#8217;s pretty cool.”
“The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin,” premieres January 22, 2026, with early episodes releasing on Christmas Day for DailyWire+ All Access members.

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Inside ‘The Pendragon Cycle’: James Arden On Bringing The Legendary Bard, Taliesin, To Life

“The Pendragon Cycle” features bards and legends whose power is immediately visible. But one intriguing figure in the series presents a more subtle, yet undeniable power. Ganieda, portrayed by Brett Cooper, is not a character who draws attention through outward magic. Instead, her presence changes the lives of those who surround her.
In Stephen R. Lawhead’s saga based on the Arthurian legend, Ganieda is both a seer and an emotional anchor. The series introduces her in glimpses and flashbacks as the story unfolds, leading to the full reveal, which contributes to the character’s overall mystique. 
Cooper is described as having a natural “chemistry” with her on-screen love interest, Tom Sharp, which helps add authenticity to their scenes together. While speaking with The Daily Wire, Sharp mentioned Merlin meeting Ganieda as being <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/inside-the-pendragon-cycle-tom-sharp-delivers-a-version-of-the-merlin-never-seen-before">one of his favorite scenes</a>. 
Watch the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/the-pendragon-cycle%20?utm_campaign=pendragon&amp;utm_content=20260122_tpdc_plantype_desktop&amp;utm_medium=website">7-part series now</a> — only on DailyWire+. New episodes every Thursday.
The pair met in full costume, with her clad in the gown of a regal princess and him presenting as a mud-covered Merlin as they both encountered a giant wild boar.
“This is not your traditional romantic setting,” he joked.
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Cooper’s performance is revealed gradually over the course of the series, but because she’s described by others, her image emerges from perception rather than being defined by actions the audience can immediately see. Cooper plays the role with humor and joy, but also maintains the otherworldly essence of Ganieda.
Silent-hearted and steadfast, Ganieda is the calm within Merlin’s storm, a guiding light whose quiet strength anchors the fate of Britain’s greatest prophet.
Ganieda’s strength is in her moral clarity. She does not seek to control or manipulate; instead, she serves as a grounding presence. The character is not physically present in every episode, but her impact is felt throughout the series. Through Cooper’s measured performance, Ganieda emerges as one of “The Pendragon Cycle’s” most essential and memorable characters.

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Inside ‘The Pendragon Cycle’: Brett Cooper Shines As The Beloved Of Merlin

Before Camelot, before the crown, one man’s conversion ignites a civilization’s rebirth. Now, the world gets its first full look. 
The Daily Wire just dropped the official trailer for “The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin,” the highly anticipated seven-part cinematic retelling of Stephen R. Lawhead’s epic that reimagines the dawn of Arthurian legend. 
Like all great trailers, this one gives eager fans a glimpse into the world of Pendragon, a visual masterpiece about the birth of Britain itself. 
As pagan gods fall silent and empires collapse, Merlin becomes the bridge between myth and history, the prophet who shapes the destiny of kings and the legend that will outlive them all.
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This is not a fairy tale in the traditional sense, but is rather an origin story for a man who set in motion the rise of a civilization. 
“What is it to be a man? To have a mission? To believe in God and in Christ in a world not receptive to that?” asked series creator and director Jeremy Boreing. “If God is real, He must be God of now and of then.”
Boreing said this project has been a lifelong dream come true. 
“The Pendragon Cycle is among the largest, most ambitious independent series ever produced,” Boreing said. “It represents the culmination of a ten-year vision to create culture, not just to criticize it. Lawhead’s novels present a visceral, masculine Christianity in a world of conflict and mystery. It isn’t saccharine or clean. In short, it is very much like our world. I’m so happy to share our adaptation, and the work of our remarkable cast and crew, with the Daily Wire audience.”
Watch the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/the-pendragon-cycle%20?utm_campaign=pendragon&amp;utm_content=20260122_tpdc_plantype_desktop&amp;utm_medium=website">7-part series now</a> — only on DailyWire+. New episodes every Thursday.
Every small detail of The Daily Wire’s first long-form, cinematic live-action series was planned to immerse viewers into the story, from the props to the sets to the music. Tonight, the first track from “The Pendragon Cycle” soundtrack is also available on YouTube, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere else you get your music. Listen to it here:
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Behind-the-scenes footage highlights the production quality that rivals the biggest fantasy shows put out by major networks. Multiple production diaries provided fans a glimpse of the endless challenges and the grand scope of the production, including the costumes, the stunning locations, and the epic battle scenes that take place during the series.
Watch the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/the-pendragon-cycle%20?utm_campaign=pendragon&amp;utm_content=20260122_tpdc_plantype_desktop&amp;utm_medium=website">7-part series now</a> — only on DailyWire+. New Episodes Every Thursday.

