The series Vikings has made Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) even better known as one of the most famous Vikings. Netflix’s follow-up series Vikings: Valhalla now wants one of its own come up with big Viking names – and therefore occupied Eric the Red. In the context of Season 1, this is an exciting step.
After Ragnar: True Viking Legend cast in Netflix Vikings Valhalla
As Deadline reported, the actor became Goran Visnjic brought on board for the role of the infamous Viking Erik the Red. He will, however, only in the 3rd season from Vikings: Valhalla appear, because season 2 is already over.
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Vikings Reinforcement: Goran Visnjic (here in Timeless)
The Croatian-American actor who played Erik, Goran Visnjic, had his best-known film appearances in Verblendung, Elektra and Beginners and was a long-time cast member of Emergency Room. He was also last seen in season 2 of The Boys as church leader Alistair Adana. Vikings Valhalla will surely bring him more notoriety.
Even if Goran Visnjic will only be seen in Season 3 of Vikings Valhalla, he throws Erik the Red’s name since Season 1
his shadow ahead. It is no coincidence that the two main characters Leif Eriksson (Sam Corlett) and Freydis Eriksdotter (Frida Gustavsson) have him in their last name. The “Greenlanders” are Erik’s children and in the first season they tried their best to free themselves from their father’s bad reputation. With his now secure appearance, a meeting brings new potential for conflict.
Netflix’s Vikings entry: who was Erik the Red?
Like Ragnar, Erik Thorvaldsson, known as “the red”, is one of the most famous in the Vikings context, but also one of the most famous notorious Viking names with a bloody history. The nickname is said to have alluded to his red hair and beard as well as the blood on his hands. Because the Norwegian fled his homeland in 970 after a murder. He was also expelled from his new home in Iceland (again for murder).
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Vikings season 6: Kjetill survives in Greenland thanks to whales
Erik fled further west and was the first Scandinavian to establish a settlement there attracted more settlers with the (misleading) name of Greenland: because he didn’t actually find “Greenland” here. Initially only just escaping starvation, the new Viking home flourished with Icelanders catching up. Today not only a Norwegian oil rig (Eirik Raude) but also a northeastern part of Greenland (Eirik Raudes Land) is named after Erik the Red.
Vikings fans should already recognize many elements from Erik’s story seem familiar: The previous series played through a very similar scenario when Ubbe and his shady entourage sailed west as explorers. In season 6, the Viking who gave his name to stopover Greenland bore the name though Kjetill ‘Flat Nose’ Eriksson (Adam Copeland). Given that Vikings Valhalla is set 100 years after Vikings, it cannot be the same person. But maybe Erik and his children Leif and Freydis are descendants of the self-proclaimed “King of Greenland” that Ubbe (in season 6, episode 15) left behind there?
Podcast: How good is Vikings Valhalla on Netflix?
Vikings Valhalla continues the legacy of the hit historical series Vikings on Netflix. Many fan reactions are extremely negative. Can the new Vikings be compared to Ragnar’s success?
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In the podcast we introduce you to the series and discuss its strengths and weaknesses. Above all, we ask ourselves how the reactions of many fans can be explained. Is Vikings Valhalla worse or just different than the original?
What are you hoping for from Erik the Red in Vikings Valhalla?