Martin Lawrence’s Black Knight Deserves a Reboot as a Live‑Action Isekai

Black Knight is a 2001 comedy film starring Martin Lawrence in which his character, Jamal Walker, is knocked into a moat at a medieval theme park and transported to 14th-century England. The movie is available to stream on Prime Video and Hulu as of Aug. 1. It features Marsha Thomason as Victoria and Vincent Regan as the film’s antagonist, the bodyguard to King Leo.

Quick facts about the film and its plot
Where the movie is streaming
Context about its themes and on-screen roles
Related links from the original sources

Basic facts

Black Knight was released in 2001 and stars Martin Lawrence as Jamal Walker, a worker at a medieval theme park who is transported to the Middle Ages. In the film, Jamal is mistaken for a messenger from Normandy, becomes involved in a local rebellion, and tries to find a way back to his own time. The cast includes Marsha Thomason as Victoria and Vincent Regan as the king’s bodyguard. As noted, the film was available on Prime Video and Hulu beginning Aug. 1.

Plot points and themes

In plain terms, the story is a fish-out-of-water comedy with historical setting. Jamal uses modern knowledge and pop-culture references as he navigates 14th-century England. Meanwhile, Victoria leads a resistance movement aimed at restoring the former queen. The film also portrays racial language and attitudes from that medieval setting; for example, the term “Moor” is used by the antagonist as an insult in the story.

Cast and roles

Martin Lawrence plays the protagonist Jamal Walker. Marsha Thomason plays Victoria, a chambermaid who is secretly part of a resistance. Vincent Regan portrays the villainous bodyguard to King Leo. These casting choices shape how the film addresses both comedy and social dynamics within its historical setting.

Context and cultural notes

Film observers have compared Black Knight to other live-action films in which characters travel to other worlds or eras. For example, some posts on social media have grouped it alongside movies like Army of Darkness and Space Jam as examples of modern-day isekai. The comparison appeared in a tongue-in-cheek post on X.

can we bring back live-action isekai please pic.twitter.com/vbCe54rLB6
— claypot.blue 🪴 (@_claypot) July 27, 2025

Additionally, discussion about how viewers discovered films in the pre-streaming era often mentions cable reruns and old VHS tapes. That history was noted in another social post on X.

one byproduct of the VHS generation is that the most random films would become family favourites simply because you had them. for example, my dad's all-time favourite film is black knight pic.twitter.com/U2UZNPz5fM
— Catherine Warr (@HiddenYorkshire) July 6, 2025

Availability and audience

As stated, the film began streaming on Prime Video and Hulu on Aug. 1. Over time, Black Knight has attracted an online audience that includes both fans of the movie and people interested in cross-genre comparison, such as linking live-action films to the concept of isekai from anime and manga. The film’s presence on major streaming services has made it easier to find and revisit.