MARC RISSMANN JOINS NEW VIKING EPIC TV SAGA BLOODAXE ON INFAMOUS KING OF NORWAY

  MARC RISSMANN JOINS  

BLOODAXE VIKING EPIC TV SERIES

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.

BLOODAXE EPIC VIKING TV SERIES FROM MICHAEL HIRST FINDS ITS BLOND ACTOR AND ACTRESS FOR THE LEAD ROLES

  BLOODAXE EPIC SERIES 

CASTS XAVIER MOLYNEUX AS LEAD

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 ORDERS BLOODAXE EPIC TV SERIES FROM THE CREATOR OF TUDORS, VIKINGS AND VALHALLA MICHAEL HIRST

  BLOODAXE EPIC SERIES  

FROM VIKINGS CREATOR AT PRIME VIDEO

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.

PREMIUM SPOTLIGHT ON THE NORTHMAN EPIC HISTORICAL REVENGE MOVIE WITH ALEXANDER SKARSGARD, NICOLE KIDMAN, ETHAN HAWKE, ANYA TAYLOR JOY, WILLEM DAFOE

 THE NORTHMAN EPIC MOVIE 

CONQUER YOUR FATE

If flawlessly shirtles Alexander God of Asgard, I mean, Skarsgard, in Tarzan a few years ago was not enough to sate your appetites, maybe him deliciously

The Northman arrives April 22nd

shirtless as a Viking will do the required task? His epic historical adventure THE NORTH MAN, directed and written by Robert Eggers (he did Willem Dafoe's Lighthouse before), will arrive into cinemas April 22nd bringing to us an action filled epic that follows a young Viking prince on his quest to avenge his father's murder. I hear the movie is extremely brutal and gory, which probably shouldn't surprise us given it is about the bloodthirsty and violent Vikings. So it is not for the faint hearted, both for the

The movie cost about $60 million to make

violence and Alexander's abs. He even said that he probably wouldn't do another movie so bloody and that he does not know where to go next with his career after this brutal experience. Poet and writer Sjon from Iceland helped Eggers pen the script for this historical movie, and beside Alexander Skarsgard, the cast of the film also includes painfully bad Nicole Kidman as Queen Gudrun , Ethan Hawke as King Aurvandil, Willem Dafoe as Heimir the Fool, Anya Taylor Joy as Olga of the Birch Forest, Claes Bang as Fjölnir and Iceland's own weird singer Björk as the Slav Witch Seeress.

Alexander Skargard plays the lead role

 

THE NORTH MAN 

Set at the turn of the 10th century, in year 914 to be more precise,  in the cold country of Iceland, has the story which centres on a Viking named Amleth (Alexander Skarsgård), who witnesses the murder of his father, King Aurvandil (Ethan Hawke), at the hands of his uncle, Fjolnir the Brotherless (Claes Bang). With his mother, Queen Gudrun (Nicole Kidman) now captured, Amleth flees his native land, but not before declaring his revenge on those who have wronged him.

DID YOU KNOW?

The film, which cost about $60 million to make, was supposed to start production in the tragic month of March 2020 when Covid outbreak started. It is interesting that Skargard originally became famous for his role in True Blood series in which he played Eric Northman, a 10th century Viking who was turned into a Vampire. Meanwhile, Anya Taylor Joy already played in a Viking film before, in 2015's Viking Quest. Nicole Kidman who is just nine years older than Alexander in reality, plays his mother, she previously played in Big Little Lies his wife whom he abuses, to make things even more chaotic, she was raped in Dogville by his father Stellan Skarsgard! The film takes place in what constitutes modern Scotland, Ukraine and Iceland. 

PREMIUM SPOTLIGHT ON VIKINGS: VALHALLA EPIC TV SERIES STARTING NEXT WEEK WITH LEO SUTER, SAM CORLETT, DAVID OAKES! SEE NEW CHARACTER POSTERS AND TRAILER

  VIKINGS: VALHALLA SERIES  

Vikings Valhalla starts February 25th

ARRIVES NEXT WEEK!

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?

SEE VIKINGS DESTROY LONDON BRIDGE IN CRAZY DYNAMIC NEW TRAILER FOR VIKINGS: VALHALLA EPIC TV SERIES WITH LEO SUTER, DAVID OAKES, SAM CORLETT

 

  VIKINGS: VALHALLA SERIES  

NEW TRAILER IS HERE!

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!  

DAVID OAKES, LEO SUTER, SAM CORLETT GET ROYAL ROLES IN VIKINGS: VALHALLA EPIC TV SERIES! TEN NEW ACTORS ADDED TO THE CAST!

