Searching for viking casting can be surprisingly confusing. You may find old audition notices for Vikings, newer opportunities connected to Vikings: Valhalla, or casting posts that simply use “Viking” to describe a historical character. The dates matter because a casting call from 2016 is not an opportunity you can apply for today, even if the page still appears prominently in search results.
This guide explains what the major Viking casting calls actually involved, including the well-documented Viking casting call 2016, later Viking casting call 2023 opportunities, and why searches for a Viking casting call 2024 need extra caution. It also covers what casting teams have historically looked for, whether acting experience was required, how extras were selected, and what you can do to make a future application stronger.
Most importantly, the evidence from previous productions shows that Viking casting was not simply about having a beard, long hair, or looking Scandinavian. Physical skills, practical experience, availability, location, and the ability to fit a particular scene could all matter.
What does “Viking casting” actually mean?
“Viking casting” can refer to several different things.
It might mean:
- Casting for the original Vikings television series
- Casting for Vikings: Valhalla
- Background-extra recruitment for a historical drama
- Casting for a fantasy production featuring Viking-style warriors
- A commercial, film, or stage production looking for a Viking character
That distinction is important because the requirements can be completely different.
For example, the original Vikings production regularly recruited large numbers of background extras in Ireland. In contrast, a modern casting notice for a fantasy production might be looking for only a handful of people with battle-reenactment experience.
So before applying, identify the production name, filming dates, location and role rather than relying on the word “Viking” alone.
What happened with the Viking casting call 2016?
The 2016 Viking casting call is one of the best-documented examples of how large historical television productions recruited extras.
The History Channel’s Vikings was filming around Dublin and County Wicklow, Ireland. In May 2016, thousands of people attended open casting sessions for the show’s fifth season. Contemporary reporting described queues stretching around Dublin streets, demonstrating just how much interest the production generated.
The production wasn’t looking exclusively for professional actors.
It wanted people who could convincingly populate a Viking-era world, including:
- Men with beards
- People with long hair
- Women with naturally coloured hair
- Athletic people
- Archers
- Farm workers
- Craftspeople
- People with unusual or distinctive appearances
- People with relevant physical skills
One particularly useful lesson from the 2016 casting is that specialist abilities could make an applicant interesting even without conventional acting experience.
Contemporary reporting also mentioned people with skills such as martial arts, boxing, hunting, musicianship, nursing and other practical backgrounds.
Did the 2016 casting require professional acting experience?
Not necessarily.
Many applicants were ordinary people interested in extra work. Some had previously appeared as extras, while others were trying the process for the first time.
The process could be quite straightforward: applicants completed information forms and had photographs taken. Casting teams then kept the details and contacted selected people when their appearance suited an upcoming shoot.
This is an important distinction:
Being cast as an extra is very different from being cast in a speaking character role.
For background work, your appearance, availability and suitability for a particular scene may matter more than a long acting résumé.
What did Viking casting directors look for?
Historical productions need hundreds or thousands of people who look believable together.
That means casting can be surprisingly specific.
1. Physical appearance
Older Vikings casting notices sometimes requested:
- Beards
- Long hair
- Naturally coloured hair
- Athletic builds
- Particular height ranges
- Distinctive faces
One 2016 notice, for example, specifically sought adult male Viking extras with fair, blonde, white or red hair and beards for particular scenes.
But don’t interpret that as a universal definition of a “Viking look.”
Different scenes require different people.
2. Practical skills
This is one of the most overlooked aspects of historical casting.
Previous Vikings recruitment sought people with abilities connected to the world being portrayed. Earlier production notices mentioned archery, fishing, musicianship, animal handling, blacksmithing, carpentry, tree work and other practical skills.
For battle scenes, relevant physical training could also help.
3. Location
Location has historically been one of the biggest barriers.
The 2016 Vikings calls were aimed at people who could work around Dublin and Wicklow and who were legally able to work in Ireland.
That means someone living thousands of kilometres away couldn’t simply apply because they liked the show.
Location requirements are not a minor detail. They can determine eligibility before appearance or acting ability is even considered.
What about the Viking casting call 2023?
There was a real Viking-themed casting opportunity in Ireland in 2023, but it should not automatically be confused with Vikings or Vikings: Valhalla.
