History is adding another key player in "Vikings" Season 4 in the form of Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Heahsmund. "Vikings" creator Michael Hirst teases that this new character will play a pivotal role going forward, and would be a critical adversary to Ragnar's son, Ivar the Boneless.
The "Vikings" Season 4 finale will be heading to History on Wednesday night. As tension and drama heats up with Ragnar and his sons, a newcomer makes his debut on the show. Meyers will make his first appearance as warrior bishop Heahmund.
Heahmund is a character that is very different from what viewers have seen on the show so far. He is expected to tip the scales in "Vikings" and even clash with Ivar The Boneless. Ragnar's cripple son has proven himself to be a very efficient leader in "Vikings" Season 4, having led the attack against King Ecbert of Wessex. Ragnar and Ecbert's rivalry will continue to be the driving force in the remaining episodes of the fourth season, but it is presumed that a different rivalry will take center stage in the next season, and it will be that of Ivar and Heahsmund.
The character Heahsmund is based from historical figures known as warrior bishops. Although they were absolutely religious, they wore armors and fought in battles. "He's a man of Wessex, and he's gonna come in as a worthy opponent to Ivar," Hirst tells Entertainment Weekly. He adds that this wild card of a character is all about "deeply passionate commitments."
Meyers stint on the show will not be short-lived as his character has been billed for a season regular status for "Vikings" Season 5. "The Tudors" alum is going to play a more expansive role in all 20 episodes of the next season.
As per Variety, History has renewed "Vikings" for a 20-episode fifth season. "We are excited to have Jonathan Rhys Meyers join our talented cast and watch as this epic story evolves heading into Season 5," MGM's president for television Mark Burnett said about Meyers' addition. This isn't Meyers' first rodeo with Hirst. Both worked together in "The Tudors," in which Hirst was the showrunner.
Production for "Vikings" Season 5 will begin in the summer and is expected to premiere in the latter half of 2017.