The Irish-Canadian co-production marks the studio’s first original TV programming after emerging from bankruptcy last year.
MGM is teaming with Camelot and The Tudors duo Michael Hirst and Morgan O’Sullivan on a 10-episode drama series, Vikings.
The project, which MGM will distribute in the U.S. and abroad, will revolve around the Scandinavian warriors. The series is the brainchild of Hirst, who co-created Starz’s Camelot and created Showtime’s The Tudors.
Hirst will likely be the predominant writer on the series, which will follow the Vikings’ exploits from the late 8th to mid-11th century and revolve around Viking hero Ragnar Lodbrok.
Hirst will executive produce with O’Sullivan and producers/managers Sherry Marsh and Alan Gasmer. Production is scheduled to start next year at O’Sullivan’s new studio facility in Ireland.
Vikings will be an Irish-Canadian co-production with MGM financing the cost outside of Canada and Ireland.
The project marks the first original TV program after MGM’s emergence from bankruptcy last year.
Well, anyone who’s been reading this blog for any length of time, or who knows me personally, should know that this would catch my eye. I loved The Tudors, and I love the Norse. I’m looking forward to it already! From the Hollywood Reporter:
Dear lord, I think I just wet myself with excitement. (I tell everyone at work I come from a long line of proud viking invaders….yeah, I get weird looks).
As long as it isn't on par with that excerable show "Camelot" I'll watch it.
Not enough serious consideration of Norse themes on television these days.
Could be interesting. I also enjoyed The Tudors. I'm a bit surprised you liked The Tudors Joseph however given I often heard from people in other forums about how "historically inaccurate" it was.
I could enjoy the Tudors in the same way I could enjoy Rome (or, for that matter, The Borgias). Something that was strictly historical would probably be quite dull, but it did follow the broad outline of history sufficiently that I wasn't screaming at the television. Plus, the sets, costumes, and acting were pretty damn good, I thought.
Plus, Tudor England isn't exactly my period of specialty. I might find myself a tad more exasperated by Vikings…
"Plus, the sets, costumes, and acting were pretty damn good, I thought."
Oh I agree.
Yes I can see you being a bit more vocal when it comes to this period in history.
Hope all is well with you.
As a Heathen descendant of Danish Vikings I can only hope they do it well. The Tudors was good, but extremely condensed. Camelot just sucks. I am hoping Vikings won't force me to seek vengeance upon them 🙂
Rome (season 1) was absolutely fantastic. I can only hope that this Vikings series is half as good. Haven't seen The Tudors or Camelot so I can't compare. Maybe it will be a little slice of Norse Valhalla, the three F's, fighting, feasting and f… sex. We can just pray to the Allfather that they don't screw it up.