Even though the first season is yet to air in early 2027, Prime Video is already gathering cast for the second season of BLOODAXE historical series which started production over in Ireland. Coming from Tudors and Vikings creator Michael Hirst and his son Horatio it follows the rise of Norse raider
George Burgess, Kieran Bew and Gard Lokke join the cast
Erik Bloodaxe (Xavier Molyneux) and his wife, Gunnhild (Jessica Madsen), the Mother of Kings. Gard Løkke will be new series regular, while Melina Åkerman, our dearest Kieran Bew, Sebastian Bull and George Burgess will appear in recurring roles.
Prime Video continues casting actors for Michael Hirst's new epic Viking series BLOODAXE which will follow Erik Bloodaxe (Xavier Molyneux), one of history’s most famous Norse raiders, and his formidable wife, Gunnhild (Jessica Madsen), as they fight for the throne of Norway.
Mads Reuther, Xavier Molyneux and Saku Taittonen will star
Mads Reuther has just been added as Sigurd, the Jarl of Hladir, a scheming Norwegian chieftan and ally of Haakon (Levi Miller), the younger half-brother of Erik Bloodaxe. Saku Taittonen will be Knut, one of the brothers of Gunnhild, a warrior struggling with conflicting loyalties to his sister and their father, King Gorm of Denmark (Rune Temte).
Prime Video's historical series following the life of famous Viking Erik Bloodaxe (Xavier Molyneux), and his wife, Gunnhild (Jessica Madsen) has
Marc Rissmann will play the brother of Bloodaxe
added Marc Rissmann to the cast.
As they fight for the throne of Norway, the land is torn apart by fierce rivals, shifting loyalties, and bloody betrayals. With war looming and chaos consuming the kingdom, drawing in the ruthless Kings of other Scandinavian countries, and even a powerful English ruler, the stage is set for a thundering, cataclysmic, compelling, and utterly magical new Norse Saga. Rissmann will play Greycloak, the eldest brother of Erik Bloodaxe in the Michael and Horatio Hirst series.
Back in March I told you that MIchael Hirst and his son Horatio are preparing new Viking series BLOODAXE and today it has been revealed that Australian actor Xavier Molyneux will take the lead
Xavier Molyneux will play Erik Bloodaxe
role. Done for Prime Video, the series chronicles the rise of one of history’s most famous Viking warriors, Erik Bloodaxe (Molyneux), and his formidable wife, Gunnhild, Mother of Kings. As they fight for the throne of Norway, the land is torn apart by fierce rivals, shifting loyalties, and bloody betrayals. With war looming and chaos consuming the kingdom, drawing in the ruthless Kings of other Scandinavian countries, and even a powerful English ruler, the stage is set for a thundering,
Jessica Madsen will take the female lead in the series
cataclysmic, compelling and utterly magical new Viking Saga. UPDATE: we just found out that British actress Jessica Madsen will play Gunnhild, the
Levi Miller will play Hakkon the Good
wife of Erik Bloodaxe, also known as the Mother of Kings.Meanwhile, another Australian actor, Levi Miller will play Haakon the Good, the younger half-brother of Viking Erik Bloodaxe!
Prime Video has ordered a new epic series from Michael Hirst, the creator of Vikings and Tudors. BLOODAXE will chronicle the rise of one of history’s most famous Viking warriors, Erik Bloodaxe, and his formidable wife, Gunnhild, Mother of Kings. As they fight for the throne of Norway,
BloodAxe was remembered as bloodthirsty and very violente
the land is torn apart by fierce rivals, shifting loyalties, and bloody betrayals. With war looming and chaos consuming the kingdom, drawing in the ruthless Kings of other Scandinavian countries, and even a powerful English ruler, the stage is set for a thundering, cataclysmic, compelling and utterly magical new
Horatio Hirst will pen the drama with his father Michael Hirst
Viking Saga. It is not connected in any way with Vikings Valhalla but will be set decades before its story. I told you previously that Hirst is also doing a series on Pompeii for Prime Video. His gorgeous son Horatio Hirst, who starred in Valhalla, will write the new series with him.
