Prime Video has unveiled the first trailer for Bloodaxe, its new series set in the Viking Age created by Michael Hirst, the mastermind behind Vikings. The teaser comes with a confirmation highly anticipated by fans of the genre: the release date, set for January 20, 2027.
The production emerges at a time when the Viking genre has lacked a strong reference in streaming since the conclusion of Vikings: Valhalla in 2024. For this reason, Hirst's return to this mythology, now under the Amazon MGM Studios banner, is generating high expectations among followers of the Norse sagas.
A first look presented at New York Comic Con
The teaser was shown during New York Comic Con, in a panel moderated by Nerdist's Rotem Rusak, featuring Michael Hirst, his son and collaborator Horatio Hirst, and part of the main cast.
The footage shown displays an aesthetic recognizable to those who followed the adventures of Ragnar Lothbrok: mud, steel, torch-lit halls, and an atmosphere of constant tension. Prime Video has confirmed that all eight episodes of the first season will be released simultaneously.
The story of Eric Bloodaxe and his fight for the throne of Norway
Bloodaxe follows the figure of Eric Bloodaxe, historically known as Erik Hacha Sangrienta, one of the most violent and fascinating characters of medieval Scandinavia.
Eric was the son of Harald Fairhair, the monarch traditionally credited with the unification of Norway and who also appeared in Vikings. Although both series do not share official continuity, Hirst returns to explore a new generation of the same royal dynasty.
Eric and Gunnhild, a couple willing to do anything for power
Actor Xavier Molyneux plays Eric, while Jessica Madsen, known for Bridgerton, plays his wife, Gunnhild. According to the Norse sagas, Gunnhild was nicknamed Mother of Kings and described as an intelligent, manipulative woman with great political influence.
The relationship between the two will be one of the central axes of the plot, as they must face rivals to the throne, foreign monarchs, and enemies determined to stop their ambitions.
A cast with warriors, poets, and historical kings
The cast includes Levi Miller as Haakon the Good, Eric's half-brother and historical rival, as well as Kārlis Arnolds Avots as Egil Skallagrimsson, a famous poet and warrior from the Icelandic sagas.
Also participating are Rod Hallett as King Athelstan of Wessex and Jesper Christensen in the role of Harald Fairhair.
Supernatural elements in the plot
Alina Tomnikov will play two different characters: a shield-maiden and an enigmatic seer. This addition suggests that the series will maintain, at least partially, the mystical elements and visions that defined the identity of Vikings, where religious beliefs influenced the characters' decisions.
Prime Video has already renewed Bloodaxe for a second season
Even before releasing its first trailer, Bloodaxe had already been given the green light for a second season. Amazon ordered the new episodes in June, and production is already underway in Ireland.
Michael Hirst and Horatio Hirst celebrated this early renewal, which reflects the platform's confidence in the project even though the series has not yet reached the public.
The eight episodes of the first season will be released simultaneously in more than 240 countries and territories on January 20, 2027, consolidating Bloodaxe as one of Prime Video's major bets within the historical genre.
