Vikings renewed

It might not come as a surprise, but the popular historical action drama Vikings have been renewed for a fifth season. Irish actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers joins the cast.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers

It was announced yesterday that History’s drama series Vikings will get a fifth season. 20 episodes have been ordered, and the biggest addition to the cast is Jonathan Rhys Meyers, known from another historical drama series, The Tudors.

-The brilliant writing and depth of historical research and authenticity brought to the screen by Michael Hirst paired with our talented cast and crew, has made this series one of the most compelling, visually stunning historical dramas on television. Vikings has raided the hearts of audiences and we are thrilled that Jonathan Rhys Myers will become a bigger part of the History family after his incredible performance in our upcoming production of Roots, Jana Bennett, president and general manager of History said.

-Vikings continues to be a powerhouse series worldwide. We are excited to have Jonathan Rhys Meyers join our talented cast and watch as this epic story evolves heading into season five, said Mark Burnett, president at Television & Digital Group at MGM Television, and Steve Stark, president at Television Development & Production at MGM, which is the global distributor outside Ireland and Canada.

Season five will begin production this summer with an airdate to be confirmed for 2017.

The series is a top 10 cable drama and is viewed by more than four million followers on Thursday nights in the US alone. The first half of season four is currently airing on History, with the next episode focusing on a betrayal in Paris and Wessex as those whom Odo trusts plot against him. Ecbert agrees to support Kwenthrith in Mercia, but is Ecbert a true ally? Ragnar confides in Yidu his darkest secret.

Ten more episodes us scheduled to air later this year.

Vikings s4 press info

On February 18, the first of 20 new episodes of History’s Vikings premieres. It’s the longest season yet for the historical drama that competes with Game of Thrones and The Last Kingdom in the swashbuckling adventure department.

The following is the TV channel History’s press statement about the fourth season:

HISTORY’S HIT DRAMA SERIES ‘VIKINGS’ RETURNS FOR
SEASON FOUR ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18 AT 10 PM ET/PT

Network Increases Original 16 Episode Order with Additional Four Episodes

New York, NY – December 17, 2015 – HISTORY’s hit drama series “Vikings” returns for a gripping fourth season led by Travis Fimmel, star of the upcoming film Warcraft, on Thursday, February 18 at 10 p.m. ET. The network has added four episodes to its initial 16 episode order. Beginning February 18, a new episode will air every Thursday for ten weeks with the remaining episodes to air later in the year.

Season three culminated with the extraordinary battle in Paris, where Ragnar (Fimmel) seized victory from the jaws of defeat – but still returns to Kattegat dangerously ill. Thoughts of his death galvanize the forces who seek to succeed him as king, including his wife Queen Aslaug (Alyssa Sutherland) and his oldest son, Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig). Meanwhile, Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) continues power struggles with her calculating, former second in command, Kalf (Ben Robson); Rollo (Clive Standen) betrays his Vikings heritage by remaining in Frankia and Floki (Gustaf Skarsgård) is seized for his brutal actions to the Christian priest Athelstan.

Joining the stellar cast this season is Peter Franzén (The Gunman) as “King Harold Finehair,” a complex character who seeks to be King of Norway and a potential threat to Ragnar; Jasper Pääkkönen (Jet Trash) as “Halfdan The Black,” King Harold’s violent younger brother; and Dianne Doan (“Descendants”) as “Yidu,” a completely different character within the world of the Vikings who fascinates Ragnar.

“Vikings” is the critically acclaimed series from creator and sole writer Michael Hirst (Academy Award® winning film Elizabeth and the Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominated series “The Tudors”) and is a family saga that tells the remarkable tales of the lives and epic adventures of the raiders and explorers of the Dark Ages.

Hirst serves as executive producer along with Morgan O’Sullivan of World 2000 (The Count of Monte Cristo; “The Tudors”), Sheila Hockin (“The Tudors,” “The Borgias”), John Weber of Take 5 Productions (“The Tudors,” “The Borgias”), Sherry Marsh, Alan Gasmer and James Flynn (“The Tudors,” “The Borgias”). Jana Bennett and Arturo Interian are the executives in charge of production for HISTORY.

VIKINGS is an international Irish/Canadian co-production by World 2000 and Take 5 Productions. HISTORY broadcasts domestically in the U.S. MGM Television brought the series to the network and brings VIKINGS to the global audience, serving as the worldwide distributor outside of Ireland and Canada. VIKINGS is produced in association with Shaw Media, and the series also airs on HISTORY in Canada.