EXCLUSIVE: British actress Jessica Madsen (Bridgerton) has landed the female lead opposite Xavier Molyneux In Bloodaxe, Prime Video‘s historical drama series created, written, and exec produced by Vikings creator Michael Hirst and his son, Horatio Hirst.
Madsen will play Gunnhild, the wife of Erik Bloodaxe (Molyneux), also known as the Mother of Kings. We were first to report on Molyneux’s casting yesterday.
The show chronicles the rise of one of history’s most famous Norse raiders, Erik Bloodaxe, and his formidable wife, Gunnhild. As they fight for the throne of Norway, the land is torn apart by fierce rivals, shifting loyalties, and bloody betrayals. With war looming and chaos consuming the kingdom, drawing in the ruthless Kings of other Scandinavian countries, and even a powerful English ruler, the stage is set for a thundering, cataclysmic, compelling and utterly magical new Norse Saga.
Officially ordered in March, the show will be produced by MGM Television, a division of Amazon MGM Studios, with production beginning in Ireland and Iceland later this summer. Michael and Horatio Hirst will showrun and write, exec producing alongside Morgan O’Sullivan under his O’Sullivan Productions label, Steve Stark under his Toluca Pictures label, Arturo Interian, John Weber, Sheila Hockin, and Fred Toye.
While the show shares creative lineage with the 2013-20 History series Vikings and the 2022-25 Netflix follow-up Vikings: Valhalla — all three are based on historical figures and produced by MGM Television — Bloodaxe is not directly related to those efforts. The new Norse saga takes place decades after the original series and decades before Valhalla.
Madsen is best known for playing fan favorite mean girl Cressida Cowper in Bridgerton, one of the Top 10 most watched series in Netflix history, since Season 1. She’s earned two SAG Award nominations as part of the ensemble and is repped by the UK’s United Agents and Ethos Entertainment.
