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Vikings Renewed for a Second Season

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HISTORY® ORDERS SECOND SEASON OF
HIT SCRIPTED SERIES

VIKINGS

#1 NEW CABLE SERIES OF THE YEAR
EARNS TEN EPISODE ORDER

Four New Episodes Remain This Season, Airing Sundays at 10 p.m.
Season One Finale Scheduled for Sunday, April 28

New York, New York, April 5, 2013 – HISTORY has picked up VIKINGS, its first scripted drama series for a 10-episode second season, it was announced today by Dirk Hoogstra, EVP, Development and Programming for HISTORY. Created and written by Michael Hirst, the renewal comes just five episodes into the VIKINGS freshman season. Four new episodes remain in the current season airing Sundays at 10 p.m. with the season finale slated for Sunday, April 28 at 10 p.m.

VIKINGS continues to be the #1 new cable series in 2013 and has propelled HISTORY to #1 in cable in its Sunday 10-11 p.m. time period. Over the five weeks, the hit drama series averaged 5.0 million total viewers, 2.2 million Adults 25-54 and 1.9 Adults 18-49. This past Sunday, episode five delivered 4.7 million total viewers, 2.2 million Adults 25-54 and 1.7 million Adults 18-49. This was up 4% among total viewers and up 5% among Adults 25-54 from last week.

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“Vikings is a win win for us. As our first scripted series, VIKINGS has paid off in a big way with critical acclaim, strong ratings and a passionate, loyal fan base. It came out of the gate strong and has stayed on top, solidifying HISTORY as a major player in the scripted genre, just as we are in reality,” said Hoogstra. “We could not be more proud of the entire cast and crew and everyone involved in the making of VIKINGS. Michael Hirst has captured audiences with his complex, compelling characters and brought the unknown, epic world of these warriors to life. Season Two will begin production this summer to air in 2014.”

MGM Television brought the series to the network and brings VIKINGS to the global audience, serving as the international distributor outside of Ireland, Canada and the U.S.

“We are very excited that VIKINGS is generating so much attention worldwide,” said Roma Khanna, President, Television Group and Digital, MGM. “MGM is thrilled to have the continued support and enthusiasm of our partners at HISTORY and to work with an amazing international team as they bring Michael Hirst’s vision to audiences around the globe.”

VIKINGS, airing Sundays at 10 p.m. ET, tells the extraordinary tales of the lives and epic adventures of these warriors. The drama portrays the world of these Dark Age raiders, traders, explorers – not from an outsider’s view, but, through the eyes of Viking society.

While VIKINGS is filled with conflict, warfare and bloodshed – for these were extreme times – it is a family saga at heart. It follows the adventures of Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel, The Beast, Baytown Outlaws), a curious, compelling man who is always looking to break through barriers and discover new worlds to conquer. Ragnar is deeply frustrated by the unadventurous policies of his local chieftain, Earl Haraldson (Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment, Usual Suspects, Millers Crossing), who continues to send his Vikings raiders east every summer, to the Baltic states and Russia, whose populations are as materially poor as themselves.

Joining Fimmel and Byrne are Katheryn Winnick (Bones, Love and Other Drugs, The Black Marks) as Lagertha, a fierce shield maiden and Ragnar’s wife; Jessalyn Gilsig (Glee, Heroes, Nip/Tuck, Friday Night Lights) as Siggy, Earl Haraldson’s beautiful wife; George Blagden (Les Miserables, Wrath of the Titans) as Athelstan, a young, innocent Christian monk captured by Ragnar on his first raid on England, Clive Standen (Camelot, Robin Hood) as Rollo, Ragnar’s impulsive, wild, care-free brother and Gustaf Skarsgard (The Way Back) a ship builder who designs the new generation of Vikings ships.

Created and written by Michael Hirst – one of the premier historical story-tellers in the industry (Academy-Award winning film Elizabeth; and the Emmy and Golden Globe nominated series The Tudors), Michael serves as Executive Producer along with Morgan O’Sullivan of World 2000 (The Count of Monte Cristo; The Tudors), John Weber of Take 5 Productions (The Tudors; The Borgias), Sherry Marsh, Alan Gasmer, James Flynn (The Tudors; The Borgias) and Sheila Hockin (The Tudors; The Borgias). Dirk Hoogstra and Julian P. Hobbs are the Executives in Charge of Production for HISTORY.

