Gabriel Byrne will star in History Television’s first scripted series, Vikings, an Irish-Canadian co-production set to premiere in 2013.

The epic drama focuses on exploration and conflict in the Viking society, and centres on historical figure Ragmar Lothbrok’s rise to power over the Viking tribes during medieval times.

Byrne will play a Viking ruler in Lothbrok’s district who opposes Lothbrok’s ambitions to rule the tribes.

Vikings is co-produced by Toronto-based Take 5 Productions (The Tudors, Camelot) and Ireland’s World 2000, and will be broadcast in Canada on Shaw Media’s History Television.

The series will be filmed at the newly built Ashford Studios in Ireland, and all post-production, VFX, sound design and music composition will take place in Canada.

Vikings was written and created by Michael Hirst (Elizabeth, The Tudors), who will executive produce along with Morgan O’Sullivan of World 2000, John Weber of Take 5 Productions, and Sherry Marsh, Alan Gasmer, James Flynn and Sheila Hockin.

MGM will distribute the series internationally, outside of Ireland and Canada.