When History announced back in 2013 that it was breaking into the world of scripted TV
with Vikings, there was some understandable apprehension. But seven years later, their
flagship drama is a bona fide sensation.
As the name of the show suggests, Vikings tells the story of Norse society in the early
Medieval period. Viewers have been drawn in by the intriguing glimpse into life during
a radically different time than our own, but we're sure the Game of Thrones-style political
intrigue and violence don't hurt, either. Even though the show is a success, and will
be getting a sequel series on Netflix, that doesn't mean everyone involved is content.
In an interview to promote his film, Bad Boys for Life, long-time Vikings star Alexander
Ludwig spoke about the downside to being one of the leads on a wildly successful TV series.
It seems that, while the show has been a boon for the network, its longevity and the production
schedule has taken a toll on the actors who helped make Vikings a hit in the first place.
Since the show's second season, Alexander Ludwig has starred as Björn Ironside. While
Björn has enjoyed a surprising amount of longevity compared to other characters on
the show, the character's long life hasn't always been a blessing to Ludwig. According
to the actor, the show's intense shooting schedule has prevented him from spreading
his wings and taking on other roles.
In April of 2020, the actor spoke to The Hollywood Reporter to elaborate further, saying,
"When I signed on to the show, I originally expected it to be a 10-episode cable drama
series...I don't think anybody expected Vikings to have the global success that it did, they
upped it to a 20-episode series, which meant that I was completely plucked out of any other
opportunities...a role like this requires a lot of time and attention."
However, Ludwig also made sure to clarify that the scheduling downsides are outweighed
by the positives the show has brought into his life, saying,
"That being said, I'm so grateful for the job; it was one of the most incredible experiences
of my life."
With Vikings coming to an end, Ludwig will be free to chase other projects, and while
it might seem like leaving the show earlier would have been a good idea for the Canadian
actor, his character made that all but impossible.
While Vikings does take some liberties in order to tell its story, there is ample historic
evidence to prove that not only was Björn a real person, but he was one of the early
kings of Sweden.
"Hail King Bjorn!"
The real Björn ruled during the 9th Century from his seat on the island of Munsö, where
his burial mound was discovered in the 18th Century. Due to the established history of
the real Björn Ironside, it would have been difficult for the producers to simply write
Ludwig's Björn off the show before his time.
Just because Ludwig had his plate full playing a Viking king doesn't mean he didn't take
on other projects while Vikings was on the air. In 2015, Ludwig co-starred in the meta-slasher
film The Final Girls, in which he played the love interest of main character Max. The movie
was a low-budget affair that was soon embraced by fans of '80s horror films.
His next notable big-screen outing had a much larger budget. Ludwig was part of the ensemble
of Roland Emmerich's World War II epic Midway. The film followed both American and Japanese
soldiers in the Pacific Theater during the 1940s, focusing on the titular Battle of Midway.
Most recently, Ludwig appeared in the third film in Will Smith and Martin Lawrence's iconic
Bad Boys series, Bad Boys for Life. Ludwig plays Dorn, the tech expert for the special
police squad that Mike and Marcus become involved with. For the Vikings actor, it was the role
of a lifetime. Ludwig told The Hollywood Reporter:
"I must've watched Bad Boys II a hundred times...I've admired Will and Martin's careers from afar
for years and years...Just getting to work with them was truly one of the greatest gifts
of my life."
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