'Bloodaxe' Greenlit from 'Vikings' Creator Michael Hirst

English screenwriter Michael Hirst, the man behind the History Channel's Vikings and Netflix's Vikings: Valhalla, is set to return to the small screen for his third Norse historical drama, which once again will move house, making this the third streaming service to produce a piece of his interconnected universe. Prime Video has greenlit Bloodaxe, a drama that will tell the story of the Viking warrior Erik Haraldsson. (Go on, guess what his nickname was.) Hirst will write and executive produce the series alongside his son, Horatio Hirst, who is created as co-creator on the series. 

While scant historical details are known about Erik Bloodaxe's life, he looms large in various Norse Sagas from the time, thanks to the legend that he killed his brothers (and earned the nickname Brother-Slayer) in his quest to claim the throne of Norway. His rule was short-lived, and he and his wife were supposedly overthrown and exiled. Bloodaxe will also dig into the story of Erik's marriage to a woman named Gunnhild, known as the Mother of Kings, because several of her sons ruled (or co-ruled) the kingdom after they were deposed. Gunnhild is a particularly fascinating figure in legend: It's not entirely clear that she even existed, and the sagas depict her in a largely negative light. She is supposedly cruel, power-hungry, sexually insatiable, and, unsurprisingly, also possibly a murderous witch. 

“I feel blessed and deeply excited that Amazon has given me the opportunity to return to the fantastic world of the Norse Sagas and the men, women, and gods of the Viking world who have come to mean so much to me,” Hirst said. “Horatio and I intend to open your eyes to incredible new characters and unbelievable stories, all of which happen to be true and many of which changed the course of history.”

Here's the series' description.

Bloodaxe is an epic historical drama that chronicles the rise of one of history’s most famous Viking warriors, Erik Bloodaxe, and his formidable wife, Gunnhild, Mother of Kings. As they fight for the throne of Norway, the land is torn apart by fierce rivals, shifting loyalties, and bloody betrayals. With war looming and chaos consuming the kingdom, drawing in the ruthless Kings of other Scandinavian countries, and even a powerful English ruler, the stage is set for a thundering, cataclysmic, compelling and utterly magical new Viking Saga.

Hirst's original Vikings series followed the stories of such famous historical figures as Ragnar Lothbrok, Bjorn Ironside, and Ivar the Boneless. His Vikings: Valhalla follow-up focused on explorer Leif Erikson, English king Cnute, and warrior Harald Hardrada.

"We are thrilled to partner with Michael and Horatio Hirst, who have an impressive track record bringing historical dramas to life with stunning authenticity and gripping storytelling,” Vernon Sanders, head of television, Amazon MGM Studios, said in a statement. “This story is a fascinating tale of Erik Bloodaxe and we can't wait to unveil this new chapter to transport our global customers back to a fascinating era of history."

Additional executive producers include Steve Stark under his Toluca Pictures label, Arturo Interian, Morgan O’Sullivan, John Weber, and Sheila Hockin. The series is produced by MGM Television, a division of Amazon MGM Studios.

No release date is set for Bloodaxe, but it likely won't be ready until at least 2026. All six seasons of Hirst's original series, Vikings, and the three-season follow-up, Vikings: Valhalla, are streaming on Netflix.