A ‘Yellowstone’ Spin-Off Star Is Galloping to Prime Video’s New Vikings Replacement
After journeying across the post–Civil War frontier in Taylor Sheridan’s 1883, actor Marc Rissmann is trading horses for longships. The Yellowstone spin-off star is joining Prime Video’s upcoming Norse epic, Bloodaxe — a sweeping new historical drama being hailed as the spiritual successor to Vikings.
From Oregon Trails to Nordic Thrones
Rissmann, best known for playing German immigrant Josef in 1883, will portray Greycloak, the eldest brother of the legendary Viking warrior Erik Bloodaxe. Leading the cast is Xavier Molyneux as Erik, with Jessica Madsen (Bridgerton, Queen Charlotte) starring as his fierce wife, Gunnhild, Mother of Kings. Rising star Levi Miller rounds out the main cast as Haakon the Good, Erik’s half-brother and future King of Norway.
The series is created by Michael Hirst, the visionary behind Vikings, alongside his brother Horatio Hirst. Together, they’re crafting a fresh Norse saga that channels the scale and brutality fans of the original show loved — while introducing a new generation of warriors, rulers, and betrayals.
A New Saga of Power and Blood
Set in the turbulent aftermath of Norway’s early unification, Bloodaxe follows Erik and Gunnhild as they fight to hold power in a fractured kingdom. Trust is fleeting, loyalties shift overnight, and rival lords from across Scandinavia — along with a ruthless English ruler — all vie for dominance.
As war looms, the battle for Norway’s soul begins. In the chaos, family becomes both weapon and weakness. Erik’s brothers, including Rissmann’s Greycloak, are drawn into a deadly struggle for the throne — one that history remembers all too well.
The Return of the Vikings Legacy
While Bloodaxe isn’t a direct continuation of Vikings or Vikings: Valhalla, it exists firmly in the same blood-soaked world. The series takes place between Ragnar Lodbrok’s saga and the rise of Valhalla’s heroes, bridging the mythic gap with new faces and fresh conflicts.
Michael Hirst and Horatio Hirst will serve as showrunners, writers, and executive producers, ensuring the tone and scope of Vikings lives on — with Prime Video promising even grander battle sequences and deeper historical storytelling.
As for Rissmann’s fate? The Icelandic sagas describe Erik Bloodaxe as a “Brother-Slayer.” That grim title doesn’t bode well for Greycloak, setting the stage for one of the series’ most tragic and explosive family rivalries.