Vikingscreator Michael Hirst is developing a new Norse TV show titledBloodaxe, and though it’s not related toVikingsand its sequel series,Vikings: Valhalla, it has one inevitable connection to the story of Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel). Screenwriter and producer Michael Hirst has become known for writing movies and TV shows based on historical figures and events. On the big screen, Hirst’s most notable credit is the 1998 historical dramaElizabeth, and on TV, he was the mind behindThe Tudors,Camelot, andVikings(serving as an executive producer onVikings: Valhalla).
Vikingspremiered on the History Channel in 2013 and followed legendary Norse figure Ragnar Lothbrok, along with his wife Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick), his sons Bjorn, Ubbe, Hvitserk, Sigurd, and Ivar, allies like Floki (Gustaf Skarsgård), and ambiguous characters like Ragnar’s brother, Rollo (Clive Standen).Vikingsfound great success with the audience, despite the series not being the same afterRagnar’s death in season 4, and it made way forVikings: Valhallaon Netflix. Now, Hirst is working on a new Norse TV show, and despite not being linked toVikings, it has a key connection to Ragnar.
Vikings Creator’s New TV Show Focuses On Viking Warrior Erik Bloodaxe
Appropriately Titled Bloodaxe
It has been confirmed thatMichael Hirst is developing a new TV project, very on-brand with his most notable TV shows. The show is a historical drama focused on Norse history, though not related toVikingsandVikings: Valhalla. The project is titledBloodaxe, and it will explore the story, travels, and many battles of legendary Viking warrior, Erik Bloodaxe. Starring alongside Erik will be his wife, Gunnhild, known as the “mother of kings” as many of her and Erik’s children became co-rulers of Norway.
The official synopsis forBloodaxereveals it will focus on Erik and Gunnhild’s fight for the throne of Norway, and, of course, there will be a good dose of rivals, betrayals, alliances, and battles. In addition to this, with war looming and chaos everywhere, the kings of other Scandinavian countries will be drawn in, along with a powerful English ruler.Bloodaxewill stream on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories, but it doesn’t have a projected release date yet.
Who Was The Real Eric Bloodaxe?
Meet The Real Viking Warrior Erik Bloodaxe
Eric Haraldsson, known as Eric Bloodaxe, was a Norwegian king who ruled from 932 to 934. Eric was also King of Northumbria twice: from 947 to 948, and from 952 to 9524. Eric was one of the sons of Harald Fairhair, the first King of Norway. According toHeimskringlaandEgils saga, 12-year-old Eric embarked on international piracy, spending four years harrying the Baltic coasts, Denmark, Frisia, and Germany, another four years in Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and France, and later Lappland and Bjarmaland. Eric is described as possessing prodigious valor and strength from a young age, which led to all that.
The focus of the sagas that tell Eric Bloodaxe’s story is his struggle for the Norwegian throne. According to some, Harald Fairhair appointed his sons as client kings over the various districts of the kingdom and planned for Eric to inherit the throne after his death, as he was his favorite son. Of course, this caused conflict between Harald’s many sons, with Eric killing his half-brothers Ragnvald, ruler of Hadeland, and Bjørn Farmann, ruler of Vestfold. As intended,Eric succeeded Harald after the latter’s death, and Eric slaughtered the combined forces of his half-brothers Olaf and Sigrød.
Haakon ousted Eric, who then left for Britain.
This allowed Eric to gain full control of Norway, but he wasn’t counting on the presence of his younger half-brother, Haakon. Due to Eric’s despotic rule, he quickly fell out of favor with the Norwegian nobility, so when Haakon returned, the nobility were eager to accept him as king. Haakon, then, ousted Eric, who then left for Britain. Years later, Eric became King of Northumbria, but it’s unknown ifBloodaxewill go as far as to cover this or if it could be explored in a second season.
Vikings Already Introduced Erik Bloodaxe’s Father (With Some Changes)
You Have Already Met Harald Fairhair, But Differently
Despite Hirst assuring thatBloodaxehas no connection toVikingsand are separate stories,Bloodaxealready has a strong link to Ragnar’s show. As mentioned above,Eric Bloodaxe’s father was Harald Fairhair, who was included inVikingsbut with various changes. In the show, the character was introduced as Harald Finehair, and he was played by Peter Franzén. Just like the real Harald, Finehair wants to be the first King of Norway, and he makes his debut inVikingsseason 4. Finehair arrives in Kattegat to meet Ragnar, as he had heard of what he did in the conquest of Paris.
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Finehair wants to join Ragnar’s next raid, and he bonds with Ragnar’s sons. He leads an ambush on the Frankish scouts that leads to a lot of disaster and Rollo’s soldiers to pop up, and after this defeat, Finehair continues expanding his realm. InVikingsseason 6, Finehair intends to take Gunnhild as his queen but decides to marry Ingrid, too, as she’s pregnant with his child as he had raped her. Ultimately, as Gunnhild is still loyal to Bjorn, her late husband, she drowns herself, and Finehair marries Ingrid.
Vikings' Harald Finehair was more of a combination of Harald Fairhair and Eric Bloodaxe.
Harald Finehair dies inVikingsseason 6, when King Alfred’s second-in-command, Bishop Alduf, stabs him. As he sees his brother, Halfdan, arriving to take him with him to Valhalla, Harald uses his final moments to kill Alduf with a dagger, avenging all those who died because of him.Vikings’ Harald Finehair was more of a combination of Harald Fairhair and Eric Bloodaxe, and soBloodaxecan do justice to both by exploring their individual stories, hopefully in a more historically accurate way thanVikings.
According to many sagas, Ragnar Lothbrok was the ancestor of Harald Fairhair.
Bloodaxe Also Has One Key Similarity To Vikings: Valhalla
Bloodaxe Can’t Escape The World Of Vikings
Harald Finehair isn’t the only link between Hirst’sBloodaxeand the world ofVikings, as there’s also a connection toVikings: Valhalla. As mentioned above in the show’s synopsis,Bloodaxe’s main focus will be Erik Bloodaxe and Gunnhild’s fight for the throne of Norway, which inevitably takes me back toVikings: Valhallaand Harald Sigurdsson (Leo Suter). From season 1,Harald’s goal was to become king of Norway, and his biggest obstacle was his half-brother, Olaf Haraldsson (Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson). Later, Harald’s only obstacle was himself, as he spent a long time in Constantinople.
Atthe end ofVikings: Valhallaseason 3, Harald finally became King of Norway, though not without a fight. Erik’s quest for the Norwegian throne inBloodaxecould be reminiscent of that of Harald inVikings: Valhalla, but giving the audience a new perspective on it – surely, Erik’s motivations to take the throne are different from those of Harald. It’s to be seen how elseBloodaxewill be similar toVikings, despite being separate shows.
