A darker series 5 awaits ‘Merlin‘

Julian Murphy, Johnny Capps, Colin Morgan, Katie McGrath and Angel Coulby before the ‘Merlin’‬ ‪#SDCC‬ panel

*Excited face*

Comic-Con 2012 –  you know that show that’s giving us all the lovely goodies lately? Well they’ve only gone and given us some awesome ‘Merlin’ series 5 news…and a new ‘Merlin’ series 5 poster.

Attended by cast members; Colin Morgan, Katie McGrath, Angel Coulby and co-creator and executive producer Johnny Capps; AssignmentX reports they had these nuggets of information to bestow on us:

Angel Coulby, (who in series 5 will now be Queen Guinevere Pendragon, thanks to her marriage to Arthur at the end of series 4) revealed that the show will continue to get darker as they feel they have a large adult audience who enjoy that.

“It feels much more adult,” says Coulby. “I think they’ve pushed the boundaries each time with each series and it’s gotten darker and darker. We know a huge amount of our audience is adults and we can be more ambitious with the darker side so it’s interesting to play.”

Katie McGrath also revealed the series will focus more on the four lead characters and less on the villain of the week, as things conspire against them = plus Mordred will be returning to cause more trouble.

“What’s great about this season, it relies more on the four of us to carry the story — it’s not so much a villain of the week,” says McGrath. “They have one direct continuation of Season 4. It’s almost like an American series of 22 episodes. It’s a vote of confidence that they’re trusted the four of us to carry the series and give us these great stories.”

Adding: “I want Morgana to feel guilt for what she’s done…I want her to be redeemed!”

However Julian Murphy assured fans that the series will not take the darkness too far, saying: “Well, we won’t do rape or incest…!”

The final major spoiler revealed by Johnny Capps, is that Arthur’s father Uther Pendragon, (played by Antony Head) will be reprising his role = surprisingly considering his character died in series 4.

“Uther returns in a very unexpected way and returns in Arthur’s life where he’s missing his father and he needs some advice and in a moment of weakness, and he is able to contact Uther,” reveals co-creator and executive producer Johnny Capps.

The poster (below) also has the intriguing tagline: “THE DIE IS CAST”

‘Merlin’ will air on BBC One in the Autumn and airs on Syfy in the US.

Check out the new series 5 artwork below…

 © BBC