The movie starts at 700 AD, with someone narrating to the viewers the past of Balthazar Blank (Nicholas Cage). Balthazar, Maxim Horvath (Alfred Molina) and Veronica (Monica Bellucci) are Merlin's (James A. Stephens), the greatest sorcerer ever, trusted apprentices. He taught them everything he knew and the three were sworn to protect the secrets of sorcerers. But Horvath betrays them to Morgana (Alice Krige), Merlins greatest enemy. Morgana has been trying to learn the spell (from the great book) to awake the dead and control them. By the time Balthazar and Veronica reach Merlin, everyone is slain and Merlin is in battle with Morgana.