MovieExtras.ie published a casting notice in August 2023 seeking bearded, hairy male Viking types for battle scenes in Tipperary for an upcoming fantasy television show. The listed filming dates were September 25–28, 2023, with a costume fitting in the Limerick area.
The notice requested:
- Men aged 18–40
- Height of at least 5’8″
- A specified chest measurement
- Bearded/hairy Viking appearance
- Battle or war-reenactment experience
- Weapon-training experience as an advantage
- Own transportation
- Headshot and full-length photograph
- Measurements and relevant experience
The work was advertised as paid.
However, the important point for anyone searching today is that this particular casting call has expired.
Why this matters
Search engines can keep old casting pages visible long after the production has finished.
Someone searching “Viking casting call 2023” might therefore mistake an archived notice for an active opportunity.
Always check the deadline and filming dates before sending personal information.
Was there a Viking casting call 2024?
This is where search intent becomes particularly confusing.
There were casting-related activities associated with productions connected to the Vikings franchise, but that does not mean there was a general public Vikings casting call in 2024 for people to join a new season of the original series.
The original Vikings had already concluded, while Vikings: Valhalla released its third and final season in July 2024. Netflix confirmed in July 2024 that Season 3 was the final chapter of the series.
The final season featured returning leads including Sam Corlett as Leif Eriksson, Frida Gustavsson as Freydís and Leo Suter as Harald Sigurdsson.
There is also evidence of extras-casting personnel working on Vikings: Valhalla during 2023–2024, including dedicated extras-casting roles associated with the production and its Croatia unit.
So if you see a webpage today claiming to offer a generic “Viking casting call 2024”, don’t assume it is still active.
Check:
- What production is it for?
- When was the notice published?
- When was filming scheduled?
- Has the deadline passed?
- Is the production still filming?
- Does the casting company appear legitimate?
- Does the notice explain exactly where and how to apply?
Those checks can save you from applying to an opportunity that ended years ago.
How was Vikings: Valhalla casting different?
Vikings: Valhalla continued the franchise’s use of Ireland for major production work.
In 2022, casting notices sought extras for the second season, with filming planned around County Wicklow. The production stated that it wanted people of all ages, looks, shapes, sizes and backgrounds, and that previous experience was not required. Applicants needed to be resident in Ireland.
Earlier Valhalla recruitment also sought a wide range of people, including:
- Long-haired and bearded men
- Women with natural-coloured hair
- Sporty men and women
- Archers
- Battle-reenactment participants
- People with military or boot-camp backgrounds
- Marchers
- Skilled tradespeople
- Carpenters
- Farmers
- Blacksmiths
- Rowers
- Musicians
That gives us a useful picture of what large-scale historical casting can involve.
A useful insight: “Viking type” is not one look
This is one of the most important lessons from comparing different casting notices.
One production may want a stereotypical bearded warrior. Another may need farmers, merchants, sailors, prisoners, townspeople or soldiers.
A casting director isn’t necessarily asking:
“Does this person look like a Viking?”
They may actually be asking:
“Can this person convincingly belong in this particular scene?”
That’s a much broader question.
Do you need to be an actor to become a Viking extra?
No.
Previous Vikings: Valhalla recruitment explicitly stated that no previous experience was required for extras.
However, there is a major difference between:
Background extra:
Usually no dialogue and limited individual screen focus.
Featured extra:
More visible within a scene and potentially more specific actions.
Speaking role:
Requires acting ability and normally involves a more formal audition process.
Specialist performer:
May require demonstrable skills such as riding, archery, combat, rowing or other abilities.
If you have genuine specialist experience, mention it accurately. Don’t claim to be an experienced fighter because you have watched historical dramas.
How to prepare for a future Viking casting call
If you find a legitimate future casting notice, prepare before submitting.
1. Use current photographs
Casting teams need to know what you currently look like.
A basic package might include:
- Recent headshot
- Recent full-length photograph
- Height
- Age or playing age
- Hair colour
- Relevant measurements
- Location
- Contact details
Follow the production’s exact instructions rather than sending a huge portfolio.
2. List real skills
If you have experience with:
- Archery
- Horse riding
- Rowing
- Martial arts
- Historical reenactment
- Stage combat
- Farming
- Carpentry
- Blacksmithing
- Fishing
- Music
- Languages
say so.
