The definitive cast list for BBC2”s Shakespeare season has been confirmed. Featuring some of UK”s leading Shakespearean actors and directors, four films have been commissioned as part of the BBC”s contribution to the London 2012 Festival and Cultural Olympiad.

The films, which were commissioned by Ben Stephenson, Controller BBC Drama Commissioning and Janice Hadlow, Controller BBC Two, are Richard II, Henry IV (Parts 1 and 2) and Henry V.

Richard II

Richard II will be played by Ben Whishaw supported by Rory Kinnear as Bolingbroke, Patrick Stewart as John of Gaunt, David Suchet as The Duke of York and David Morrissey as Northumberland. Richard II Production designer is Andrew McAlpine (An Education, The Piano), with Danny Cohen (The King’;s Speech) as Director of Photography and Odile Dicks Mireaux (The Constant Gardner) as Costume Designer. It is directed by Rupert Goold.

Henry IV

Henry IV (Parts I and II) will see Jeremy Irons playing Henry IV, supported by Tom Hiddleston as Prince Hal. Simon Russell Beale will play Falstaff and Julie Walters will play Mistress Quickly. Henry IV Production Designer is Donal Woods (Downton Abbey, Cranford). Director of Photography is Ben Smithard (Cranford) with Annie Symons (The Crimson Petal and the White) as Costume Designer. Henry IV is directed and adapted for the screen by Richard Eyre (Notes on a Scandal, Iris).

Henry V

Tom Hiddleston will play Henry V in the final film, supported by John Hurt and Julie Walters. Henry V has been adapted by Ben Power, Associate Director of The National Theatre. Production Designer is Alan MacDonald (The Queen). The Director of Photography is Michael McDonough (Winter’;s Bone) with Annie Symons as Costume Designer. Henry V is directed by the theatre director Thea Sharrock (Equus, The Misanthrope).

Executive Producers are Pippa Harris and Sam Mendes for Neal Street Productions, Gareth Neame for NBCUniversal International and Ben Stephenson for the BBC. The Producer is Rupert Ryle-Hodges, co-producer of Cranford.

Commenting, Pippa Harris said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to bring Shakespeare to a worldwide TV audience, in a vivid and enthralling way. It”s hugely exciting to be working with such an array of talent and we are particularly thrilled to have three of the greatest directors of our generation on board.”