  VIKINGS: VALHALLA SERIES 

DAVID OAKES, LEO SUTER AND SAM CORLETT TO LEAD THE CAST

Well, your spy did announce it in our spotlight on 2021 epic shows and now it has been confirmed that David Oakes will star in VIKINGS spin off  VALHALLA for Netflix. The story begins in the early 11th century and

Leo Suter will be Harald the Viking

chronicles the legendary adventures of some of the most famous Vikings who ever lived – Leif Eriksson, Freydis Eriksdotter, Harald Hardrada and the Norman King William the Conqueror, men and women who will blaze a path as they fight for survival in the ever-changing and evolving world! Sam Corlett will play Leif Eriksson himself (a Greenlander, raised on the outer fringes of the known world, Leif comes from a tightly knit family steeped in the old pagan beliefs. An intrepid sailor and physically tough), Frida Gustavsson will be Freydis Eriksdotter (fiercely pagan, fiery and headstrong, Freydis is a staunch believer in the “old gods.” Leif is her brother) while our dearest Victoria, Sanditon and Beecham House star Leo Suter will

David Oakes will be a royal advisor

portray Harald Sigurdsson (born into Viking nobility, Harald is one of the last Viking berserkers. Charismatic, ambitious and handsome, he is able to unite both followers of Odin and Christians). David Oakes will be Earl Godwin, chief counsellor to the King of England (the ultimate survivor. Born on the political fringes, his cunning ways get him far), Caroline Henderson is Freydis’ mentor Jarl Haakon (a great warrior and tolerant leader, Haakon rules Kattegat with a steady hand. Though Pagan, she has managed to keep Kattegat a city open to all faiths in a challenging time. She will become a powerful mentor to Freydis, who is drawn to her wisdom). Jóhannes Jóhannesson will appear as Harald’s older brother Olaf (he is physically huge and ambitious; he is a stern and unforgiving

Frida Gustavsson, Sam Corlett and Bradley Freegard will be regulars

Viking). Bradley Freegard is Denmark’s King Canute (a wise, savvy and ruthless Viking leader. Keeps his friends close and enemies closer. His ambitions will mold the course of history in the 11th century and make him a defining figure of the Viking age) with Laura Berlin as the ambitious and

Asbjorn Krogh Nissen, Pollyanna McIntosh, Johannes Johannesson

wealthy Emma of Normandy (she is from the Norman court and of Viking blood. Politically astute, and one of the wealthiest women in Europe). Pollyanna McIntosh will guest star as Queen Ælfgifu, calculating and ambitious, Queen of Denmark! Asbjorn Krogh Nissen will reoccur as Jarl Kare who presents a threat to the old pagan ways.

STAY HOME AND HAVE SOME JOLLY GOOD FUN WITH HISTORICAL COMEDY SERIES NORSEMEN OVER AT NETFLIX!

    'NORSEMEN' EPIC COMEDY

IS THE VIKING SITCOM YOU NEVER KNEW YOU NEEDED

Here's another thing that can entertain you while you are staying put in your homes like good citizens during the corona self isolation: the first season,

The series streams over at Netflix!

which has just six episodes, of historical comedy series NORSEMEN is already airing over at Netflix and, if I'm not mistaken, the second season is available as well with the same amount of episodes, set in 790 AD, and following the Vikings of Norheim who have a hectic schedule that includes pillaging, plundering, enslaving others and solving problems with violence. It is interesting that the series, coming from Norway, was recorded simultaneously in both Norwegian and English language versions by filming each scene twice. The upcoming third season is named

The third season is coming soon!

'Season 0' as it tells the story that led up to the first season, but  it won't stray too far as the creators said!

Norse men Takes Place
 in 790s Norway, with various characters taking the leading role as the series develops. The story covers the life of Vikings in the town of Norheim and them dealing with day to day life and conflict of varying comedic degrees. As the series progresses, disputes with neighbouring villages, including a rival tribe led by the ruthless Jarl Varg (Jon Oigarden), and the efforts of a Roman slave,

The series was shot both in Norwegian and English language

Rufus (Trond Fausa), to modernize Norheim's culture result in ongoing conflicts. In the second season, the sea road to the west has been found, but Norheim's villagers must still cope with power struggles and the ever-present threat of Jarl Varg.

Who's In The Viking Clan?

