Netflix orders Vikings: Valhalla, a spinoff of the History show

Well, here’s a new one. Vikings, History’s long-running historical drama from Michael Hirst, is ending with its upcoming sixth season. Happily for fans, there’s going to be a spinoff…on Netflix.

That’s right! Entertainment Weekly reports that Netflix has ordered Vikings: Valhalla, a spinoff set 100 years after the current series. A lot of the Vikings team are transferring over, with Hirst tapping Die Hard screenwriter Jeb Stuart as showrunner. “I know that the millions of our fans across the globe will be thrilled by the belief being shown in our show by MGM and Netflix,” Hirst said in a statement. “Jeb Stuart, a truly wonderful writer, will bring new story lines and a powerful visceral vision to stories about some of the most famous Vikings known to history.”

It’s not so unusual that Vikings is getting a spinoff. It’s a popular show with a passionate fanbase, and shows set in a medieval-esque world are a hot commodity following the success of Game of Thrones. It is unusual that Netflix has ordered the spinoff out from under History, and that the announcement is coming while the original show is still running on the original network.

Netflix already has a medieval drama — the excellent Last Kingdom, which actually has some characters in common with Vikings — up and running. Between those two shows and The Crown, I guess it’s making a bid to be viewers’ one-stop shop for all things English history. That’ll show Disney+.

Vikings: Valhalla will be set 100 years after Vikings. Per Netflix’s synopsis, it “concludes and dramatizes the adventures of the most famous Vikings who ever lived — Leif Erikson, Freydis, Harald Harada, and the Norman King William the Conqueror (also a Viking descendant). These men and women will blaze new paths as they fight for survival in an ever-changing and evolving Europe. This is the explosive next chapter of the Vikings legend.”

Obviously, Netflix is ecstatic, with vice president of original series Channing Dungey playing the part of hype man:

"Vikings: Valhalla promises to be everything that fans love about the franchise: heart-pounding, unstoppable action rooted in rich characters and dramatic storytelling that shines the light on family, loyalty, and power."

I’m glad for fans who will have more Vikings action. I kinda feel for History, though. I guess there’s no arguing with that Netflix money.

Vikings season 6 kicks off on December 4.

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