‘Vikings’ renewed by history for season 5; Jonathan Rhys Meyers hops aboard

Clearly, History is absolutely loving what they are getting at the moment with “Vikings.” Even though we are just a handful of episodes into the show’s current fourth-season run, the network has renewed the series starring Travis Fimmel for a fifth season spanning a massive 20 episodes. That is a gargantuan order when you consider that this is a cable drama, and a historical one to go along with that.

Just in case that was not enough for you, the network also announced today that “The Tudors” and “Dracula” alum Jonathan Rhys Meyers will be joining the season 5 cast, though his role at the moment is not entirely clear. Here is what network president Jana Bennett said in a statement:

“The brilliant writing and depth of historical research and authenticity brought to the screen by Michael Hirst paired with our talented cast and crew, has made this series one of the most compelling, visually stunning historical dramas on television … Vikings has raided the hearts of audiences and we are thrilled that Jonathan Rhys Myers will become a bigger part of the History family after his incredible performance in our upcoming production of Roots.”

It is foolish to try and speculate too much when it comes to precisely how long this series could last, but for the time being, it at least looks as though it could have a rather long, healthy life. The ratings are solid, the fan following is there, and there are certainly plenty of viking legends and lore that can be further explored within the confines of this series.

What do you think about “Vikings” coming back for more? Share right now with a comment.