The cast includes Henrik Mestad as Chieftain Olav, the leader of the village. He found a route to sail west, and from this has a much-coveted map. Marian Saastad Ottesen as Hildur, Olav's wife! Nils Jørgen Kaalstad as

The first season was watched by one million out of five million people in Norway

Arvid, the chieftain's second-in-command. He loves to go on raids but he also wants to settle in the village. Kåre Conradi as Orm, husband of Frøya and

The stories in the series often reflect our times, not just the Viking ones

acting chieftain while his brother Olav, the chieftain is on a raid Silje Torp as Frøya, Orm's unhappy wife and a shield-maiden! Trond Fausa Aurvåg as Rufus, an enslaved actor from Rome who befriends Orm and plans to

Marian Saastad Ottesen plays the chieftan's wife Hildur

modernize the village. Øystein Martinsen as Kark, a freed slave who has voluntarily returned to his life as a slave and Jon Øigarden as Jarl Varg, a rival chieftain, who desires the map to the west!

TUDORS CREATOR MICHAEL HIRST TO CREATE VALHALLA EPIC TV SAGA FOR NETFLIX FOLLOWING HISTORY'S MOST FAMOUS VIKINGS! LEGENDARY ELRIC OF MELNIBONE SF SAGA TO BECOME TV SERIES

     'VALHALLA' EPIC SERIES

HISTORY'S MOST FAMOUS VIKINGS

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.

POLDARK'S AIDAN TURNER TO LEAD NEW EPIC TV SERIES ON LEONARDO DA VINCI! ALEXANDER SKARSGARD, NICOLE KIDMAN, WILLEM DAFOE TO LEAD NORTHMAN EPIC VIKING MOVIE

  AIDAN TURNER TO LEAD 

LEONARDO DA VINCI TV SERIES

TV and movie world have never been overly original, so why should we be surprised that another epic TV saga on famous painter LEONARDO da

Aidan Turner will take the lead role.

Vinci is in works just a few years after legendary Da Vinci's Demons. The new series will be produced by Frank Spotnitz who gave us Medici Masters of Florence and they already have the lead star: Poldark's Aidan Turner will portray Italian Renaissance genius whose many creative talents included painting, sculpture, architecture, science, mathematics and engineering, starting from when he was a young man. The new series will give life to a young Leonardo and not the old man with a beard we all are used to see. He too had a first job, he too had a master… he too had frustrations and failures. Each episode will focus on one of da Vinci’s masterpieces, inventions or projects as a means of capturing the man behind the creative genius.

  'THE NORTHMAN' VIKING SAGA

RECRUITS ALEXANDER SKARSGARD AND NICOLE KIDMAN

Speaking of things epic, this one has epic potential too: the movie news of the day is that Alexander Skarsgard and Nicole Kidman might lead a new Viking era movie THE NORTHMAN! And they won't be lonely in the

Alexander Skarsgard and Nicole Kidman already starred together

cast as director Robert Eggers is also looking to book  Anya Taylor Joy, Bill Skarsgård and Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe for the movie as well. Not much is known about the plot of the movie other than it is being described as a Viking revenge saga set in Iceland at the turn of the 10th century.

VIKING SUNDAY: VIKING ADVENTURES 'THE LOST VIKING' WITH DEAN RIDGE AND 'VIKING DESTINY' WITH TERENCE STAMP, WILL MELLOR, ANNA DEMETRIOU!

   'THE LOST VIKING'

The Lost Viking is out on DVD and VOD next week

 FIGHT LIKE A VIKING

Now I know that both of these look delightfully trashy and cheap, but I figured we could all use us a Viking or two or three.... I'm sure you will all agree :) THE LOST VIKING is actually out next week on DVD! Directed and written by Emmet Cummins it stars gorgeous Dean Ridge as the Viking who dreams of adventure. The cast also includes Ross O’Hennessy, Kezia Burrows, James Groom, Ian Virgo, Dan Styles and others.

THE LOST VIKING is actually  a young Viking called Vitharr who arrives in Britain with dreams of conquest and adventure, but when his family and clan are ambushed and killed, he must survive alone in this strange,dangerous new land as he searches for his Uncle's settlement.

   'VIKING DESTINY'

 STARRING WILL MELLOR AND TERENCE STAMP!

Viking Destiny does not have a release date yet

A bit more richer and with at least some known names in the cast is another Viking adventure VIKING DESTINY which was both written and directed by David L.G. Hughes and starring British star Will Mellor next to legendary Terence Stamp and Paul Freeman with Victoria Broom, Anna Demetriou, Ian Beattie, Andrew Whipp, Laurence O'Fuarain also in the cast!

Terence Stamp plays one of the lead roles

VIKING DESTINY follows Princess Helle of Volsung (Anna Demetriou) who is forced to flee her kingdom after being framed for the murder of her father the King (Andrew Whipp). Under the guidance of Odin (Terence Stamp) she travels the world gaining wisdom and building the army she needs to win back her throne of the Viking kingdom. In order to seize her legacy, she must develop the skills of a ruthless warrior.