Netflix’s historical drama Vikings premiered in 2013 and proved there was a strong appetite for stories set during the Viking Age. The success of Game of Thrones further demonstrated audiences’ enduring fascination with medieval worlds, spawning multiple spin-off series that continue to attract large audiences and generate growing interest in the franchise. Now, Prime Video is taking a swing at the medieval niche with Bloodaxe, and it’s in good hands. Bloodaxe co-creator Horatio Hirst is the son of Michael Hirst, creator of Vikings, the hit Netflix drama starring Katheryn Winnick, Gustaf Skarsgård, and Alexander Ludwig. The series ran for six seasons before concluding its seven-year run in 2020. Fittingly, the upcoming series is also a family affair behind the scenes, with the father-and-son duo working together on Bloodaxe, which centers on a family fighting for power and takes place roughly 100 years after the events of Vikings. However, the new series will stand on its own and is not a direct continuation of the Netflix drama. Provided by Prime Video and Entertainment Weekly, exclusive first-look images of Bloodaxe are below.

The story follows the rise of real-life Viking warrior Erik Bloodaxe (Xavier Molyneux) and his powerful wife, Gunnhild (Jessica Madsen), as they fight for the throne of Norway. Erik Bloodaxe is one of the more famous figures in Scandinavian history, though most modern audiences have never heard of him, including Michael. Michael was initially hesitant to tackle a brand-new series, especially after writing all 89 episodes of Vikings. While he loved the series, the experience was undoubtedly grueling. That’s why, when Netflix created the three-season sequel series Vikings: Valhalla in 2022, Michael sat it out. But now, with his son by his side and the enticing true story of Erik Bloodaxe to tell, he couldn’t sit this one out. During a 2025 set visit, Horatio told Entertainment Weekly, “We’ve always called them Bonnie and Clyde,” referring to the real-life couple’s powerful partnership. Michael describes Season 1 as “a succession drama for the throne of Norway between Erik and his brothers,” with Horatio adding that Erik has a lot of brothers, setting the stage for a complicated fight for the throne. Before Season 1 has even debuted, let alone received a premiere date, Horatio and his father, Michael, are already more than a month into filming Season 2 on location in Ireland. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly about the behind-the-scenes work that went into Bloodaxe, Horatio summed up the series’ central theme: “It’s a show about family at the end of the day. It’s fathers and sons, mothers and daughters — written by a father-and-son writing team.”

Starring alongside Molyneux and Madsen is Levi Miller, who plays Haakon the Good, Erik’s younger half-brother, whom he battles for the throne. The cast also includes Karlis Arnolds Avots, Rod Hallett, Alina Tomnikov, Sisse Marie, Rune Temte, Jesper Christensen, Ross O’Hennessy, Fintan Kinsella, and Gard Løkke. An official release date has not yet been announced, but Bloodaxe is expected to premiere on Prime Video in early 2027.