Prime Video’s New ‘Vikings’ Epic Is Already Renewed Before Its First Episode Has Even Aired

Fans of sweeping historical dramas have another major series to watch out for, with the creator of Vikings and The Tudors returning to the Norse world for an ambitious new Prime Video epic.

Bloodaxe, created by Michael Hirst alongside his son Horatio Hirst, will tell the story of legendary Viking warrior Erik Bloodaxe and his formidable wife Gunnhild, Mother of Kings.

The series is expected to arrive on Prime Video in 2027, but Amazon has already shown considerable confidence in the project.

Before a single episode has even aired, Bloodaxe has been renewed for a second season.

For viewers missing the scale, violence and political intrigue of shows such as Vikings, The Last Kingdom and Outlander, the new drama is shaping up to be one of Prime Video’s most ambitious historical projects.

A New Viking Saga From Michael Hirst

Michael Hirst is no stranger to bloody historical drama.

He created Vikings and The Tudors, two series known for combining political power struggles, warfare, family conflict and larger-than-life historical figures.

Now, he is returning to similar territory with Bloodaxe.

The new series focuses on Erik Bloodaxe, one of the most famous figures associated with Viking history, and his powerful wife Gunnhild.

Xavier Molyneux will play Erik, while Bridgerton actress Jessica Madsen takes on the role of Gunnhild.

Together, the pair will be placed at the centre of a violent struggle for control of Norway.

Erik And Gunnhild Fight For Norway

The story will follow Erik and Gunnhild as they battle for the Norwegian throne during a period of instability, shifting loyalties and brutal political conflict.

Their ambitions will put them at odds with powerful rivals both inside and beyond Norway.

The series is expected to explore the alliances, betrayals and battles that shape their attempt to seize and maintain power.

But the threat will not come only from other Norse rulers.

Neighbouring Scandinavian monarchs are also expected to play a role in the conflict, while an influential English ruler will become another major danger to Erik and Gunnhild.

The result is being positioned as a story in which the future of an entire kingdom could hang in the balance.

Betrayal, War And Changing Alliances

According to the description of the series, viewers can expect violent betrayals and rapidly changing loyalties as Norway is pulled deeper into conflict.

That political chaos is likely to be a major part of Bloodaxe.

The struggle for power will not simply be decided on the battlefield.

Erik and Gunnhild will also have to navigate rival rulers, competing ambitions and alliances that may change without warning.

That combination of warfare and court politics should feel familiar to viewers of Hirst’s previous historical dramas.

A Large Cast Joins The Viking Epic

Alongside Xavier Molyneux and Jessica Madsen, Bloodaxe will feature a substantial supporting cast.

Karlis Arnolds Avots, Levi Miller, Rod Hallett, Alina Tomnikov, Sisse Marie, Rune Temte and Jesper Christensen are all set to appear in the first season.

The project has been co-created by Michael Hirst and Horatio Hirst, who are also serving as executive producers and showrunners.

For Michael Hirst, the series represents a return to a historical world closely associated with one of his biggest television successes.

Prime Video Has Already Ordered Season 2

Perhaps the biggest sign of Amazon’s confidence in Bloodaxe is that the show has already been renewed before viewers have seen the first season.

Michael Hirst confirmed that Prime Video had ordered a second run while production on the new saga was still moving forward.

He said: “As the writers and showrunners of Bloodaxe, Horatio and I are very excited to announce that Amazon have also already commissioned a second season of our new Norse saga for Prime Video, which begins shooting in Ireland within a few weeks.”

Hirst also thanked Amazon MGM Studios for backing the project.

“We recognise how fortunate we are and we would both like to thank Peter Friedlander and Amazon MGM Studios for their belief in us and in this new incarnation of a show which means so much to millions of people across the world,” he said.

Hirst Promises More Than Battles

Although Bloodaxe will clearly contain the warfare and political conflict expected from a Viking drama, Hirst has suggested the show will also explore the belief systems and cultural changes shaping the period.

He said he was particularly proud of the series’ storylines and its depiction of Viking beliefs.

Hirst also pointed to the growing influence of Christianity on the pagan Norse world as one of the central themes.

He said the show features “its powerful invocation of Viking beliefs” and “its dramatic recreation of the way that Christianity has started to overcome the pagan world.”

That clash between faiths is expected to become an important part of the series.

Magic Realism Will Enter The Viking World

One of the more unusual elements of Bloodaxe will apparently be its use of magic realism.

Rather than treating Norse beliefs simply as historical background, Hirst said the series will attempt to bring viewers closer to the way its characters understand their world.

He explained that the production uses “magic realism in an effort to induct the audience into a Viking mind-set.”

That suggests the series may blur the boundaries between history, belief and the supernatural as seen through its characters.

For Hirst, that approach appears central to recreating the Norse world from the inside rather than viewing it entirely through a modern perspective.

‘We Are Thrilled’ To Return To The Norse World

Hirst made clear that returning to Viking history was something he and his son were excited about.

“Basically, now the cat is out of the bag, we are thrilled that we can soon offer a world-wide audience the chance to re-enter the beautiful Norse world,” he said.

For viewers familiar with Vikings, that comment is likely to attract particular attention.

While Bloodaxe is a separate project with new characters and a different story, it places Hirst back inside the kind of historical setting that helped make his earlier series such a major success.

Amazon Calls It A ‘Sweeping Saga’

Amazon MGM Studios has also spoken enthusiastically about the scale of the production.

Peter Friedlander said: “With Bloodaxe, they have created a sweeping saga that combines rich historical detail, compelling characters, and cinematic scale.”

He added that the series fits Prime Video’s ambitions to develop larger international event dramas.

“As we continue to build a slate of premium global event series for Prime Video customers around the world, we are thrilled to renew Bloodaxe for a second season,” Friedlander said.

That early renewal means viewers will already know there is more story planned before the first chapter even begins.

A Major New Historical Drama For 2027

With Michael Hirst returning to Viking history, a story built around two legendary Norse figures and a second season already confirmed, expectations around Bloodaxe are likely to be high.

The combination of power struggles, warfare, religious change and political betrayal places it firmly in the territory that made Vikings and The Tudors so popular.

But the focus on Erik Bloodaxe and Gunnhild gives Hirst a fresh pair of historical figures around whom to build a new saga.

For fans of grand period dramas, brutal succession battles and shifting alliances, Bloodaxe could become one of Prime Video’s biggest historical releases when it finally arrives.

Bloodaxe is scheduled to premiere on Prime Video in 2027.