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The Legend Begins: The Daily Wire Drops First Trailer for ‘The Pendragon Cycle’

The Legend Begins: The Daily Wire Drops First Trailer for 'The Pendragon Cycle'

“The Pendragon Cycle” is not just about epic battles and otherworldly magic — it’s also very much a study of human relationships. And one of the most fascinating relationships is the strong yet complicated bond between brothers Aurelius and Uther. 
Portrayed in the series by Finney Cassidy and Myles Clohessy, respectively, the legendary figures are at the heart of Stephen R. Lawhead’s Arthurian saga, embodying two completely different paths toward power, loyalty, and destiny.
For Cassidy, stepping into the role of Aurelius felt less like a decision and more like something that simply “shook out the way it was supposed to.”
“It was kind of between Aurelius and Merlin that I read for,” Cassidy recalled of the lengthy audition process. “But looking back at the project now, when you watch it, and being amongst everyone on set, it was the most perfect casting. There was something about him where there was a bit of me in Aurelius… I felt like I couldn’t have played anyone else.”
Clohessy’s draw to Uther came from a different place entirely, as he’s been a longtime fan of Arthurian legend.
“I was a huge history buff regarding the whole legend and lore of King Arthur in the first place,” Clohessy said. “I grew up with those tales. And especially being an American, getting to dive into the world of King Arthur and the creation of the Kingdom of Britain … that was really cool.”
Watch the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/the-pendragon-cycle%20?utm_campaign=pendragon&amp;utm_content=20260122_tpdc_plantype_desktop&amp;utm_medium=website">7-part series now</a> — only on DailyWire+. New episodes every Thursday.
Both actors immersed themselves in Lawhead’s book to help develop the characters. 
“[The books] gave me real depth for the character,” Cassidy said. “You really understood who he was. When you’ve got the adapted scripts and the novel, you can draw your own version of Aurelius.”
For Clohessy, discovering the deeper layers of Uther’s story was a revelation, even with his knowledge of the legend.
“I had no idea that Uther was essentially King Arthur’s father,” he said. “I didn’t know there was that whole love triangle going on. I thought going in, we were going to be on the same team throughout the whole thing.”
That tension between loyalty and resentment defines the brothers’ on-screen relationship. Cassidy described Aurelius as the level-headed opposite of Uther’s brute strength and volatility.
“Uther’s very much a hothead, and I’m the one who kind of brings it down,” Cassidy said. “He wants to deal with things with his hands. Aurelius absolutely wants to talk things out. But if it got to the point where he did have to fight, he would. He’s not a pushover.” 
Clohessy agreed, noting that their real-life dynamic is surprisingly similar.“Finney is the more level-headed of us as friends, and I’m the more hot-headed brute,” he said. 
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As for his character, the actor says Uther has a singular focus.
“My loyalty is to my brother,” he went on. “And you see in the arguments I have with the other kings, my whole through line &#8230; is to make sure my brother is safe and make sure my brother is king. I&#8217;m his battle chief. I&#8217;m there to support him and to defend him.”
The weight of those roles was amplified by the show’s incredible production scale, which both actors credited as being an important component to their performances. Cassidy recalled his first day on set.
“You turn up, and there’s 50 horses being dressed, a hundred supporting artists,” he said. “The day they put me in the costume… it instantly felt real.’”
Clohessy echoed the sentiment, calling the production value “everything.”
“Without it, the show would be nothing,” he said. “They’re ‘Game of Thrones’ level sets. Hundreds of horses, massive locations across Europe. If the scale isn’t there, not only will the actors not be able to dive in, but the audience won’t either.”
While epic battles define much of “The Pendragon Cycle,” both actors pointed to quieter moments between the brothers as the most impactful. Cassidy described a scene with no dialogue that resonated deeply.
“There was just a look between the two brothers,” he said. “No dialogue, nothing, but it just means everything. They’ve been through a lot. It was my favorite moment of my performance.”
Offscreen, that brotherhood translated into real friendship. Both actors agreed that their favorite behind-the-scenes memory was a snow day that shut down production and turned into an all-cast snowball fight.
“We ended up having this massive snowball fight,” Clohessy said. “Just acting like total doofuses.”
Cassidy said, “Being adults dressed in medieval outfits, having a major snowball fight… that kind of says everything.”

