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Thousands of extras audition as fifth season of 'Vikings' set to begin filming next month
24 May 2016 : Seán Brosnan
Thousands turn up to audition to be an extra on ‘Vikings’
Thousands of extras turned up for auditions for Irish drama series ‘Vikings’ this week, as the show prepares to shoot an extended fifth season beginning next month.

Athletic men and “natural haired” women were sought for the show with thousands turning up to the first 2016 casting call at The Complex at Little Mary Street in Dublin on the 23rd and 24th of May. There will also be a casting call in Wicklow tomorrow (May 25th) at The Grand Hotel, Abbey St, Wicklow Town. This is not the first time the show has held a huge casting call for extras – the fourth season of the show employed 8,000 extras in 2015.

Speaking to IFTN about the massive turnout, believed to be in excess of 5,000 people so far, producer Morgan O’Sullivan of World 2000 Entertainment said: “It was great for us to see the level of enthusiasm of the thousands of people that turned up to audition and we are so grateful to everyone that made the trip to try out.”

The show, airing on History Channel in the US and on RTÉ2 in Ireland, has been a worldwide hit so far and has remained a top ten cable drama series in the US since premiering in 2013. It is also now the number one telecast on Thursday nights on cable in all key demographics in the States. Irish actor Jonathan Rhys-Meyers has been confirmed for the new 20 episode season in a large yet unspecified role.

Speaking about the show’s success, O’Sullivan said: “We are delighted to be back for a fifth season. The numbers this year, particularly in America, have gone very well for us and it has resulted in us being given a 20 hour order for this season. It’s now the show to watch on a Thursday night on television and long may it continue!”

Critical praise has been also heaped on the show with Variety recently writing of the fourth season: “What Hirst and company have accomplished in terms of creating an appointment series on a channel with at best a modest scripted portfolio is no small feat. And in TV, as in the bloody eighth century, to the victor go the spoils.”

The first four series of the show, shot in Co. Wicklow with production in Luggala and Ashford Studios, were a massive undertaking and provided a huge boost to the Irish industry, with approximately 400 Irish people involved in the production of the series.

From creator and sole writer Michael Hirst, ‘Vikings’ is inspired by the sagas of Icelandic Viking Ragnar Lothbrok, one of the best-known legendary Norse heroes and notorious as the scourge of England and France.

Hirst serves as executive producer along with Morgan O’Sullivan of World 2000, Sheila Hockin, John Weber of Take 5 Productions, Sherry Marsh, Alan Gasmer and James Flynn.





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