The epic saga that took off at the hands of the famed Viking legend Ragnar Lothbrok is getting a spin-off, or a sequel, from the house of Netflix. The platform has recently revealed the trailer for Vikings: Valhalla, the series that picks up the story nearly a century after the History TV 18 original series ended. Set in the early 11th century, the series will portray the fall of the Viking peoples, while chronicling the lives and adventures of famous Vikings in history — notably explorer Leif Eriksson, his sister Freydis Eriksdotter, and Nordic prince Harald Sigurdsson.
Vikings portrayed the rise of the legendary Ragnar Lothbrok and the story of his family while focusing on the growing amity between the “Northmen” and the British peoples. It followed Ragnar’s achievements, showing his first adventures beyond the sea, the rise of Norse armies, and the attack of far-away kingdoms. The original series also explored other historical figures connected to him, including his children and wives.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
The spin-off series, or rather, the sequel, focuses on the time of turmoil that followed around a century later. It focuses on a time when the tension between the Nordic and the British people reached a breaking point, leading to more bloody battles. The new trailer also teases the cultural conflict inside the Nordic kingdoms, as Christianity and pagan beliefs fight for the Vikings’ hearts.
Vikings: Valhalla will Feature a Roster of Historical Figures
As the trailer showed, the series will star quite the ensemble cast. For starters, Sam Corlett (The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) will play the role of the legendary explorer Leif Eriksson. Frida Gustavsson, the Swedish model, will play the role of his sister and Old Norse religious leader Freydis Eriksdotter. Leo Suter (I’ll Find You, Beecham House, Sandition) will bring to life the ambitious Nordic prince Harald Sigurdsson, who was somewhat of a brother to the famed Norwegian King Olaf II Haraldsson (also known as St. Olaf). Apart from the aforementioned three, the series will also star Bradley Freegard, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, David Oakes, Laura Berlin, and Caroline Henderson.
Vikings: Valhalla is produced by MGM Television and executive producers include Vikings creators Michael Hirst and Jeb Stuart, along with Morgan O’Sullivan, Sheila Hockin, Steve Stark, James Flynn, John Weber, Sherry Marsh, and Alan Gasmer. Jeb Stuart is also serving as showrunner for Vikings: Valhalla. Steve Saint Leger will return to the director’s chair (after helming multiple episodes of the original show), where he will be joined by BAFTA-winner Niels Arden Plev and Hannah Quinn.
Vikings: Valhalla is set to reach the shores of Netflix on February 25.
