Vikings cast: Why did Heahmund star Jonathan Rhys Meyers leave Vikings?
VIKINGS is streaming on Amazon Prime Video now and fans are curious to know more about Johnathan Rhys Meyers, who starred as Bishop Heahmund in seasons 4 and 5 of the historical drama.
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Vikings season six, part B is coming soon to Amazon Prime Video and the History Channel. One character who was notably missing from part A was Bishop Heahmund, played by award-winning actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Why did he leave Vikings? Express.co.uk has everything you need to know.
Why did Jonathan Rhys Meyers leave Vikings?
Meyers joined the cast of Vikings for the show’s fifth season.
He played holy man and warrior Bishop Heahmund, a character written specifically for him by series creator Michael Hirst.
During his time on Vikings, Heahmund made an alliance with his enemy Ivar the Boneless (played by Alex Hogh Andersen) and fell in love with Ragnar Lothbrok’s (Travis Fimmel) widow, Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick).
Heahmund was introduced in season four of the show as the Bishop of Sherborne.
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Despite being a holy man, he struggled with his own personal demons, including alcohol and sex.
Sadly, Heahmund was killed in the bloody Battle of Marton in season five, episode 15 of the show titled Hell.
The Battle of Marton took place on March 22, 871, in Wessex against the invading Vikings led by Harald Finehair (Peter Franzén).
His death marked a major loss for the series and more specifically for his lover Lagertha, as Heahmund died shouting her name.
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Heahmund’s death meant Meyers had to say goodbye to his time on Vikings.
Speaking to Variety in 2018, Meyers opened up about why Heahmund’s story had come to an end.
He said: “Heahmund is only a footnote in history [so] there was no precedent to have his character continue.
“The nature of the character and his intensity means that he is much like a Roman candle: it must shine bright, have its effect and leave.
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“The death scene was filmed in the snow and bitter cold in a rather enclosed field, and of course these scenes must be very intense and quite mechanical to shoot as we are dealing with arrows, but it does have a fluidity in its manifestation of the circumstances and consequences of his death and what it means for Lagertha.”
Heahmund was based on the real medieval Bishop of Sherborne of the same name but unfortunately, very little is known about him.
The real Heahmund died at the Battle of Mereton in 871 and he was buried at Keynsham in Somerset.
Show creator Hirst also revealed to the publication he knew Meyers' time on the show would be short.
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Hirst explained: “Heahmund is such an extreme character that he had to die and he had to die heroically in battle.
“He’s the kind of character who is simply not interested in survival. He has an extraordinary presence and even thinking slightly of characters like Richard the Lionheart, who also could never have died in his bed, warriors of that ilk and passion are so extreme that they would have to burn themselves out on the battlefield.
"It is like this rocket that goes up and is brilliant and illuminates everything for a while, but then has to die out, and returns quickly into the darkness.
“Jonny [Rhys Meyers] was perfect for that role, absolutely perfect. Of course, I’d worked with him before [on The Tudors] and I knew the passion and charisma that he’d bring to the role. But I also knew right from the start that it wouldn’t necessarily be a protracted role."
Hirst continued: “He’s not someone who follows an ordinary human path. He doesn’t care as we would about dying.
“So, I knew from the start he would have to have a glorious death."
Sadly, Heahmund’s return in the final 10 episodes seems unlikely, considering he was killed in season five of the historical drama series.
Additionally, with Lagertha also dead and in Valhalla, there is very little purpose in the storyline for him to return.
However, show creator Michael Hirst is known for keeping viewers on the edge of their seats and shocking viewers with the plot of Vikings, so fans should not rule out an appearance from Heahmund.
For example, Heahmund could appear in the form of a flashback or in a vision.
Fans will have to wait until Vikings season six, part B to find out.
Vikings is streaming on Amazon Prime Video now