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Inside ‘The Pendragon Cycle’: Aurelius And Uther’s Brotherly Bond Shapes The Fate Of Britain

The highly anticipated series “The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin” promises to deliver a version of Merlin unlike any seen before. Actor Tom Sharp, who takes on the iconic role in the adaptation of Stephen R. Lawhead’s bestselling series, says the character will surprise even longtime fans.
“Well, you know, it’s Merlin. So he’s an iconic character that’s probably known in most cultures around the world,” Sharp told The Daily Wire. 
Calling it his “biggest role to date and biggest production to date,” he emphasized that this Merlin is more than the mysterious, on the fringes secondary character that most Arthurian legend retellings make him out to be. 
“This is set before King Arthur, but instead of just a magical advisor … he’s also seen as a young warrior, which would be different for people to see. And it’s a grittier, more grounded tone … He’s hands on. He’s at the forefront,” Sharp explains.
The production draws heavily from Lawhead’s original story, which is a combination of Celtic mythology, Christian themes, and historical drama. The novels center on the rise of Britain from a land of chaos into a civilization awakened by faith. As previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dailywire-announces-release-date-for-the-pendragon-cycle?author=Amanda+Harding&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=DailyWire%2B+Announces+Release+Date+For+%E2%80%98The+Pendragon+Cycle%E2%80%99">reported</a>, this series aims to preserve those themes, honoring Lawhead’s vision while building an immersive, cinematic world.
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Sharp confirmed that staying true to the original was a priority behind the scenes. “We stuck as closely as possible to the books and as faithfully to the source material as possible when making this show,” he assured longtime fans. 
One pivotal moment from the source material is considered a turning point in Merlin’s life and received special focus during production. Sharp described it as a “tentpole scene” that carries significant emotional weight. “If this scene falls down, the whole show falls down,” he said, noting that “fans of the books … they’ll know what I’m talking about.” He couldn’t reveal much else except to say that the scene appears in episode six.
Authenticity was also a major theme while filming “Pendragon,” the lead actor revealed. Rather than relying on CGI, the series was filmed in stunning locations across Hungary and Italy. Sharp explained how this made things easier for him and the rest of the cast. 
“Shooting on location beats CGI and green screen every day of the week,” he said. “It’s more immersive for the audience … For actors, it’s less acting required. You’re reacting off real things.”
Watch the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/the-pendragon-cycle%20?utm_campaign=pendragon&amp;utm_content=20260122_tpdc_plantype_desktop&amp;utm_medium=website">7-part series now</a> — only on DailyWire+. New episodes every Thursday.
He continued, “If you see me running with a wolf or someone’s on fire or I’m charging into battle on a horse, swinging a sword, it’s all real.” Even the bulls in episode one, Sharp noted, were living, breathing animals.
While Merlin is often portrayed as a wise yet inaccessible mystical being, Sharp said he approached the character through the lens of humanity. “One of the challenges of playing him was how do I make him relatable because he’s so mysterious,” he said. “As an actor, I focused purely on his humanity and how the audience can connect to him.” 
Sharp also emphasized Merlin’s moral restraint. “He could easily rule in a tyrannical position, but he chooses not to… Someone with all that power, not wanting to be the ruler, is a great quality.”
The actor also mentioned the character’s other distinctly human qualities. “He’s also heavily, deeply flawed as well with a lot of tragedy and pain in his life from the beginning and throughout. And obviously, when you&#8217;re immortal, you&#8217;re quite a lonely person… [there is] a distance between him and other characters,” he said.
Sharp shared one lighthearted behind-the-scenes moment involving his first scene with actress Brett Cooper, who plays Ganieda. The pair met in full costume, with her clad in the gown of a regal princess and him presenting as a mud-covered Merlin as they both encountered a giant wild boar.
“This is not your traditional romantic setting,” he joked.
Ultimately, Sharp is excited for fans to see the series and called it a “dream come true” to play the character of Merlin. When asked about his favorite scene, he referenced the first season’s last episode. &#8220;The very final scene of the show in episode seven is my favorite personally,” Sharp said, noting that “the fans and any newcomers to the story will understand why.”
“That scene gave me a very surreal out of body experience. It was amazing and very euphoric on set. I kept talking about it for days afterwards … that memory will stay with me for life.”

