Gustaf Skarsgard: The other Skarsgard you should know

In season 2 of Westworld, we were introduced to many new characters, especially when it came to the company behind Westworld, Delos. Right at the top was Karl Strand, played by Gustaf Skarsgard–who was the Head of Operations and sent in two weeks after the incident at the end of season 1.

Caution: Westworld spoilers ahead

The character of Gustaf Skarsgard was originally thought to be there to ensure the safety of the humans stuck on the island, however, we later find his mission was to retrieve the data that Delos viewed as the most important key to the park.

If you squint, you probably recognize Gustaf Skarsgard for two reasons. One, you most likely see his last name and believe you’ve seen that before. You have. Gustaf comes from a very famous, Swedish family.

Alexander Skarsgard, best known for his role on True Blood and Big Little Lies, and Bill Skarsgard, the oh so popular star of IT, Castle Rock, and Hemlock Grove are Gustaf’s brothers. And, his father Stellan has a filmography so long I couldn’t even begin to go through it.

You probably know Gustaf, though, by his role as Floki on the History Channel hit show, Vikings. The eccentric boat-maker has been a fan favorite since the beginning and a big draw for fans of the show to tune into Westworld.

While Karl Strand appeared here and there throughout the second season, he did never make as big of a show as I would have hoped. And that showdown between Skarsgard and Luke Hemsworth never happened, albeit the two clearly didn’t like each other in the show.

Gustaf has been acting since a very young age and has even appeared in the Oscar-nominated film The Way Back, with Ed Harris himself. Gustaf has done a lot of Swedish projects with his brothers and other Swedish actors such as Joel Kinnaman and his long-time friend Matias Varela, who he just wrapped filming the movie 438 Dagar (Days) with.

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One of Gustaf’s most well-known films is Patrik, Age 1.5 where he plays a homosexual man who ends up fostering a 15-year-old troubled boy due to a mistake made with adoption services. It’s actually a really charming, enjoyable film and all spoken in Swedish, which is a beautiful language.

Despite Gustaf not having as big of a role in season two of Westworld, his role still was an important one. The presence that Karl Strand has in the show is one of self-assurance, with the voice that commands respect from his colleagues.

Despite just arriving, he makes it clear to Ashley Stubbs (Hemsworth) that he’s in charge and will be taking over. There was even a moment in the show where he held Ashley and Bernard at gunpoint, making us all nervous that the two may be in trouble.

In episode 10 in the second season, “The Passenger”, Dolores touches the books in The Forge that featured some familiar names. A Reddit user circles Charlotte Hale’s, but we can see Dolores plucking Karl Strand’s book up. Even though Karl was eventually killed in this episode by a Charlotte host (with Dolores inside), I hope that this scene is proof that maybe Gustaf will return in season three.

Gustaf Skarsgard is lesser known than his brothers Bill and Alex, but he’s no less of an actor. Talented and dedicated, Gustaf enjoys more independent projects, and as we’ve seen, everyone has to start somewhere.

I’m hoping that Gustaf’s part on Westworld and Vikings will help him become more of a household name like the rest of the Skarsgard family–including their younger brother Valter. Coming up, you can look forward to his role in the movie 438 Days, Vikings season 5, and the Swedish film Darling.