In 11th century Scotland, Macbeth receives a prophecy that he will become king. Three witches promise Macbeth that he will rise in the military to become Thane of Cawdor before ascending to the throne. But his fellow soldier Banquo receives a message of his own: his sons will, too, become kings. Upon their return, Macbeth is indeed promoted to Thane of Cawdor, and when his ambitious wife, Lady Macbeth, hears of his promotion, they both become convinced that the prophecy is indeed true, and she vows to help him become King of Scotland - by any means necessary. The Macbeths' pursuit of power leads them down a dark and bloody path of murder and increasing paranoia, unravelling both Macbeth's mind and his reign as the witches' prophecies take hold.