The final episodes of the popular series Vikings were released on Amazon Prime in December 2020. The curtain call was a bittersweet moment for those who have followed all six seasons of the historical epic, but it was also met with some relief as fans knew that a new era of pillaging adventures were still on the horizon in Vikings: Valhalla - a spin-off exclusively coming soon to Netflix.
The streaming platform has already had its fair share of Medieval-inspired entertainment, including its popular adaptation of The Witcher, the supernatural teen drama Ragnarok, and even a sitcom set during said era called Norsemen. Yet, few have been as highly anticipated as this upcoming follow-up to creator Michael Hirst’s Emmy-winning hit that served as the first scripted original series to air on the History Channel. More than a year after it was first announced, the anticipation for Vikings: Valhalla has only continued to grow as the show would become one of many affected by the outbreak of Covid-19. And the Middle Ages thought the bubonic plague was problematic.
Speaking of delays, what is the current status for the production, when should we expect to see it become available to stream on Netflix, and just how will the series connect to the original Vikings? We will provide all the answers to those questions that we can, and more which we currently know about Vikings: Valhalla, in the following seven fast and convenient facts, starting with a little background information.
Vikings: Valhalla Is Set 100 Years After The Original Series
Plans to continue the saga set forth by Vikings in 2013 were announced in November 2019, prior to the release of its sixth and final season. Vikings: Valhalla is described as taking place roughly 100 years after the (mostly historically accurate) events of its predecessor, putting us in the early 11th Century this time around. This way, the sequel series will be able to see what has become of the lands previously conquered by Ragnar Lothbrok (later Warcraft and Raised by Wolves star Travis Fimmel) and his descendants, through the eyes of some of the most famous explorers of that era.
Vikings: Valhalla Chronicles The Adventures Of Some Real Legendary Figures
The likes of Alexander Ludwig as Ragnar Lothbrok’s son, Bjorn Lothbrok, Katheryn Winnick’s Lagertha, and plenty of others left some mighty large boots to fill by the end of Vikings. Fortunately, doing so will be of little challenge to the characters set to appear in the spin-off. Icelandic sailer Leif Eriksson, famous female explorer Freydis Eriksdotter, and Norman royal William the Conqueror are among the many historical legends whose adventures are said to be depicted on Vikings: Valhalla, which also recently confirmed most of the actors chosen to portray them.
A Few Netflix Stars And More Make Up The Vikings: Valhalla Cast
Playing Leif Eriksson is Australian Sam Corlett from Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and his sister, Freydis Eriksdotter, is played by Swedish The Witcher actress Frida Gustavsson. Vikings: Vallhalla also features fellow Netflix alums Leo Suter (The Liberator) as Harald Sigurdsson, and Iceland’s Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson (Cursed, and Games of Thrones as well) as his half-brother Olaf Harladson.
As for the series’ royal figures, Welshman Bradley Freegard plays Danish king Canute with former Walking Dead actress Polyanna McIntosh as his queen Ælfgifu. Emma of Normandy will be played by German actress Laura Berlin, and period drama vet David Oakes stars as the cunning Earl Godwin. Swede Caroline Henderson is also a series regular as ruling warrior Jarl Hakkon and recurring character Jarl Kåre is played by Asbjørn Krogh Nissen, who once played Odin in a Danish Norse mythology thriller.
Some “Familiar Faces” Could Also Appear On Vikings: Valhalla
The news of all these important historical figures showing up in Vikings: Valhalla is undoubtedly exciting, but it also begs the question of who from the original series could be involved as well. While speaking to ET just days after the spin-off’s announcement, Vikings creator Michael Hirst teased that possibility in the following interview excerpt:
I'm very excited that we're going to move forward into exciting new places, and of course one of the big issues is the Christianization of the Pagan world. You're going to see Christian Viking armies fighting Pagan Viking armies, and that's really interesting. And [the show is] leading up to 1066 and the invasion of England by a descendant of Rollo. So you may well see the odd familiar face.
The writer and producer, also known for developing Showtime’s The Tudors and penning Cate Blanchett’s Oscar-nominated Elizabeth franchise, went on to explain why the sequel series jumped a century to introduce a new legacy instead of focusing on the same characters. Therefore, it is not so likely that fan favorite Rollo will make a physical appearance on Vikings: Valhalla, but seeing Clive Standen return as a descendant of the character would be a fun idea.
Die Hard Writer Jeb Stuart Serves As Vikings: Valhalla Showrunner
Taking over the Vikings saga from Michael Hirst is Jeb Stuart, who's credited as the new spin-off’s creator, writer, and showrunner. The 64-year-old previously worked with Vikings: Valhalla star Leo Suter in his Netflix original World War II era miniseries The Liberator. However, Stuart is probably best known as the original screenwriter for Die Hard in 1988, and the Oscar-winning, feature-length adaptation of The Fugitive from 1993.
Vikings: Valhalla Briefly Paused Production After On-Set Covid-19 Scare
It comes as no surprise that one of the reasons why Vikings: Valhalla still has yet to premiere is the outbreak of Covid-19 in early 2020. Production in Ireland was even forced to shutdown the following October after numerous cast and crew members tested positive for the virus, only to resume filming days later when the results were proven false. At least this means the series is still steadily approaching release, but when will that be?
When Will Vikings: Valhalla Debut On Netflix?
Unfortunately, this is one of the few questions regarding Vikings: Valhalla that we are unable to answer at the moment. No date has been set for the series to officially premiere on Netflix, but the current expectation is to see the first 24 episodes drop sometime in late 2021 or even early 2022.
While it may seem fans of this adventurous saga have and must continue to endure a perilous wait to return to the world of Vikings 100 years later, at least it will not actually take a full century. We at CinemaBlend will be sure to report when Vikings: Valhalla receives an official release date and any other updates that come our way, but in the meantime, just how excited are you for this spin-off?
