MANILA, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013 – Priced at a $40-million production value, History Channel’s epic drama Vikings is its "most ambitious series yet" and it has set sail for Philippine television.
It was first to use the newly-built, €22-million Ashford Studios in Ireland, with longship scenes filmed at Lugalla in the Wicklow Mountains.
Vikings revisits the extraordinary tales and adventures of a distinct group of Norse people, a nine-part story of family and brotherhood unfolding through the journey of viking warrior Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel).
Deeply frustrated by the unadventurous policies of his local chieftain Earl Haraldson (Gabriel Byrne), Ragnar navigates the seas in search of new worlds to conquer with his brother Rollo (Clive Standen), jester friend Floki (Gustaf Skasgard) and a handful of raiders who volunteered. Katheryn Winnick also joins the cast as Lagertha, Ragnar’s wife and a fierce shield maiden; Jessalyn Gilsig as Siggy, Earl Haraldson’s wife; and George Blagden as Atheistan, a young Christian monk captured by Ragnar on his first raid on England.
Michael Hirst (Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Academy-Award winner) steps in as creator, writer and executive producer, alongside Morgan Sullivan (The Count of Monte Cristo, The Tudors); John Weber, Sherry Marsh, Alan Gasmer, James Flynn abd Sheila Hockin (The Borgias, The Tudors).
Vikings premieres in the Philippines on September 29, Sunday at 10pm, on History Channel.