Upcoming History Channel mini-series ‘Vikings’ has added a host of Irish actors to the cast, with Eric Higgins and Gerard McCarthy landing prominent roles in the World 2000 co-production ahead of filming next week.
Higgins will play one of Ragnor Lothbrok’s warriors called Knut, and will star in three episodes of the Michael Hirst creation. As exclusively revealed on IFTN, Australian actor Travis Fimmel will play the role of Lothbrok, who clashes with Gabriel Byrne’s character Earl Haraldson for the throne.
Higgins made his screen debut as the ‘Groom’ in Hirst’s earlier period drama ‘The Tudors’, and has had a number of theatre roles since, including ‘The Hound of Ulster’ and ‘Caligula’. The Kildare native is expected to begin shooting in the new Ballyhenry Studios in Wicklow next week.
McCarthy, best known for his role as Kris Fisher in Channel 4 soap ‘Hollyoaks’, has been cast as Brondsted. The Belfast native recently had roles in ‘Titanic: Blood & Steel’, the Ireland-shot miniseries starring Chris Noth (The Good Wife) and Neve Campbell (Scream), and BBC drama ‘The Fall’, which recently wrapped filming in Northern Ireland. McCarthy said he “can’t wait to start working” on the period drama.
Other Irish actors cast in supporting roles in ‘Vikings’ include Amy De Bhrun (The Crown and the Dragon) and Bill Gibson (The Clinic), whose characters are yet to be confirmed.
They join ‘Glee’ actress Jessalyn Gilsig, who will play Earl Haraldson’s wife, Gustaf Skarsgard, who will play a close of associate of Fimmel’s character Lothbrok, Clive Standen, who will play a cousin of Lothbrok, Katheryn Winnick, who will play Lothbrok’s wife, and George Blagden, who will take on the role of Athelstan.
Morgan O’Sullivan will produce for World 2000 with Take 5 Productions in Canada. Johan Renck will direct three episodes, with ‘The Tudors’ director Ciarán Donnelly also in line to direct three episodes of the HBO series. The History Channel will air ‘Vikings’ worldwide in 2013, in what will be the broadcaster’s first ever scripted series.
