MOVIE NEWS – Hideo Kojima continues to broaden the reach of his Death Stranding universe beyond video games and into other mediums. The acclaimed Japanese creator launched the original Death Stranding in 2019, followed by its sequel, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, in June 2025. Although the visionary director has stated he wouldn’t helm a third installment himself—preferring to pass the torch to another filmmaker—that hasn’t stopped him from joining two film projects. While A24’s Death Stranding adaptation is still in early pre-production, another animated feature directed by Hiroshi Miyamoto is already well underway.

While promoting the final season of MGM+’s Billy the Kid, Vikings creator Michael Hirst disclosed exclusive insights about his new series, Bloodaxe, to MovieWeb: “There are incredible characters in this show, and my favorite one is a guy called Egil Skallagrímsson. Egil was a massive man whose family was expelled from Norway because he killed several people. They fled to Iceland after losing their lands, and revenge was in their hearts. Egil was a ruthless killer with a deformed skull. He stood 6’6’’ with a bony head.”

Egil will be portrayed by Karlis Arnolds Avots, one of the central figures of the series. Reports confirm that Egil will be seeking vengeance against the titular Eric Bloodaxe, played by Xavier Moleneux.

Is Bloodaxe a Sequel to Vikings?

The narrative of Bloodaxe unfolds roughly a century after the era of Ragnar Lodbrok depicted in Vikings. Hirst believed he had put that saga behind him as he turned to other outsized legends like Billy the Kid. But something drew him back: “One of the things that pulled me into [Bloodaxe]—because I never thought I’d do another Viking show—was the characters.”

Egil in particular stood out, not just Eric Bloodaxe himself. “[Egil] was a pathological killer, but more significantly, he became Scandinavia’s greatest poet. He’s considered one of the founding fathers of Iceland. Women across the region adored him. He would recite poetry in grand halls, and they flocked to him. How could you resist writing about someone like that?”

The series promises to be epic, set during the twilight of the Viking Age, a world steeped in bloodshed, politics, and devotion to the old gods. Bloodaxe is slated to premiere on Amazon Prime in 2026, written by Hirst together with his son Horatio Hirst. It is not a direct sequel to the 9th-century Vikings nor a prequel to the 11th-century Vikings: Valhalla, but instead bridges the two by tracing lineage and linking key characters across both sagas.

“This is the end of the Viking era… Bloodaxe was among the last great leaders who clung to the old traditions and gods. His adventures were remarkable: he became King of Norway, ruled York and Ireland, and shared a magical bond with his wife Gunnhild. Their story forms the heart of the show.”

Hirst emphasized that authenticity remains at the center of his storytelling approach: “It’s all true. Very little of what I write is not true, in quotation marks. It’s all grounded in research, and even the strangest elements tend to be factual in one way or another. That’s what excites me.”

Both Vikings and Vikings: Valhalla are currently streaming on Netflix.

Source: MovieWeb