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

“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.”

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. 

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 … is to make sure my brother is safe and make sure my brother is king. I’m his battle chief. I’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.”

“The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin” premieres January 22, 2026. Early episodes are currently available for DailyWire+ All Access members.