Canadian indie producer Take 5 Productions is back in the European scripted drama business with Shaw Media.

Shaw Media’s History Television specialty channel is to air Vikings, the first scripted drama from MGM Studios’ TV division, now under the control of former Chum Television exec Roma Khanna.

The epic drama about the legendary Norsemen of medieval times is set to shoot at Ashford Studios in Ireland and in northern Europe, before debuting in 2013.

The Vikings series, from writer/creator Michael Hirst of The Tudors and Elizabeth TV and film adaptation fame, is structured as an Irish-Canadian co-production between Toronto-based Take 5 Productions and U.K. partner World 2000.

MGM will distribute the drama outside of Ireland and Canada, and AETV’s History channel will air the series in the U.S. market.

Shaw Media earlier acquired the Canadian rights to World Without End, a German-Canadian co-production from Take 5 Productions and European partners.

Hirst serves as executive producer on Vikings, along with Morgan O’Sullivan of World 2000 (The Tudors), John Weber of Take 5 Productions, and Sherry Marsh and Alan Gasmer.

Photo: Ivan Walsh / flickr Creative Commons