Tag Archives: Travis Fimmel

Alexander Ludwig teases Vikings’ future adventures

It seems unthinkable to sign on to a television series based on what will happen several seasons in the future. There’s no guarantee a program will last one year, let alone several, so it’s a gamble. But that’s exactly what Alexander Ludwig did when he became part of Vikings.

“Season 4.B is what I signed on to Vikings for,” he says during a quick stopover in Toronto before jetting back to the UK to continue production on Season 5. “I was promised this season and now it’s finally coming and I could not be more excited. Viewers will freak out. It’s ridiculous the stuff that we’re doing. I’m so proud to be part of a production that has the balls to go for it and some of the stuff we’re doing has never been done before on television.”

With the latter half of Season 4 returning Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on History, Ludwig praises creator Michael Hirst with coming through on his promise big-time. Fans will follow Ludwig’s Bjorn Lothbrok as he sails new boats—designed, of course, by Floki (Gustaf SkarsgÃ¥rd)—into the Mediterranean and to Africa. He’ll also establish himself as an individual, distancing himself from Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) and evolving from the lovable dude we’ve seen into a more ruthless leader.

Vikings

“I grew up with this character and people are so invested in him, it’s just cool to be a part of it,” he says. Ludwig jokes things could have been very different if anything had gone wrong earlier in production when Bjorn went toe-to-toe with a bear while on his lone survival journey. Whopper, his ursine co-star, was just feet away from Ludwig and just a clothesline between them. As the Vancouver native tells it, Whopper believed the clothesline was electrified. It wasn’t. Filming took place in March outside Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., and required Ludwig not only to battle the bear, but cut a hole in lake ice and go for a frosty dip.

“I was butt naked on the top of Lake Superior in front of all of the crew,” he says with a smile. “The actual dive itself was done in a pool, which ironically, wasn’t heated. I said, ‘Guys, we could have just done this in the actual lake!'”

Looking towards the next section of episodes, fans will see a changing of the guard, story-wise, as the grizzled, battle-worn Ragnar and Floki step back from the spotlight in favour of Bjorn and his brothers, Hvitserk (Marco Islø), Ivar (Alex Høgh Andersen), Ubbe (Jordan Patrick Smith) and Sigurd (David Lindstron) stepping into history. It’s five years since Ragnar abandoned Kattegat and not everyone is happy to see him back.

“There is an immense respect Ragnar and Bjorn have for each other,” Ludwig says. “But there is a lot they need to talk about. Bjorn’s main question is ‘Why has Ragnar returned after that long? I’ve finally got my shit together and am running this thing, and suddenly now you come back?!’ You’ll see an interesting power struggle between the two.”

Vikings airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on History.

Image courtesy of Corus.

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Link: Is Ragnar’s number almost up on Vikings?

From Amber Dowling of the Toronto Star:

Is Ragnar’s number almost up on Vikings?
“I always thought I would want to move beyond Ragnar eventually, because I knew historically that the sons became more famous than he did. Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) went to the Mediterranean and Ivar the Boneless became one of the most famous warriors ever to invade England. And so we are preparing all the time for the next generation.” Continue reading. 

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Prep for Season 4 of Vikings with stunning A World Revealed

I don’t make a point of reviewing or writing about digital initiatives. Not because I don’t enjoy them, but because they—and webisodes and online exclusives—all fall into a grey area. They’re not TV shows in the traditional sense and some come off more like DVD extras.

Vikings: A World Revealed plays like something you’d find at the end of a DVD or Blu-ray set, but presented in a much more entertaining way. The special website—bowing Thursday for fans to preview before Season 4 on History next month—is very much like an interactive documentary. Immersing those who visit into the world of Ragnar Rothbrok, his followers and enemies, it offers four views—Kattegat Village, The Great Hall, Wessex Chamber and The Courtyard—of the world occupied by these adventurous souls. Music sets the tone and vibrant animation accents informative video extras into how the Canadian-Irish co-production is made.