According to Variety, Amazon is planning to adapt A DAY OF FIRE: A POMPEII NOVEL into a mini TV series with Vikings and Tudors Michael Hirst set as writer, executive producer, and showrunner together with Horatio Hirst and with Ridley Scott as a producer. Written by Kate Quinn, Stephanie Dray, Ben Kane, Eliza Knight, Sophie Perinot, and Vicky Alvear, the book takes place in the lead up to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, which utterly destroyed Pompeii and killed many of its residents. It tells a series of overlapping stories of people living in Pompeii and what their lives were like before fire rained down from the sky.
From Peaky Blinders producer, and Vikings and Tudors creator Michael Hirst, currently in early development is CIVIL BLOOD historical series set in 17th century England and following the adventures of a young woman growing up in a time of war. The script has history, heart, family and war – all wrapped up in a punk attitude! It is a period of history not often explored, and in this series it will have a sense of the American western. At its heart is an iconic lead with a great pop sensibility – someone who thinks that history only happens to other people, until cataclysmic events bring history rushing in to the present.
I have to warn you, people, to lock your daughters in right away as the Vikings are arriving next week, February 25th when VALHALLA epic TV series streams on Netflix with its first season and the second one has already been shot too as the whole series, coming from Tudors and Vikings creator Michael Hirst, has originally been ordered for 24 episodes which is four seasons. Our old friend Trevor Morris is scoring the music for the series which shot its first two seasons from October 2020 till November 2021!
Valhalla will have an eight episode first season
VIKINGS VALHALLA STORY Set over a thousand years ago in the early 11th century, VALHALLA chronicles the heroic adventures of some of the most famous
Vikings who ever lived — the legendary explorer Leif Erikson (Sam
Corlett), his fiery and headstrong sister Freydis Eriksdotter (Frida
Gustavsson), and the ambitious Nordic prince Harald Sigurdsson (Leo
Suter). As tensions between the Vikings and the English royals reach a
bloody breaking point and as the Vikings themselves clash over their
conflicting Christian and pagan beliefs, these three Vikings begin an
epic journey that will take them across oceans and through battlefields,
from Kattegat to England and beyond, as they fight for survival and
glory. VIKINGS: VALHALLA, set over a hundred years after the end of the
original Vikings series, is a new adventure that blends historical
authenticity and drama with gritty, immersive action!
HARALD SIGURDSSON
The great-grandson of Harald “Finehair,” Harald is a natural and charismatic leader who excels in spycraft. A Christian driven by the viking pursuit of glory, he prefers compromises when possible to avoid bloodshed. He’s taken with Freydis at first sight and the two grow close despite their opposing religious beliefs
LEIF ERIKSSON
Leif’s upbringing in Greenland makes him an outsider to the Danes, and his father’s violent legacy makes him a distrusted outsider. When he travels to Norway seeking vengeance for his sister, he hopes to earn the confidence of the vikings with his seamanship and warcraft and to step out of his father’s shadow for good.
FREYDIS ERIKSDOTTER
Unlike her brother, Leif, Freydis seems more than willing to embrace the darkness passed down by her father. A trained shieldmaiden, Freydis is one of the most formidable warriors in Norway. Her devotion to traditional beliefs is strengthened with a pilgrimage to Uppsala and a meeting with The Seer, but her faith puts her at odds with Harald.
WHO ELSE IS IN THE CAST?
The series that shows the end of the Viking Age, marked by Battle of
Stamford Bridge in 1066, also stars our dearest David Oakes as Earl
Godwin,
Vikings Valhalla comes from Michael Hirst of Tudors
the king's manipulative councilor, Laura Berlin as queen Emma of
Normandy who wants to protect the country she loves, Bradley Freegard
as
The series has already shot its second season last year
King Canute "the Great" who wants to create a great Northern Empire
and is as adept in politics as he is in battle, Jóhannes Haukur
Jóhannesson as
Emma of Normandy and David Oakes as Earl Godwin
Olaf "the Holy" Haraldsson the king of Norway who is
Harald's very clever brother, Caroline Henderson as Jarl Haakon the
black ruler of Kattegat,
Bradley Freegard is Danish king Canut the Great
Pollyanna McIntosh as Queen Ælfgifu of Denmark
who is Canute's wife, Louis Davison as Prince Edmund, Bosco Hogan as
King Æthelred the
Emma of Normandy and Earl Godwin in the series
Unready, gorgeous Gavin Drea plays treacherous and charismatic Eadric Streona the elderman of Mercia. and many others. Check out the glorious new
Gavin Drea is elderman Eadric Streona of Mercia
trailer coming from Netflix and tell us are you excited about the new series and will you watch it? Who is your favourite character?
