The year 2013 saw the premiere of Vikings, one of the most original and daring shows to land on television. It started small but soon picked up speed and reached a scope that many fans believed rivaled Game of Thrones. That’s quite an impressive feat when you consider that Game of Thrones had rich, original lore and dragons. Not only was the series ambitious, but it pushed boundaries as well. Not many shows can kill off their main protagonist in the middle of its run and only get bigger. Game of Thrones ended in 2020 after an impressive eight-year run. Fortunately for fans, the bloody saga of the Vikings is not yet over.

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Despite the popularity and success of its six seasons, fans were initially skeptical when it was announced that Vikings would be returning for a Netflix sequel series. It’s not easy to follow a hit series with a new legacy built on the shoulders of another. But fans were given hope when they saw the first trailer in all its bloody glory. A new day is coming for the violent crusaders in the form of a new generation. Here is everything we know so far about Vikings: Valhalla.

What Will Vikings: Valhalla Be About?

This spinoff-sequel is set over a hundred years following the final battles of the Ragnar sons in the epic conclusion of the original Vikings series. The series chronicles some of the most famous Viking warriors from over a thousand years ago in the 11th century near the end of the Viking era. We follow the legendary traveler Leif Eriksson, his fierce and bullheaded half-sister Freydis Eriksdotter, and the bold Nordic prince Harald Sigurdsson. It’s a time of high tension and heavy bloodshed when the series begins. The Vikings find themselves at a hostile breaking point with the English royals while also clashing with fellow Vikings over conflicting Christian and Pagan beliefs. Leif, his sister, and the prince will find themselves on an epic journey across bloody battlefields and treacherous seas in a fight for survival and glory in an ever-changing and evolving world. Like its predecessor, fans can expect a blend of historical authenticity and dramatic story-telling with the same violent and gritty action they came to love.

If newcomers unfamiliar with the first series are worried about continuity issues, fear not. Not knowing the tales of Ragnar Lothbrok and his sons will not hinder the viewing experience. Having seen the original series will help you to understand specific references, though. Locations central to the previous outing, such as the settlement of Kattegat, will be featured, and there will be talk of the great Viking’s past that once sat in the same hall and at the same table. By this point in time, Ragnar Lothbrok, his sons, and Lagertha have reached a mythic status that sees them revered as legends within this series. It lends a ready-made history and mythology to Valhalla. While it is not necessary to have seen the original Vikings, having done so will only enrich Valhalla.

Vikings: Valhalla is set in medieval Scandinavia and features raids and editions across Europe and beyond, much like the series predecessor. Also similar to the first series, it will largely be centered in Kattegat, the heart and spiritual home of the Vikings. It’s not the same as fans will remember, though. It’s the biggest trading port in Europe and has grown in size. The Vikings will also control most of England and all of Normandy.

The Cast And Everyone Else Involved

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Leif will be played by Sam Corlett (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina). He’s a famous explorer and the son of Erik the Red, who he often argues with. In Viking Lore, Leif sailed to North America 500 years before Christopher Columbus, a voyage we may see in the series. His sister Freydis will be played by Frida Gustavsson (The Witcher). Her character will be the leader of Scandinavia’s Old Norse Religion, which stands against the spread of Christian influence in her homelands. Leo Suter’s Harald Sigurdsson is a handsome and charismatic prince revered in Viking lore for his Danish and English throne claims. Laura Berlin will play Emma of Normandy, the Queen of England, Denmark, and Norway, thanks to her marriage to King Canute, who Bradley Freegard will play. Caroline Henderson will play a gender-bent vassal named Jarl Kaakon, who struggles to maintain balance amongst Pagans, Christians, and other religions practiced in Kattegat.

The character of Olaf “the Holy” Haraldsson will be played by Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, who is the half-brother of Harald. He’s a physical force and a stubborn Orthodox Christian destined to become Saint Olaf of Norway, a religious figure in the country’s history. Actress Pollyanna Mcintosh (The Walking Dead) will dawn the crown as Queen Ælfgifu of Denmark, the first wife of King Canute. She’s both charming and resourceful, finding ways to involve herself with her husband’s ever-growing influence on the throne. She may be one of the series more manipulative characters. Asbjørn Krogh will play Jarl Kåre, an individual who presents a serious threat to the old pagan ways, helping to fuel the conflict between the different religious factions.

Everything Else There is to Know

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