vikings season 4 renewed
The "Vikings" gang will return for a Season 4, which will start being filmed this spring in Ireland. Pictured: Floki (Gustaf Skarsgård) Queen Aslaug (Alyssa Sutherland), Siggy (Jessalyn Gilsig), King Ecbert (Linus Roache), Rollo (Clive Standen), Athelstan (George Blagden) and King Ragnar (Travis Fimmel), Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) and Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick). History Channel

Thorsday lives on! The History Channel officially confirmed the Season 4 return of Ragnar (Travis Fimmel), Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) and the Lothbrok clan with the renewal of Michael Hirst’s historical drama “Vikings" Thursday. (We’ll give you a moment to let this exciting news sink in.)

Although the rousing announcement of Season 4 warrants a cheer or two, it’s definitely not surprising. In addition to killing it on the battlefield, the “Vikings” have also been slaying the ratings. The gruesome series averages 4.3 million total viewers (2 million belonging to that coveted 18-49 demographic), thus making the bloody drama, which is currently five episodes into its thrilling third season, the No. 1 cable series on Thursday nights. Praise Odin!

"'Vikings' has raided the hearts of both audiences and critics, establishing itself as one of the most compelling, visually stunning dramas on television,” History and H2 EVP and general manager Dick Hoogstra said in a statement. Production of the fourth season will begin in Ireland this spring.

But that’s not all we know about the coming season. During an interview with RadioTimes, Hirst revealed he already has an idea of how he wants the series to evolve. “I’ve written five episodes. We’re going to do more episodes this year, I think we’re doing 16,” Hirst said. “I have a huge hope that we can continue [beyond that].”

Hirst is very hopeful of a fruitful future for the series. The creator explained that he hopes the drama can continue with the storyline of Ragnar’s children after [SPOILER ALERT] Fimmel’s character meets his predetermined fate.

“I always anticipated continuing with Ragnar’s sons because many of them became as famous, if not more famous, than he was,” Hirst told RadioTimes. “There was the rather remarkably named Ivar the Boneless and Ragnar’s elder son [Bjorn, played by Alexander Ludwig] who sailed around the Mediterranean, and then they went to Iceland and Greenland.”

Are you looking forward to the future of “Vikings”? Episode 6 of Season 3 will air on Thursday, March 26, at 10 p.m. EDT on the History Channel.

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