We continue with great news from the epic genre today as well as Epix has officially renewed their Ancient Rome set DOMINA TV series for a second season! Adam Brody's period set horror Chapelwaite is also returning with a
Domina was a success for Epix last year
new season. It is not known whether DOMINA, which followed Livia Drussila (Kasia Smutniak) and her husband Gaius' (Matthew McNulty) efforts to secure power over Rome, will also return to Sky in Europe. Season 2 will
The series also aired on Sky in Europe
follow Livia Drusilla of the prominent Claudii as she fights to preserve her marriage to Caesar Augustus and find a way to seat one of her sons on the throne.
PEACOCK'S VAMPIRE ACADEMY
TV SERIES FIRST LOOK
Peacock has unveiled a first look at their new VAMPIRE ACADEMY series set at St. Vladimir's Academy which isn't just any boarding school – it's
Vampire Academy is based on the popular set of books
a hidden place where vampire royals are educated and half-human teens train to protect them from the savage 'Strigoi' vampires who would like to see them destroyed.
Cast is led by Sisi Stringer, Daniela Nieves, Kieron Moore,
Vampire Academy will air sometime this year on Peacock
André Dae Kim, J. August Richards, Anita-Joy Uwajeh, Mia Mckenna-Bruce, Rhian Blundell, Jonetta Kaiser and Andrew Liner!
BILLY THE KID SERIES
TO ARRIVE THIS APRIL
Speaking of Epix, they have set April 24th start for their new series BILLY THE KID an eight episode show that tells the story of Billy the Kid (Tom Blyth) from his humble Irish roots, to his early days as a cowboy and
Billy the Kid will arrive April 24th at Epix
gunslinger in the American frontier, to his pivotal role in the Lincoln County War and beyond.
Viewers will also meet Jesse Evans (Daniel Webber),
Billy the Kid comes from Tudors and Vikings Michael Hirst
another famous outlaw and leader of the Seven Rivers Gang. When they meet, Jesse has already embraced a life of crime: robbing stores and cattle rustling.
Tom Blythe takes the lead role of Billy the Kid
Billy is attracted to his wild and reckless character and becomes Billy’s doppelganger of sorts — his shadow self, forever inviting him over to the dark side of life.
As the February 25th airing date is nearing, the excitement for the premiere of VIKINGS: VALHALLA epic TV series is also spreading and Netflix has
The series will stream from February 25th!
just pumped it all up with a new trailer for the eight episode historical series starring Leo Suter, David Oakes and Sam Corlett.
VAL HALLA, a follow up to Vikings, begins in the early 11th century and
chronicles the legendary adventures of some of the most famous Vikings
who ever lived – the legendary explorer Leif Eriksson (Sam Corlett), his
fiery and headstrong sister Freydis Eriksdotter (Frida Gustavsson), the
ambitious Nordic prince Harald Sigurdsson (Leo Suter), Harald’s
half brother Olaf (Haukur
Leo Suter and Sam Corlett lead the cast of Valhalla
Jóhannesson), Kattegat Jarl Haakon (Caroline
Henderson), and Danish King Canute (Bradley Freegard) and the Norman
King William the Conqueror. As tensions between the Vikings and the
English royals reach a
New trailer sees Vikings attacking 11th century London Bridge!
bloody breaking point and as the Vikings
themselves clash over their conflicting Christian and pagan beliefs,
these three Vikings begin an epic
David Oakes (on the right) plays Earl Godwin in the new series
journey that will take them across
oceans and through battlefields, from Kattegat to England and beyond, as
they fight for survival and glory.