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Inside ‘The Pendragon Cycle’: Tom Sharp Delivers A Version Of The Merlin Never Seen Before

Inside ‘The Pendragon Cycle’: Tom Sharp Reveals The Merlin Fans Haven’t Seen

“The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin” would not be complete without a villain. Actress Emree Franklin plays the role of Morgian in the adaptation of Stephen R. Lawhead’s best-selling series, an “iconic” role she said was “just a dream” to take on.
One of the defining features of Morgian is that she’s not evil from the get-go – her embracing the darkness within is a process that the audience gets to witness firsthand. Franklin told The Daily Wire during an interview that it was “such an honor and privilege” to portray such a vital character in the fantasy series.
As legend goes, Morgian – the “Queen of Air and Darkness” – is a powerful sorceress who wields her evil powers and serves as the antithesis of Merlin, Arthur, and other characters who exemplify goodness.
Like other leading stars, including <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/inside-the-pendragon-cycle-tom-sharp-delivers-a-version-of-the-merlin-never-seen-before?author=Amanda+Harding&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Inside+%E2%80%98The+Pendragon+Cycle%E2%80%99%3A+Tom+Sharp+Delivers+A+Version+Of+The+Merlin+Never+Seen+Before">Tom Sharp</a>, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/inside-the-pendragon-cycle-rose-reid-on-bringing-life-to-charis-a-heroine-for-our-time?author=Amanda+Harding&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Inside+%E2%80%98The+Pendragon+Cycle%E2%80%99%3A+Rose+Reid+On+Bringing+Life+To+Charis%2C+A+Heroine+For+Our+Time">Rose Reid</a>, and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/inside-the-pendragon-cycle-james-arden-on-bringing-the-legendary-bard-taliesin-to-life?author=Amanda+Harding&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Inside+%E2%80%98The+Pendragon+Cycle%E2%80%99%3A+James+Arden+On+Bringing+The+Legendary+Bard%2C+Taliesin%2C+To+Life">James Arden</a>, Franklin was blown away by the production scale and stunning on-site locations, saying it helped her get into character.
“Getting to go to work in a literal castle… is pretty incomparable,” she said during the interview. “We really didn’t have any green screen. Every day, walking onto set and just seeing what our crew had created for us to play in… was amazing.”
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Costume and makeup played a central role in shaping Morgian’s identity as they served as a contrast between her and Reid’s character, Charis. The two were made to look identical in their hair styling and outfits, but had entirely different approaches to their powers.
Some of the physical differences between the two women are more subtle, but still clearly convey their differences. “Morgian, she’s a very somatic character,” the actress explains. “In the books, she&#8217;s described as feline, and her eyes change from green to serpent green.”
Watch the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/the-pendragon-cycle%20?utm_campaign=pendragon&amp;utm_content=20260122_tpdc_plantype_desktop&amp;utm_medium=website">7-part series now</a> — only on DailyWire+. New episodes every Thursday.
“These sort of animalistic clues were something I really tried to embody,” Franklin added, noting the difference between Reid’s “regal stoicism” as Charis and Morgian’s “slinky&#8221; conniving mannerisms. 
That physical transformation portrayed a character shaped by insecurity and ambition. “At her core, she’s just a girl who wanted to be loved by her dad, her sister, and a boy,” Franklin told The Daily Wire. “And she didn’t get that love.” 
“She believes that to attain power, she has to keep cutting away the parts of herself that are seen as weakness,” the actress added.
As the season progresses, Morgian’s sacrifices grow “bigger and bigger,” marking an internal shift. Even at her most powerful, however, she remains fractured. “In the finale, even though she’s supposed to be at the height of her power, she’s also the most vulnerable she’s ever been,” Franklin says. “Chaotic. Not in control.” 
Redemption, though not impossible, is unlikely. “I think she’s chosen her path. Her soul is corrupt,” Franklin said of her character.
Off camera, the atmosphere was much lighter. Pre-production brought the cast together through stunt training, physical training, horseback riding, and dialect coaching, creating bonds that carried through filming and after. “There was a lot of laughter on set,” Franklin revealed, noting how this came in handy during emotionally heavy scenes. “You need that, or the work can pull you under.”
She said the cast members are still close even now. “I met my best friends on the show,” Franklin said.

