Travis Fimmel is making his long-awaited return to the Viking world in Outlaw King, a bold new film that reignites the legend of Ragnar Lothbrok for a new era. Fans who’ve long mourned the death of Ragnar in the original Vikings series will be thrilled to see Fimmel step back into a role that captures the spirit, fury, and complexity of the iconic Norse warrior. While Outlaw King is not a direct continuation, it is deeply rooted in the legacy Ragnar left behind—and Fimmel is at the center of it all.
Set several years after Ragnar’s death, Outlaw King explores a fractured Scandinavia, where rival clans and broken sons battle for control in the vacuum of his absence. Fimmel portrays a hardened warrior living in exile, a man whose name is whispered in both fear and reverence—a ghost of a king who once defied empires. The film reimagines Ragnar not just as a historical figure, but as a symbol of rebellion against tyranny, and that defiance burns at the heart of the story.
This standalone film is being produced by MGM in partnership with the original creative team behind Vikings, and early footage suggests a return to the gritty, visceral aesthetic that made the series so memorable. Unlike the sweeping arcs of long-form television, Outlaw King promises a tightly focused narrative—a character-driven odyssey packed with war, loss, and reckoning. It’s a story about legacy, and the cost of being remembered as a legend.
Though Fimmel’s Ragnar has aged, he is no less dangerous. Scarred and disillusioned, he is drawn back into the conflict when whispers of his bloodline threaten the uneasy balance of power. With enemies old and new gathering around him, Ragnar must decide whether to remain in exile or return as a king with no throne, a warrior with no home, and a father whose name still casts a long shadow.
The film’s title, Outlaw King, is more than symbolic. It reflects Ragnar’s journey from hero to fugitive, from ruler to legend. It challenges the romanticism of Viking myth and digs into the reality of survival in a brutal world. Fimmel brings his trademark intensity to a version of Ragnar who is haunted, angry, and deeply human. This is not a return to the glory days—it’s a confrontation with everything that followed.
Director Daniel Espinosa, known for his work on Morbius and Safe House, brings a darker cinematic edge to the Viking genre. His vision leans into Norse mysticism, natural landscapes, and the psychological burden of legacy. Combined with Fimmel’s brooding performance, the result is a film that’s both epic and intimate—a rare blend in modern historical cinema.
Fans of the original series will spot familiar references and subtle callbacks to Ragnar’s past, but Outlaw King is designed to stand on its own. Whether you’ve followed Fimmel’s journey from the beginning or are just stepping into the Viking world, the story delivers an emotionally charged, action-filled experience that feels timely and timeless.
With its 2026 release already building buzz, Outlaw King is poised to reignite interest in Viking sagas with fresh intensity. Travis Fimmel’s return is not just fan service—it’s a reclamation of a character who continues to define modern historical storytelling. Ragnar may have died, but in Outlaw King, his fire still burns.