But be specific about your actual level.
3. Be honest about availability
Historical productions can involve long days and early call times.
If the casting notice says you need several consecutive days of availability, don’t say you’re available if you already have commitments.
4. Don’t completely change your appearance for an audition
It can be tempting to grow a beard, buy Viking clothing or dramatically alter your hair.
Usually, that’s unnecessary unless the casting notice specifically requests it.
Casting teams can style hair, facial hair and costumes later.
Common mistakes when searching for Viking casting
Mistake 1: Applying to an expired notice
This is probably the most common problem.
A page appearing in Google doesn’t mean the casting is open.
Mistake 2: Confusing Vikings with Vikings: Valhalla
They’re related productions, but they are not the same series.
Always check the production title.
Mistake 3: Assuming every Viking role needs a beard
Some casting calls have specifically wanted bearded men, but others have recruited people across a much broader range of appearances.
Mistake 4: Ignoring location restrictions
If a notice says “Ireland residents only,” applying from another country may accomplish nothing.
Mistake 5: Paying for a guaranteed role
Be cautious about anyone promising that payment guarantees you a part.
A legitimate opportunity should clearly explain the production and application process.
Mistake 6: Exaggerating specialist experience
If you have taken three archery lessons, don’t describe yourself as an experienced archer.
Casting directors may test the skill on set.
Three less obvious lessons from Viking casting
1. Ordinary skills can be more valuable than an acting résumé
Historical productions need believable communities, not just warriors.
A carpenter, rower, farmer or musician can sometimes offer something more useful for a particular background scene than an inexperienced actor who simply looks the part.
2. Your location can matter more than your appearance
Someone who perfectly matches the desired look but cannot legally or practically work near the filming location may be unusable.
That’s why casting notices often emphasize residency and availability.
3. Casting is frequently about the scene, not the individual
An applicant may imagine getting a heroic Viking role, but the production might actually need someone to stand in a marketplace, row a boat, carry supplies or form part of a battle formation.
One veteran Vikings extra interviewed during the 2016 casting process explained that extras could end up performing very different background roles rather than choosing exactly what they wanted to play.
That’s a useful mindset: apply for the production, not for the fantasy version of the role in your head.
FAQ
Is there a Viking casting call 2024 that is still open?
A casting notice labeled 2024 should not automatically be treated as current. Vikings: Valhalla released its final season in July 2024, and many older Viking-related notices remain searchable after their deadlines. Always verify the production status, filming dates and closing date before applying.
What was the Viking casting call 2016 looking for?
The 2016 Vikings recruitment in Ireland sought large numbers of extras and considered people with different appearances, backgrounds and practical skills. Specific notices included athletic men and women, bearded men, long-haired people, archers and people with relevant physical or historical skills.
Was there a Viking casting call 2023?
Yes, at least one documented 2023 casting notice in Ireland sought bearded male “Viking types” for battle scenes in Tipperary for a fantasy television production. It required specific physical characteristics and relevant battle or reenactment experience, but that particular opportunity has expired.
Do Viking extras need acting experience?
Not always. Previous Vikings: Valhalla recruitment specifically said that previous experience was not required for extras. Speaking characters and specialist roles are different and generally demand more relevant experience or demonstrated ability.
What skills are useful for Viking casting?
Archery, horse riding, rowing, stage combat, martial arts, historical reenactment and practical trades can be useful depending on the production. Previous Viking-related casting has also looked for people with skills such as carpentry, farming, blacksmithing and musicianship.
Conclusion
Viking casting has historically been much broader than simply finding people who look like stereotypical Norse warriors. The original Vikings recruited huge numbers of extras in Ireland, while Vikings: Valhalla continued to use a wide casting pool that included people with different appearances, backgrounds and practical abilities.
The Viking casting call 2016 is now historical, and the documented Viking casting call 2023 in Tipperary has also expired. Likewise, searches for a Viking casting call 2024 need careful verification because Vikings: Valhalla concluded with its third and final season in 2024.
If you’re looking for a future opportunity, the smartest approach is simple: identify the actual production, verify the dates, check the location requirements, follow the application instructions exactly, and present your real skills honestly. In Viking-style productions, authenticity and practical usefulness can matter just as much as traditional acting experience.
