Back in 2013 we asked after the first few episodes of Vikings, “Why this is only a nine-episode mini-series?” The History Channel’s first historical fiction mini-series since the acclaimed Hatfields & McCoys fortunately didn’t stop at the first season, and the rest, as they say, is now history. Vikings took stunning locations, a powerful score, and a fantastic story steeped in Nordic mythology and created an epic production on par with Braveheart, Rob Roy, 300, and Attila, the only time the Vikings have ever been given a worthy live-action TV or movie treatment (and it rated our pick for second best series of the decade here at borg). With season six finished last year and airing in its final markets this year, legions of fans eagerly await what will now be Netflix’s sequel series, Vikings: Valhalla. Netflix has released a new trailer for the series, following the first from last September (we previewed it here). Check it out below.
We know from documentaries and books that the Viking warriors in the late eighth century were plunderers and pillagers. They lived in a style as you’d find people roaming among your local Renaissance Faire, clothing of wools and furs and hide. Weapons of steel, shields of oak and longboats whose appearance would strike fear in the hearts of the enemy. Will Vikings: Valhalla, with a new showrunner and new characters and story, be as completely believable as the first series and true enough to the ancient sagas of fierce warriors, gods of every stature, and clan intrigue? That new showrunner is Jeb Stuart, a screenwriter who has adapted others’ works for the screen before, including the original Die Hard, Leviathan, Another 48 Hours, and Just Cause. Vikings: Valhalla is filmed in cinematic County Wicklow, Ireland, where the first series was filmed–so look for some familiar locations revisited.
Here is the latest trailer for Vikings: Valhalla:
Viewers will meet the determined and ambitious Leif Eriksson, the actual character in Norse sagas, played by Australian actor Sam Corlett, who you may know as Caliban in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. In leading roles, Frida Gustavsson (The Witcher) plays Freydis Eriksdotter (sister of Leif and daughter of Erik the Red) and Leo Suter (Sanditon) plays Harald Hardrada. Pollyanna McIntosh (Lodge 49, The Last Tycoon, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) is the Danish Queen Ælfgifu, historically the mother of England’s King Edmund Ironside, Laura Berlin (Breaking Even) is Emma of Normandy. Bradley Freegard (Hinterland) plays Canute, King of Denmark. Johannes Haukur Jóhannesson (Atomic Blonde) is Harald’s half-brother Olaf. David Oakes (The Pillars of the Earth) is the Earl Godwin, Álfrún Laufeyjardóttir (Agnes Joy) is Astrid Olofsdotter, Caroline Henderson (Gooseboy) is Jarl Haakon, the leader of Kattegat at the time of this series, and Asbjorn Krogh Nissen (Copenhagen) is Jarl Kåre. William the Conqueror is expected to be a key character in this story, although no actor has been revealed for that role yet.
Stock up on your mead. This will be a long binge ahead. Look for the first twelve episodes of Vikings: Valhalla, February 25, 2022 on Netflix.
C.J. Bunce / Editor / borg