Bloodaxe: Vikings Creator Michael Hirst Returns With New Norse Saga on Prime Video

If you’ve been missing the era of sweeping Norse sagas on television, Prime Video has something that should be on your radar. Bloodaxe, a new original series from Vikings creator Michael Hirst and his son Horatio Hirst, just got its first official look — and it’s already been renewed for a second season before the first one has even premiered.

The series chronicles the rise of Erik Bloodaxe, one of history’s most famous Norse raiders, and his formidable wife Gunnhild, Mother of Kings. As the duo fights for the throne of Norway, the land is torn apart by fierce rivals, shifting loyalties, and bloody betrayals. War, chaos, and competing kings set the stage for what Prime Video is calling “a thundering, cataclysmic, compelling and utterly magical new Norse saga.”

The first look images offer a glimpse into the world Hirst is building: stark Nordic landscapes, intricate costume design that blends historical authenticity with dramatic flair, and a cast that looks every bit the part of legendary Norse figures. The photos feature Molyneux as Erik Bloodaxe, Madsen as Gunnhild, and the rest of the ensemble in various states of battle readiness and royal court intrigue. The visual tone suggests a series that aims for the same grounded-yet-mythic quality that made the original Vikings so compelling.

The Creative Team Behind the Saga

Michael Hirst is no stranger to bringing Norse history to life. He created Vikings, the History Channel series that ran for six seasons and became a global phenomenon. He also produced the sequel series Vikings: Valhalla for Netflix. Bloodaxe marks his third foray into the Scandinavian sagas — and this time, he’s writing alongside his son Horatio Hirst, who serves as co-creator, co-showrunner, and co-executive producer.

The father-son duo are also executive producers alongside Morgan O’Sullivan (under his O’Sullivan Productions label), Steve Stark (under his Toluca Pictures label), Arturo Interian, John Weber, and Sheila Hockin. The production division behind the series also handles Wednesday (Netflix), The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu), Fargo (FX), and Vikings: Valhalla (Netflix), among others.

The Cast: Fresh Faces and Familiar Names

Australian actor Xavier Molyneux (Neighbors) takes on the lead role of Erik Bloodaxe. Opposite him is Jessica Madsen, known for her role in Bridgerton, playing Gunnhild, Mother of Kings — a woman described as every bit as formidable as her husband.

The ensemble cast also includes Karlis Arnolds Avots (Kill Jackie), Levi Miller (Kraven the Hunter), Rod Hallett (Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles De Menezes), Alina Tomnikov (Donna), Sisse Marie (Rebel Moon), Rune Temte (Eddie the Eagle), and Jesper Christensen (Spectre). Christensen plays Harald Finehair, a sometime antagonist from the original Vikings series and, in this telling, Erik Bloodaxe’s father.

Season 2 has already expanded its cast with House of the Dragon star Kieran Bew, Gard Løkke, Melina Åkerman, Sebastian Bull, and George Burgess joining the fold.

What We Know So Far

Here’s where things stand: Bloodaxe Season 1 will consist of eight episodes, all debuting exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. There’s no official release date yet, but the series is expected to premiere in early 2027. The first look images come just days before New York Comic Con 2026, where the showrunners and cast will give audiences an early sneak peek during a panel.

The second season is already in production in Ireland — a strong vote of confidence from Prime Video, which clearly sees Bloodaxe as a flagship Norse property. The renewal-before-premiere strategy is increasingly common for streaming platforms betting on established intellectual property and proven creative teams.

Why This Matters for Fans of Historical Epics

The Norse television landscape has been surprisingly rich in recent years. The Last Kingdom wrapped its Netflix run with the feature-length Seven Kings Must Die, while Vikings: Valhalla concluded its three-season arc. Bloodaxe arrives as the next major entry in the genre — and it comes from the writer who essentially kicked off the current wave of Viking-themed television.

Michael Hirst’s approach has always been to anchor mythic historical figures in deeply human stories about family, ambition, and power. The original Vikings turned Ragnar Lothbrok into a household name and made shield-maidens and longships part of mainstream pop culture. Whether Bloodaxe can capture the same lightning in a bottle remains to be seen — but the early signs are promising.

The series also arrives at a moment when historical epics are having a renaissance across streaming. From the world of Westeros to the courts of Tudor England, audiences are hungry for sweeping period drama with high production values and complex characters. Bloodaxe has the creative pedigree, the cast, and the platform backing to deliver on that appetite.

The historical Erik Bloodaxe — Erik Haraldsson — was a real figure: a 10th-century Norwegian king whose nickname reportedly came from his ruthless reputation in battle. He was the son of Harald Fairhair, the first king to unify Norway, and his life was defined by fratricidal conflict, exile, and eventual conquest of the English kingdom of York. It’s a story that practically writes itself for television — full of family drama, political intrigue, and the kind of larger-than-life violence that made the original Vikings so addictive.

What’s particularly interesting is the decision to center Gunnhild as a co-lead. Historical accounts describe her as a powerful and controversial figure — a queen, a sorceress, and a political operator in her own right. Giving her equal billing suggests a series interested in exploring the full scope of Norse power structures, not just the warriors who wielded axes but the women who wielded influence behind the throne.

The production is taking advantage of Ireland’s established film infrastructure, which has become a go-to location for historical and fantasy series. The country’s landscapes have stood in for everything from medieval England to ancient Scandinavia, and the local crew base has deep experience with large-scale period productions.

Keep an eye out for a trailer and official release date in the coming months. If the first look images are any indication, this is going to be one bloody, ambitious ride.