Even before Season 4 of the historical drama TV series “Vikings” premieres early next year on the History channel, reports are rife that King Ragnar Lothbrok, played by actor Travis Fimmel, will meet his death in the upcoming season.
Apparently, actor Fimmel has decided to concentrate on acting on the big screen with the ongoing filming for “Warcraft” where he is among the lead stars. He subsequently decided to leave “Vikings” for good, details the Christian Today.
As a result, the producers and showrunner have no other choice but to kill off his Ragnar character in the very popular and widely-followed TV series.
Ragnar is a fan-favorite character in “Vikings” and his eventual departure will be a big loss to the TV series. But as they say in show business, the show must go on.
With the impending departure of Travis Fimmel, it seems that the producers and showrunner have to rely on the other cast members of “Vikings” to pick up the slack and work together to fill the very big shoes to be vacated by the actor.
Impact on Kattegat
While there have been reports that Bjorn Ironside, the first-born son of King Ragnar, played by Alexander Ludwig, will attempt to overthrow his father, it seems very unlikely to happen because Bjorn adores his father so much.
It is likely that King Ragnar will die of either a disease or a wound but certainly not in the hands of his son or his enemies.
The bigger question that follows is that in the event of King Ragnar’s death, who will take over the throne as King of Kattegat in Denmark?
While Bjorn has the inside track on the crown, it seems that his brother Ivor the Boneless, will simply not take it sitting down. Bjorn also has a lot of things in his mind with the recent death of his wife. He also knows his brother Ivor does not favor him to sit in the throne. He also has to contend with his traitor-uncle King Rognvaldsson Rollo, played by Clive Standen, whom he wants dead, details Crossmap.
It can be recalled that in Season 3 of “Vikings,” Rollo betrayed his brother when he sold Ragnar and his hordes of Vikings to Emperor Charles of France in exchange for land titles and the marriage to his daughter.
Other than his brother Ivor, it seems that Bjorn will also have to contend with his step-mother Aslaugh. The Queen of Denmark was left in charge of Kattegat when King Ragnar and the Vikings left to conquer France.
After tasting power while King Ragnar was in France, Aslaug would be very hesitant to let go of it, which means that she may contend for it against other takers including Bjorn and Ivor.
A charismatic and magnificent actor
Executive producer Michael Hirst appears to be sold to the idea that the TV series will be losing actor Travis Fimmel soon so he already teased the possibility of King Ragnar’s death in the upcoming fourth season of “Vikings.”
In a recent interview, Hirst said that fans should take note of the fact that King Ragnar is not only sick, but he is actually hovering from life and death.
He admits that Travis has been an absolutely charismatic and magnificent actor for “Vikings” but the show has already come to the point where his young and hot sons can take over the helm. Hirst added that hopefully, the audience will continue to be engaged with Bjorn the way they were with King Ragnar, and will also follow him and his adventures or conquests.
The producers are said to be trying to carefully craft Fimmel’s graceful exit from the show in such a way that it will be less painful and disappointing to the millions of viewers of the popular TV series.
He’s gunna die by king ecbert and king aella their gunna throw him into a pit of vipers