Click on Kattegat Village and actress Katheryn Winnick, smeared with blood and crud, takes visitors on a personal journey around the encampment. Along the way, clickable on-screen arrows go deeper, exploring how Viking ships are built for the series (and a sneak peek at Bjorn’s ride), the role of Viking women, how the series’ gallons of blood is created and what inspired those wicked hairstyles. Alyssa Sutherland (Princess Aslaug) takes visitors on a tour of The Great Hall, where set decoration, the hand-made costumes, Bjorn’s mystery map and the creation of the series are covered. Moe Dunford’s (Aethelwulf) humour is the highlight of The Courtyard tour, where he breaks down the Romans’ influence on King Ecbert and gives some hints as to where Aethelwulf’s head is at in Season 4.

The best segment of the lot is the trip into the Wessex Chamber, where Linus Roache and Travis Fimmel joke their way through describing the intricacies of King Ecbert’s inner sanctum. Beards, directing and series creator Michael Hirst are covered when Fimmel isn’t highjacking everything Roache is saying.

Fans of Vikings will find Vikings: A World Revealed to be an entertaining sidestep away from the series and it’s really a must-see for anyone looking to dive into the world of the vikings.

Vikings: A World Revealed can be found on History’s website.

Vikings airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on History beginning February 18.

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Photo gallery: Season 4 of Vikings

Season 4 of Vikings doesn’t return until next month, but those friendly folks over at History have given us an early Valentine’s Day present! Check out this treasure trove of images featuring everyone from fan favourites like Ragnar Lothbrok and Rollo to Emperor Charles and Princess Gisla.

History teases the upcoming season thusly: “Following the Vikings’ successful raid of Paris, Ragnar is the most feared and respected leader in the Western World. However, his victory is short-lived as he is surrounded by those who would seek his undoing.”

We can’t wait.

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Vikings airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on History beginning Feb. 18.

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History marks Vikings’ Season 4 return and new cast

From a media release:

HISTORY’s hit drama series Vikings returns for a gripping fourth season onThursday, February 18th at 10pm ET. The network has added four episodes to its initial 16 episode order and is rolling out an epic fan experience extending far beyond the new season.

Beginning February 18th, a new episode will air every Thursday for ten weeks with the remaining episodes to air later in the year. Brand new this season is the innovative online destination, ‘Vikings: A World Revealed’, that takes fans on an interactive journey into the making of Vikings, guided by the stars of the show. Also new is Real Vikings, a four-part documentary series that draws on recent discoveries, leading experts, and the cast of Vikings to offer fans a compelling window into Viking civilization. In the week leading up to the premiere, ET Canada takes viewers behind-the-scenes of Vikings in Vikings: Behind the Shield Wall with ET Canada featuring exclusive, on-set interviews with the cast and a sneak peek of the new season.

In the upcoming season of Vikings, betrayal is everywhere as the powers begin to shift. Following the Vikings’ successful raid of Paris in season three, Ragnar is the most feared and respected leader in the Western World. However, his victory is short-lived as he is surrounded by those who seek his undoing. Joining the stellar cast this season is Canadian Dianne Doan (Descendants) as “Yidu,” a completely different character within the world of the Vikings who fascinates Ragnar. Doan is joined by Peter Franzén (The Gunman) as “King Harold Finehair,” a complex character who seeks to be King of Norway and a potential threat to Ragnar; and Jasper Pääkkönen (Jet Trash) as “Halfdan The Black,” King Harold’s violent younger brother. In an exciting first in the series’ history, the new season of Vikings will feature scenes filmed in Canada, on location in Sault Ste. Marie.

Vikings has been the #1 Canadian specialty program among multiple key demos for three consecutive seasons and is the #1 program on HISTORY*. Fans can spend the holidays catching up on the exciting first three seasons of Vikings on shomi and iTunes, and the third season will be available on HISTORY on Demand, history.ca, and the HISTORY Go app beginning December 21st. Leading up to the season four premiere, a Vikings season three marathon will air on Saturday, February 13th on HISTORY.

 

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