SECOND SEASON ALREADY SHOT
Other faces that you can see in the trailer below include King Aethelred's son, Prince Edmund (Louis Davison), and also Emma of Normandy (Laura Berlin)! It is interesting that the second season already finished filming back
The series comes from Tudors and Vikings' Michael Hirst
in November, months before the premiere of the first one and it is already known that the third season is on the horizon as well as the whole show has been ordered for 24 episodes in total!
While we are waiting for his Valhala and Billy the Kid series, Tudors' creator Michael Hirst will pen LENINGRAD epic TV series based on Anna Reid's book about the most epic and tragic events of World War II, the 872-
Michael Hirst will pen the adaptation
day blockade of hero city Leningrad. The Siege of Leningrad (today's Saint Petersburg) is one of the deadliest blockades of a city in human history. Nazi troops encircled the city two and a half months into the invasion of the Soviet Union at the height of the war, trapping everyone inside with no food, no resources, and no escape. Nearly a million civilians died – mostly from starvation. But while this is a story about brutality and profound suffering, it is also a story about human resilience, and about astonishing acts of grace and courage. Leningraders protected their families, defended the besieged city, and they turned to the arts, defying all odds to somehow create masterpieces, even while enduring unthinkable strife.
NEW JUNGLE CRUISE
CHARACTER POSTERS ARE IN!
Disney has launched the final trailer and truly gorgeous and breathtaking character posters for a movie that will possibly be one of this summer's
Jungle Cruise starts July 30th!
biggest hits: JUNGLE CRUISE with
Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. Inspired by the famous Disneyland theme park ride, Disney’s JUNGLE CRUISE is an adventure filled, Amazon jungle expedition starring Dwayne Johnson as the charismatic riverboat captain and Emily Blunt
as Lily Houghton, a determined explorer on a research mission. She is
trying to find a tree that has healing powers. Also starring in the film
are Edgar Ramirez (as the main villain at least judging by the trailer), Jack Whitehall (as her brother McGregor), with Jesse Plemons, and Paul Giamatti.
The sail starts July 30th, 2020! This is both Dwayne's and Emily's
Emily Blunt and Jack Whitehall are siblings in the film
fourth movie for Disney. Check out the posters and the final trailer below and tell us what you think, will this cruise save cinemas in the post corona apocalypse?
In Jungle Cruise Emily Blunt plays Lily, who travels from London,
England to the Amazon jungle and enlists the help of Frank, played by
Dwayne Johnson, a questionable skipper to guide her downriver on his
run-down boat, La Quila.
Edgar Ramirez is sporting a rather stunning armour in the film
Lily is determined to locate an ancient tree
with incredible healing properties, holding the power to change the
future of medicine. The unlikely duo is thrust into an epic adventure
with one another where they encounter innumerable
Jesse Plemons and Paul Giamatti also star
dangers and
supernatural forces, all hiding within the deceptive beauty of the grand
rainforest. But as the secrets of the lost tree unfold, the stakes are
raised as the fate of mankind hangs in the balance.
But he ain't called Billy but Tom Blyth and he will lead new historical adventure BILLY THE KID, an eight part Wild West drama coming from
Young Tom Blyth is Billy The Kid
The Tudors and Vikings creator Michael Hirst. To be directed by Otto Bathurst and air on Epix, the series is described as an epic romantic adventure based on the life of Billy the Kid, also known as William H. Bonney, from his humble Irish roots and his early days as a cowboy and gunslinger in the American frontier, to his pivotal role in the Lincoln County War and beyond. Billy is a young man with a modest demeanor and a civility and restraint in his nature, despite being the legendary outlaw, Billy the Kid. He’s an impressive sure-shot whose gun hand seems to move faster than the eye can see, but he gets no joy from killing, feeling he’s more sinned against than sinning.
GOD'S CREATURE FILM CASTS
EMILY WATSON & PAUL MESCAL
Over in Ireland, lead cast has been set for psychological movie drama GOD'S CREATURES! The story will be set in a rain-swept Irish fishing village, and focuses on a mother (Emily Watson) who lies to protect her son
Paul Mescal and Emily Watson will lead the cast of the movie
(Paul Mescal) and the devastating impact that choice has on her community, her family and herself. .Aisling Franciosi, Declan Conlon, Marion O’Dwyer and Toni O’Rourke will also star.
