Created by Vikings mastermind Michael Hirst and his brother Horatio Hirst as a spiritual successor of sorts to the six-season History Channel epic, Bloodaxe tells a separate tale chronicling the rise of one of the greatest Viking warriors. Caught in a struggle for the throne of Norway, Erik and Gunnhild see the land divided by fierce rivalries and ever-shifting loyalties, with trust more fleeting than ever. The chaos only spreads as the lords of other Scandinavian countries, and even a powerful English ruler, come to stake their claim. With so many differing forces congregating, war looms on the horizon, and an epic new Norse saga begins that will echo throughout the annals of history.

Unlike Erik and Haakon, little is known for certain in history about the elder brother. Given that Erik earned the title “Brother-Slayer,” though, it’s a safe bet that he won’t be making it through Bloodaxe without a clash with his kin. The Icelandic sagas have often described the raider’s efforts to cut down the forces of his siblings to keep the rule of Norway within his grasp, meaning they should have a significant role to play in Hirst’s new series. Though it shares a lot of creative DNA with Vikings, as the Hirst brothers serve as creators, writers, showrunners, and executive producers, there’s no direct connection between the two shows, as Bloodaxe takes place between the story of Ragnar Lodbrok and the spin-off series, Vikings: Valhalla.

On the small screen, Rissmann may be best known for his 1883 turn as the German immigrant Josef, who joins the Dutton family and their group on the perilous journey out west that will end with the clan settling in Montana. He served as their interpreter for the trip and managed to secure a claim of land at the end of it all, but not without losing a leg and his wife on the way. It marked a rare starring role for Rissmann, though he was a prominent face on television even before that, appearing in episodes of Game of Thrones, The Man in the High Castle, and, most recently, Andor. 2025 also saw him head to the big screen and join Rami Malek in The Amateur, where he played one of the four criminals responsible for kidnapping and killing Charlie’s (Malek) wife.

There is no release date yet for Bloodaxe. Stay tuned here at Collider for more about the new Prime Video historical epic as it continues to fill out its cast.