Tony® Award-winning actor Mark Rylance (Twelfth Night) and Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award-winner Damian Lewis (Homeland) star in the six-hour miniseries adapted from Hilary Mantel's best-selling Booker Prize-winning novels: Wolf Hall and its sequel, Bring Up the Bodies. From humble beginnings and with an enigmatic past, Thomas Cromwell (Rylance) is the brilliant consigliere to King Henry VIII (Lewis). Told from Cromwell's perspective, Wolf Hall follows the complex machinations and back room dealings of this pragmatic and accomplished power broker who must serve king and country while dealing with deadly political intrigue, Henry VIII's tempestuous relationship with Anne Boleyn (Claire Foy, Little Dorrit), and the religious upheavals of the Protestant reformation.
Having failed to secure the annulment of the King's marriage to Katherine of Aragon, Cardinal Wolsey is stripped of his powers. His hopes of returning to the King's favor lie in the ever-loyal Thomas Cromwell.
Cardinal Wolsey has been forced to move to York. Cromwell remains in London, seeking to return the cardinal to the king's favor. As Cromwell's relationship with Henry deepens, there is unexpected news from the north.
With the cardinal dead, it falls to Cromwell to orchestrate a marriage between the king and Anne Boleyn. The king rewards Cromwell for his loyalty, but he is being closely watched by his enemies.
Anne gives birth to a baby girl, failing to produce Henry's longed-for male heir. Cromwell demands the nobility and church swear an oath acknowledging Anne as lawful queen, but will Thomas More agree?
With Anne pregnant again and away from court, Henry begins to take notice of Jane Seymour. Anne hears of this and threatens Cromwell to make terms with her before her son is born. But has she overplayed her cards?
Henry's love for Anne Boleyn has given way to anger and distrust and he instructs Cromwell to rid him of his second Queen. Sensing her loss of favor, the Queen's enemies gather.
