They're back … Vikings Season Two - The Raid Continues on HISTORY® Thursday, February 27 at 10 p.m. ET/PT

Canadian Alexander Ludwig Joins the Cast

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NEW YORK/TORONTO, Dec. 20, 2013 /CNW/ - Last spring, HISTORY® introduced viewers to a clan of Norse warriors with a rapacious appetite for warfare, knowledge and power. The gripping family saga of Ragnar, Rollo, Lagertha, friends and enemies was a tale of brutality and passion, alliances and infidelities, infighting and death. It portrayed life in the Dark Ages, a world ruled by raiders and explorers, through the eyes of Viking society.

The epic tale continues in 10 all-new episodes of Vikings, premiering Thursday, February 27 at 10p.m. ET/PT on HISTORY®. The hit scripted drama series centres on Ragnar (Travis Fimmel), a restless young warrior and family man who longs to find and conquer new lands across the sea and claim the spoils as his own. Now he is an Earl, allied with King Horrik (Donal Logue). With more power than ever before, his desire to sail west and explore new kingdoms remains unquenchable.

Yet there's a heavy price to pay for Ragnar's ascent to greatness. Season two brings crises of faith, of power, of relationships. Brothers rise up against one another. Loyalties shift from friend to foe, and unlikely alliances are formed in the name of supremacy. Ragnar's indiscretions threaten his marriage to Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick), tearing him and his beloved son apart. Plots are hatched, scores are settled, blood is spilled…all under the watchful eyes of the gods.

"Season one of Vikings was a smash hit for HISTORY, captivating a huge and dedicated audience and becoming the top Canadian specialty drama of the year," said Barbara Williams, Senior Vice President, Content, Shaw Media. "With epic storytelling and unforgettable characters, season two delivers more battles, more betrayals and more bitter rivalries that viewers won't want to miss."

New to the cast of Vikings are Alexander Ludwig (The Hunger Games) as Bjorn, the intelligent and bold warrior son of Ragnar Lothbrok, and Linus Roache (Law & Order) as Ecbert, King of Wessex, a man of strength, knowledge and undisguised ambition. They join Travis Fimmel as Ragnar Lothbrok; Katheryn Winnick as Lagertha, a fierce shield maiden and Ragnar's wife; Clive Standen as Rollo, Ragnar's impulsive, wild, care-free brother; George Blagden as Athelstan, a young and not-so-innocent Monk; Jessalyn Gilsig as Siggy, beautiful wife of the late Earl Haraldson; Donal Logue as King Horrik, who desires to make the increasingly famous Earl Ragnar an ally and supporter; Gustaf Skarsgard as Floki, a ship builder who designs the new generation of Viking ships; and Alyssa Sutherland as Princess Aslaug, Ragnar's new love interest.

Over its nine-episode first season, Vikings became Canada's #1 specialty entertainment drama of 2013*, with over 5 million Canadians tuning in to season one**.

Vikings was created and written by Michael Hirst - one of the premiere historical story-tellers in the industry (Academy-Award® winning film Elizabeth; and the Emmy® and Golden Globe®-nominated series The Tudors), Hirst serves as Executive Producer along with Morgan O'Sullivan of World 2000 (The Count of Monte Cristo; The Tudors), John Weber of Take 5 Productions (The Tudors; The Borgias), Sherry Marsh, Alan Gasmer, James Flynn (The Tudors; The Borgias) and Sheila Hockin (The Tudors; The Borgias). Vikings is an international Irish/Canadian co-production being co-produced by World 2000 and Take 5 Productions, in association with Shaw Media.

* Source: BBM Canada PPM Data 12/31/12-12/01/13 A25-54 All CDN Specialty
**Source: BBM Canada PPM Data CumRch (000) Ind 2+ 2/25/13-4/28/13

HISTORY is a Shaw Media Network.

About Shaw Communications Inc.
Shaw is a diversified communications and media company, providing consumers with broadband cable television, High-Speed Internet, Home Phone, telecommunications services (through Shaw Business), satellite direct-to-home services (through Shaw Direct) and engaging programming content (through Shaw Media). Shaw serves 3.3 million customers, through a reliable and extensive fibre network. Shaw Media operates one of the largest conventional television networks in Canada, Global Television, and 19 specialty networks including HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, HISTORY® and Showcase. Shaw is traded on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges and is included in the S&P/TSX 60 Index (Symbol: TSX - SJR.B, NYSE - SJR). For more information about Shaw, please visit www.shaw.ca.

SOURCE: Shaw Media

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