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Inside ‘The Pendragon Cycle’: Emree Franklin Explores The Making Of A Fantasy Villain

The ambitious fantasy series “The Pendragon Cycle” doesn’t just reimagine ancient Britain. It also reimagines its heroes. At the center of that transformation is Rose Reid, who plays Charis and also serves as a credited writer on the series. 
It’s a rare pairing in the genre, and Reid says stepping into the role required an entirely different kind of heroine than audiences are used to seeing.
“I think the thing that initially drew me to her was because she has such an interesting arc,” Reid said. “We meet Charis at a time that we don&#8217;t typically meet a lot of heroines in fantasy.”
Instead of introducing Charis before she completes an epic mission, like saving a kingdom or embarking on a journey, the series begins after the defining moment of her life. 
“We meet her after she&#8217;s already saved her people, and she&#8217;s essentially reconciling what happened and who she was then with who she was now,” she said. Charis is a character living with the consequences of past choices, and the show doesn’t shy away from letting viewers wonder about those decisions. Reid adds, “There are definitely several moments where you want the audience to ask the question, was that the right call?”
“I&#8217;ve always been a huge fantasy fan, so this was a dream project for so many reasons,” she said of scoring the role.
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Reid’s position as both writer and actress gave her a unique perspective on the character, though she emphasized that she wasn’t cast in the role until later on. 
“I actually didn&#8217;t know that I was going to play her until very, very late into the writer&#8217;s room,” she explained. “I&#8217;m really grateful that that wasn&#8217;t even a conversation… I wasn&#8217;t writing her thinking I was going to play her.” 
Watch the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/the-pendragon-cycle%20?utm_campaign=pendragon&amp;utm_content=20260122_tpdc_plantype_desktop&amp;utm_medium=website">7-part series now</a> — only on DailyWire+. New episodes every Thursday.
That separation ultimately spurred more creativity. “We could have a little bit more freedom to write her the way she needed to be written and that she deserved to be written rather than writing her with a specific person or a specific actress in mind.”
Once filming began, Charis evolved even further. “Characters change as you work through things,” Reid said. She credits showrunner Jeremy Boreing for having “such a specific vision” for who Charis was in every scene. Acting opposite co-stars like Daniel Fathers also reshaped the character. 
“How they respond to your character does kind of change … the same thing that I prepped in my head might not work anymore, because Daniel Fathers took a different approach.” One scene during an episode with Fathers, who plays Charis’ father, King Avallach, quickly became her favorite. “It ended up being my favorite scene on screen that I was in anyway. So I&#8217;m really, really excited for fans to see that.”
Reid also shared one of the production’s most surprising challenges: the now-infamous bull sequence, which was “terrifying” yet “exciting” because it used living, breathing bulls. 
“That sequence took us two weeks to film,” she said. “We spent the entire time we were writing, the entire time we were shooting the rest of the season preparing for that scene, because it was going to be such a big ordeal.” 
She admits it left her “kind of an adrenaline junkie.”
Filming in Cinecittà Studios added another layer to the experience. “That set is incredible. It&#8217;s huge. You really felt like you were there … it was impossible to step onto that set without thinking that you really had stepped into Atlantis and stepped into another world.” 
But more than any single moment, what stayed with her was the cast bond. “This cast is so close,” she said. “We all kind of locked arms and we&#8217;ve all been really good friends since then.” Her on-screen sister, Morgan, played by Emree Franklin, became one of her closest real-life friends. “We just became more family than friends, which I think is really special considering that that doesn&#8217;t happen very often.”
Reid closed with appreciation for the entire crew that brought “The Pendragon Cycle” to life. 
“Audiences don&#8217;t fully appreciate how much this is a team effort from everyone from [costume designers Tóth András Dániel Godena-Juhász Attila] to our incredible special effects team to the grips and everybody,” she said. “If audiences like the show, it&#8217;s probably not because of something any one group of people did, it&#8217;s because of the collective. And that&#8217;s part of the reason film is the only career I could ever see myself in.”

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