TWO-HOUR SEASON FIVE PREMIERE OF HISTORY'S HIT DRAMA SERIES "VIKINGS" AIRS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29 AT 9 PM ET/PT

San Diego, CA. - July 21, 2017 - HISTORY's hit drama series "Vikings" returns on Wednesday, November 29 at 9 PM ET/PT with a two-hour season five premiere, it was announced today from San Diego Comic-Con International. An exclusive trailer of the new season was unveiled during the "Vikings" cast panel this evening at Comic-Con.

Across all platforms, the last season of "Vikings" averaged 7.8 million viewers per episode. "Vikings" is a top five drama across ad supported cable and averaged 4.1 million total viewers last season in Live+7 delivery. Additionally, the series reached 34.3 million total viewers in linear Live+7.

"Vikings' is about bold storytelling. When Michael Hirst told us his epic plans for the season premiere, we needed two hours to tell it properly," said Arturo Interian, Senior Vice President, Scripted Programming, HISTORY. "Season five is taking our Vikings to uncharted lands we've never seen on the series before."

Jonathan Rhys Meyers ("The Tudors") joins the cast in season five as "Bishop Heahmund" along with series regulars Katheryn Winnick ("Lagertha"), Gustaf Skarsgård ("Floki"), Alexander Ludwig ("Bjorn") and Alex Høgh Andersen ("Ivar the Boneless").

Season five begins with Ivar the Boneless asserting his leadership over the Great Heathen Army, while Lagertha reigns as Queen of Kattegat. Ivar's murder of his brother Sigurd sets the stage for vicious battles to come as Ragnar's sons plot their next moves after avenging their father's death. Bjorn follows his destiny into the Mediterranean Sea and Floki who is suffering from the loss of his wife Helga, takes to the seas submitting himself to the will of the Gods. This season is full of startling alliances and unbelievable betrayals as the Vikings fight to rule the world.

"Vikings" is the critically acclaimed series from creator and sole writer Michael Hirst (Academy Award(R) winning film Elizabeth and the Emmy(R) and Golden Globe(R) nominated series "The Tudors") and is a family saga that tells the remarkable tales of the lives and epic adventures of the raiders and explorers of the Dark Ages.

Hirst serves as executive producer along with Morgan O'Sullivan of World 2000 (The Count of Monte Cristo; "The Tudors"), Sheila Hockin ("The Tudors," "The Borgias"), John Weber of Take 5 Productions ("The Tudors," "The Borgias"), Sherry Marsh, Alan Gasmer, and James Flynn ("The Tudors," "The Borgias"). Arturo Interian serves as the executive in charge of production for HISTORY.

"Vikings" is an international Irish/Canadian co-production by World 2000 and Take 5 Productions. MGM Television serves as the worldwide distributor outside of Ireland and Canada. "Vikings" is produced in association with Corus Entertainment.

About HISTORY(R)

HISTORY(R), now reaching more than 96 million homes, is the leading destination for award-winning series and specials that connect viewers with history in an informative, immersive and entertaining manner across all platforms. The network's all-original programming slate features a roster of signature series including Pawn Stars, American Pickers, The Curse of Oak Island, Alone as well as the hit drama series Vikings and SIX. The HISTORY website is located at history.com. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/history and Facebook at facebook.com/history.