Watch King Arthur: Legend of the Sword In 1,000 Punches

05/06/2017 06:05 pm EDT

Guy Ritchie's King Arthur: Legend of the Sword seeks to stake out its own unique interpretation of the popular legend. That meant lots of training for Charlie Hunnam, but not for the reasons you might think.

It's one thing to act like you can throw a punch, but there's an innate believability that comes through the screen when you can actually throw one. In the 1000 Punches featurette, Hunnam describes his approach. "I felt having the confidence that comes with having a lot of fight training does give one a certain spring in your step, a glint in the eye, and so I spent a lot of time in the gym just doing fight training. It wasn't as much for the physical effect as the emotional effect and the confidence that comes with throwing a thousand punches a day."

That drive coincided with Ritchie's vision for the character. "In terms of the actual physicality Guy and I talked a lot about that important aspect of Arthur, that he had a sort of hunger to him. That sort of feral street kid starving wolf feel. This has been by far the best film experience that I've ever had."

You can watch the full video above, and the official description is below.

When the child Arthur's father is murdered, Vortigern (Jude Law), Arthur's uncle, seizes the crown. Robbed of his birthright and with no idea who he truly is, Arthur comes up the hard way in the back alleys of the city. But once he pulls the sword from the stone, his life is turned upside down and he is forced to acknowledge his true legacy...whether he likes it or not.

Starring with Hunnam (FX's "Sons of Anarchy") and Oscar nominee Law ("Cold Mountain," "The Talented Mr. Ripley") are Astrid Berges-Frisbey ("Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides") as Mage; Oscar nominee Djimon Hounsou ("Blood Diamond," "In America") as Bedivere; Aidan Gillen (HBO's "Game of Thrones") as Goosefat Bill; and Eric Bana ("Star Trek") as Arthur's father, King Uther Pendragon.

Guy Ritchie ("The Man from U.N.C.L.E.," the "Sherlock Holmes" films) directed the film from a screenplay by Joby Harold ("Awake") and Guy Ritchie and Lionel Wigram, story by David Dobkin ("The Judge") and Joby Harold. The film is produced by Oscar winner Akiva Goldsman ("A Beautiful Mind," "I Am Legend"), Joby Harold, Tory Tunnell ("Awake," "Holy Rollers"), and Steve Clark-Hall, Ritchie, and Lionel Wigram. David Dobkin and Bruce Berman are executive producers.

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword hits theaters on May 12, 2017.

MORE: May Movie Preview 2017 / Charlie Hunnam Wields Excalibur In New King Arthur Image / King Arthur Test Screenings Hugely Successful

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