HISTORY has picked up Vikings for a 10-episode second season. 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.
Vikingsis the #1 new Canadian scripted specialty debut of 2013, premiering to over 1.1 million viewers (2+) and nearly 600,000 (A25-54). The hit historical drama averaged 942,000 total viewers (2+), and 475,000Adults 25-54 in its 10 p.m. timeslot. The series is also the #1 scripted series to-date this broadcast year acrosskey female demos.
“Right out of the gate, Canadian audiences and critics alike have been captivated by Vikings,” said Barbara Williams, Senior Vice President, Content, Shaw Media. “With Michael Hirst’s brilliant storytelling and the performances by the exceptional ensemble cast, the series has flawlessly captured the spirit of this elusive and complicated culture. We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of this world and look forward to delving deeper into it in season two.”
“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 Canadians Katheryn Winnick (Bones,Love and Other Drugs, The Black Marks) as Lagertha, a fierce shield maiden and Ragnar’s wife; and Jessalyn Gilsig (Glee, Heroes, Nip/Tuck, Friday Night Lights) as Siggy, Earl Haraldson’s beautiful wife. Rounding out the cast are 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) asRollo, 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).
Vikingsis an international Irish/Canadian co-production being co-produced by World 2000 and Take 5 Productions. HISTORY broadcasts both domestically in Canada and in the U.S. MGM Television brings 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.
Source: BBM Canada PPM data; Total Canada, 8/27/12 – 3/24/13