Yahoo Finance Chilling Adventures of Sabrina actor to lead Netflix's Vikings spin-off
Netflix
Netflix has assembled a troupe who will lead its Vikings spin-off towards Valhalla.
Sam Corlett, who played Caliban on Chilling Adventures of Sabrina for the streamer, will now lead the cast of Vikings: Valhalla as Leif Eriksson. Aside from being one of the most famous Vikings, Leif, a Greenlander, is described as being "raised on the outer fringes of the known world," coming from "a tightly-knit family steeped in the old pagan beliefs." He's "an intrepid sailor," "physically tough," and "is our entry into a Viking world in the throes of violent change."
Vikings: Valhalla is set 100 years after the events of the original series, which launched on the History Channel in 2013 and has since enjoyed a stint on Amazon for its final season. Other famous Vikings to appear in this new story include Freydis Eriksdotter by way of The Witcher's Frida Gustavsson and Harald Hardrada by way of The Liberator's Leo Suter.
Freydis, Leif's sister, is described as "a staunch believer in the 'old gods'" who "reaches Kattegat as an outsider but becomes an inspiration to those of the old ways." Harald, born into Viking nobility, is one of the last berserkers who can also unite both pagans and Christians. Jóhannes Jóhannesson — seen on Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, Cursed, and Bloodshot — plays Harold's older half-brother Olaf Haraldson, an Old Testament Christian who's "stern and unforgiving."
The main cast is rounded out by Keeping Faith's Bradley Freegard as the "wise, savvy, and ruthless" ruler of Denmark, King Canute; German actress Laura Berlin (Notruf Hafenkante) as one of the wealthiest women in Europe, Emma of Normandy; The Borgias' David Oakes as chief counsellor to the King of England, Earl Godwin; and Danish singer Caroline Henderson as Jarl Haakon, ruler of Kattegat and future mentor of Freydis.
Two actors were also announced in as recurring players. Pollyanna McIntosh (Jadis on The Walking Dead, Metatron on Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) will Queen Ælfgifu of Denmark and Asbjørn Krogh Nissen (Valhalla: The Legend of Thor) will play Jarl Kåre, a threat to the old pagan ways.
Michael Hirst, the creator of Vikings, will serve as an executive producer on Vikings: Valhalla. Though, Jed Stuart takes over as writer and showrunner. Morgan O'Sullivan, James Flynn, Sherry Marsh, Alan Gasmer, Sheila Hockin, and John Weber will also executive produce.
Niels Arden Oplev (2009's The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) will direct and produce the first episode, while season 1 will also include directors Stephen St. Leger and Hannah Quinn. Vanessa Alexander, Declan Croghan, and Eoin McNamee are among the writers.
"It's a new kind of heroic age, a very different canvas," Hirst previously told EW. "The Christians and the Christian Vikings are making huge headroads. What Floki always feared is coming to pass. And also, Jeb Stuart, who's writing the show, is essentially a thriller writer, so it is going to be different in many ways. It's a great tribute to the show, I think, that Netflix wanted to do a spin-off."
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