VIKINGS is an international Irish/Canadian co-production being co-produced by World 2000 and Take 5 Productions. HISTORY will broadcast domestically in the U.S. MGM Television will bring VIKINGS to the global audience, serving as the international distributor outside of Ireland, Canada and the U.S. VIKINGS is produced in association with Shaw Media, and the series will air on HISTORY in Canada.

WonderCon 2013 Vikings Panel and Photos

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Saturday’s WonderCon line up included the History Channels new show “Vikings”. Cast members present were Travis Fimmel, Katheryn Winnick and George Blagden.

From the LA Times notes on the panel:

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“Vikings” star Travis Fimmel had a simple message at the series’ WonderCon panel in Anaheim on Saturday when reminded that some members of the audience may have been under 18. To those, he said: “Get out!”

The Australian model-turned-actor was joking, as he had been about “Viking foreplay” and, in referring to a scene in which his character and wife invite a monk taken as a slave to join them in bed, telling costar George Blagden, “The offer’s still on the table, George.”

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Amid audience cries of “Ragnar!” and laughs, Fimmel, Blagden, actress Katheryn Winnick and History channel executive Dirk Hoogstra discussed the characters, teased their futures, and took audience questions — including one about the network’s plans for any future seasons (the gist from Hoogstra, despite goading from the cast: Can’t say yet) — before showing a sneak peek at Episode 5, which airs Sunday.

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As the series begins, the ambitious Ragnar Lothbrok (Fimmel), a thoughtful marauder inspired by a figure from Norse lore, plans to sail west against the orders of the despotic Earl Haraldson (Gabriel Byrne). “Odin gave his eye to achieve knowledge,” Ragnar says early on. “I will give far more.” The rebellious younger man’s key collaborators are his shield-maiden wife Lagertha (Winnick), battle-ready brother Rollo (Clive Standen) and mischievous friend Floki (Gustaf Skarsgard), who has designed a new model of longboat.

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In the footage shown to the crowd Saturday, Ragnar is out hunting when his homestead comes under attack by Haraldson’s men. He rushes back to savagely defend his family, whom he tells to evacuate, but does not escape harm himself. Bloodied, he falls to his knees before his nemesis, who asks, “Do you accept that you’re a criminal? That you are worthy only of defeat, worthy only of death?” Though battered, Ragnar isn’t broken.

Fimmel, sporting a Viking’s beard and a model’s coiffure, said of his attraction to playing the role, “I’m a bit of a kid at heart. I want to run around with an ax and have a different haircut” and recalled “chopping me mum’s roses” as a child. As to the character’s future, “Nothing’s ever enough, so he’s going to keep raiding for sure and he … bites off a bit more than he can chew.”

Ragnar’s better half might have more power in her future. Winnick, trying to avoid spoilers, said, “There’s a lot more responsibility Lagertha has in terms of dealing with the community.”

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Travis was so very nice to all in the media room. The cast held many interviews but were more than happy to talk about the show and their characters.

Photos in the gallery below were ones I was able to get from the panel and the press room.   A huge thanks to the History Channel for a great show and for all their work to make fans very happy. I am keeping my fingers crossed that they will be holding a panel at Comic Con. It was a lot of fun to see so many “Vikings” fans there! (lots in costume as well!)

The trailer for episode 6 summary:

From the Preview of Episode 6

  • Clip starts with Ragnar hunting for dinner in the woods, when in the distance he hears screams and cries coming from his village. Looks like the Good Earl has decided to take out Ragnar.

  • While in town, shieldmaiden Lagertha has her shield and sword ready to protect the kids and Athelstan

  • On the way back to his home expect Ragnar to add another twelve notches to his axe handle. I have to say, not as bloody as Game of Thrones, but this scene was pretty awesome.

  • Also expect to see Ragnar take on a little battle damage himself,  like an arrow to the lung and a major wound to the leg.

  • Upon arriving back to his home, Ragnar instructs Lagertha to flee under the house and get to a boat with Athelstan and to wait for him.

  • While the family flees, Ragnar iis caught and has a major moment. When looking like at death’s door kneeling before the Earl, Ragnar grabs a weapon takes out two more warriors and flees.

  • Ragnar comes to the edge of a cliff where he sees his family below fleeing in a boat. Ragnar doesn’t jump but falls to the water.

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