Arthur Hart

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Lore & Background

Instead, it details the story of Harry Hart (codename 'Galahad'), who recruited Gary 'Eggsy' Unwin after feeling responsible for Eggsy's father, Lee Unwin, sacrificing himself in 1997. The primary villain is Richmond Valentine, a billionaire philanthropist who distributed free SIM cards containing microchips to trigger global violence and reduce the human population. The Kingsman leader is Chester 'Arthur' King, revealed to have a microchip implant on his neck, making him complicit with Valentine. Harry Hart discovers this connection while investigating a religious hate group in Kentucky. After surviving a massacre where he was the sole survivor of a congregation turned violent by Valentine's signal, Harry was shot by the villain. He later assisted Eggsy in poisoning Chester King to stop the plot before the final confrontation at Valentine's bunker.

In Their Own Story

In 1997, Lee Unwin sacrificed his life during a mission in the Middle East to save his superior, Harry Hart. Seventeen years later, Hart used an emergency number engraved on a medal to bail out Lee's son, Gary 'Eggsy' Unwin, after he was arrested for stealing a car from his abusive stepfather, Dean. Hart recruited Eggsy into Kingsman to replace the late Lancelot. While Eggsy trained under Merlin, Harry interrogated Professor James Arnold at Imperial College London until a microchip in Arnold's neck exploded, killing him and sending Harry into a coma. Upon recovery, Harry traced the signal to Richmond Valentine. In Kentucky, Harry infiltrated a church where Valentine activated a signal causing mass violence; Harry survived alone but was subsequently shot by Valentine. Back at headquarters, Eggsy learned that leader Chester 'Arthur' King was compromised. With Valentine launching a global satellite signal to cause chaos, Eggsy, posing as Arthur, confronted the villain alongside Roxy and Merlin. Harry's earlier sacrifice allowed for this final stand, where Eggsy ultimately killed Valentine.

Reader's Guide

The character 'Arthur' in the film refers to Chester King, the head of Kingsman who is revealed to have a microchip implant on his neck and aligns with Richmond Valentine's plan. Jackson) as the eco-terrorist villain. Key plot points include the 1997 death of Lee Unwin, the training of candidates including Eggsy and Roxy, the church massacre in Kentucky triggered by SIM cards, and the final showdown at Valentine's bunker where Merlin activates a failsafe causing allies' heads to explode. Chester King (codename Arthur) is neutralized when he poisons himself after being led there by Eggsy.

Did You Know?

• Samuel L. Jackson took the role of Richmond Valentine because he wanted to play a great Bond villain, viewing it as an opportunity since appearing in a Bond film was unlikely.
• The church fight scene originally intended to use 'November Rain,' but director Matthew Vaughn switched to 'Free Bird' after finding the former's guitar solo too short and the song darker than expected.
• Development on Kingsman: The Secret Service began by October 2012, leading Matthew Vaughn to opt out of directing X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014).
• Eggsy failed his final training test because he refused to shoot a puppy, but the gun was loaded with blanks, not real bullets. Roxy also refused to shoot the puppy, but she became Lancelot because she passed the other t
• The film's budget was reported to be one-third of Skyfall's $200 million budget.

Career & Achievements

The villain Richmond Valentine orchestrated a plot involving free SIM cards with implanted microchips to cause global violence and reduce the population. Chester King, codenamed 'Arthur,' was the Kingsman leader who was compromised by Valentine's signal. Harry Hart survived a coma induced by an exploding chip in Professor Arnold's neck and later fought through a violent church congregation in Kentucky, emerging as the sole survivor before being shot by Valentine. The film grossed $414 million worldwide, with critics praising its tone. A sequel, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, was released in 2017.

Defining Moments

Harry Hart's defining moments include bailing out Eggsy and confronting his stepfather Dean; the explosion of a microchip in Professor Arnold's neck that knocked him into a coma; surviving as the sole member of a church congregation turned violent by Valentine's signal in Kentucky; being shot by Richmond Valentine after the massacre; and assisting Eggsy in the final mission where Chester 'Arthur' King poisoned himself. The source notes that Eggsy failed his final training test because he refused to shoot a puppy, though the bullets were blanks, leading Roxy to become Lancelot. In the climax, Eggsy killed the assassin Gazelle and Valentine with her own prosthetic blade.

Legacy & Impact

Harry Hart's legacy is defined by his mentorship of Gary 'Eggsy' Unwin, ensuring the continuity of Kingsman after his own incapacitation and eventual death. His actions directly led to the defeat of Richmond Valentine's plan to drastically reduce the human population. The film received generally positive reviews for its tone and grossed $414 million worldwide. The source confirms that a sequel, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, was released in 2017, and a prequel, The King's Man, followed in 2021. Harry Hart's sacrifice and guidance transformed Eggsy into the new 'Galahad,' who in a mid-credits scene provides a new home for his mother and half-sister while confronting Dean.

Life Beyond the Spotlight

Beyond his role as an agent, Harry Hart maintained a deep connection to the Unwin family following Lee's death in 1997. He gave Eggsy a medal with an emergency number, which served as a lifeline for the young man during his troubled years. This gesture reflected Hart's guilt over failing to save Lee and his desire to protect his son. The source highlights that Hart personally confronted Dean and his gang violently after Eggsy was arrested, demonstrating his protective nature. In the film's conclusion, Eggsy honors this bond by securing a new home for his family, proving the lasting impact of Hart's mentorship.