(Ridley Scott) directed this epic-scale (historical) (drama) inspired by the events of the Crusades of the 12th century. (Balian) (Orlando Bloom) is a humble French blacksmith who is searching for a reason to go on after the death of his wife and children. (Balian) is approached by (Godfrey of Ibelin) (Liam Neeson), a fabled knight who has briefly returned home after serving in the East. (Godfrey) informs (Balian) that he is his true father, and urges the blacksmith to join him as he and his forces journey to Jerusalem to help defend the holy city. (Balian) accepts, and he and (Godfrey) arrive during the lull between the Second and Third Crusades, in which the city is enjoying a fragile peace. Both Christian and Muslim forces are temporarily in retreat, thanks to the wisdom of the Christian monarch (King Baldwin IV) (Edward Norton), his second-in-command (Tiberias) (Jeremy Irons), and Muslim potentate (Saladin) (Ghassan Massoud). Violent agitators on both sides are foolishly eager to end the peace in a bid for greater power, and (Saladin) bows to pressures from Muslim factions; (Godfrey) is one of a handful of brave knights who has thrown his allegiance behind (Baldwin IV) and his community of diversity, and (Balian) joins him as they use their skills as warriors in a bid to build a lasting peace. (Kingdom of Heaven) also stars (Eva Green) as the princess (Sibylla), (David Thewlis) as (Hospitaler) the priest, and (Brendan Gleeson) as (Reynald).