With the news that Amazon Prime has greenlit their El Cid Spanish epic TV series for a second season, also comes info from Starlings Television (they're producing Pandora for CW) that they are
Greek Antena and German ZDF will coproduce
currently in advanced stages of developing historical series on ALEXANDER THE GREAT and spy thriller series RED WINTER about the imperial family of Romanovs! The pilot for Alexander the Great, which will be shot in Greece, is being written by Tudors and Vikings creator Michael Hirst, while the Romanovs series, written by Stephen Kronish, is being done in the collaboration with Russia's national broadcaster Russia 1 and German ZDF. Together with Brendan Foley, they are also preparing SHERLOCK'S DAUGHTER series, a new take on the world’s greatest detective, following a young American woman who, after the mysterious
El Cid will be getting another season after the first aired last month
murder of her mother, travels to London to track down her biological father – the legendary Sherlock Holmes. But Holmes is not the mythical figure Amelia has come to expect.
Earlier this year I told you that History Channel will focus on making historical mini series instead of regular shows and now they've officially announced first two. THE PLAGUE YEAR, coming from Tudors and Vikings creator Michael Hirst is a portrait of 1665 London, during one of the all-time worst outbreaks of the Bubonic Plague. It’s the story of a society in
It
is believed that the Great Plague killed over 100,000 people, and then
next year, while the plague was still active, the Great Fire hit London
burning more than 13,000 homes
turmoil, struggling to adapt to a new set of rules, finding its footing during a time of fear, paranoia, and suspicion. As Londoners flee in droves, those who remain in the city, whether by choice or by fate, find their resolves tested and old wounds reopened, as they are faced with an impossible question: how do you keep going when everything around you has fallen to pieces?
THE DONNER PARTY
Created by Ric Burns, explores one of America’s most iconic and tragic pioneer stories. Setting out for California in the Spring of 1846, James Reed, his family, and a hopeful wagon train of migrants were drawn by the promise
Some of the migrants actually resorted to cannibalism
of a better life out west. Little did they know that their ill-fated expedition, doomed to be trapped in the Sierra Nevada Mountains for the winter, would face unimaginable hardships that brought out the best, and worst, in humanity. If you recall, History also said some of these mini series will be Ancient Rome set, so stay tuned.
I stopped watching Vikings after the second episode as soon as I realised they are trying to glamourize history's brutal pillaging killers, rapists
Three streaming services fought for the series
and raiders, but I hope the spin off of that series will be more honest in their portrayal. Netflix has officially ordered VALHALLA saga also from Michael Hirst, known also for The Tudors, and it will apparently have 24 episodes!
Valhalla will have the story which begins 100 years after the
original series concludes and dramatizes the adventures of the most
famous Vikings who ever lived: Leif Erikson, Freydis, Harald Harada and
the Norman King William the Conqueror (also a Viking descendant). These
men and women will blaze new paths as they fight for survival in an ever
changing and evolving Europe. This is the explosive next chapter of the
Vikings legend.It will bring heart pounding, unstoppable action rooted
in rich characters and dramatic storytelling that shines the light on
family, loyalty and power!
'THE ELRIC SAGA'
TO BECOME EPIC TV SERIES
The Elric Saga has been translated into many languages
Speaking of epic delights, Deadline reports that New Republic Pictures has acquired rights on Michael Moorcock's famous THE ELRIC SAGA with the plan to turn it into TV series with Glen Mazzara and Vaun Wilmott attached to pen it. It is a series of 11 complex and layered novels that take place across multiple dimensions of reality and alternative universes. They begun with legendary Elric of Melnibone novel. The saga brings sword and sorcery tales that centre on the title character, a brooding albino warrior who presides over an unruly, decadent island nation. The novels follow Elric on a series of adventures, in which he is betrayed by his cousin, sent into exile and attempts to come to terms with his own humanity.
