Nicolas Winding Refn Talks ‘Valhalla Rising’ Sequel
Only God Forgives director Nicolas Winding Refn said he is preparing a sequel to his ultra-violent 2009 fantasy Valhalla Rising.
The acclaimed filmmaker has a number of projects in his filmography deserving of a follow-up. However, Refn’s blood-soaked and virtually silent action flick isn’t really at the top of the list.
Although people have been clamoring for a sequel to the Ryan Gosling thriller Drive, it would appear Nicolas Winding Refn is more concerned with continuing the adventures of the deadly mute found in Valhalla Rising. For fans of the flick, this is certainly good news.
According to The Wrap, the director is seriously considering a sequel to the underrated adventure. Refn said Mads Mikkelsen would likely return as One-Eye, a character that would make his way to Tokyo for the sequel.
“There’s a similarity between ‘Valhalla Rising,’ ‘Drive’ and ‘Only God Forgives.’ But in a way I had this idea of Mads Mikklesen to go back to the origins of this character. But make the movie in Tokyo,” Refn told the folks at The Playlist.
Set in the year 1,000 A.D., Valhalla Rising tells the story of One-Eye and a boy named Are as they venture across a violent and savage land. When they board a Viking vessel, the duo and a band of warriors find themselves on a journey to a distant land. What follows is hard to put into words.
Nicolas Winding Refn explained the sequel would likely take place at some point in the future. However, the director hasn’t revealed how he plans to take One-Eye from 1,000 A.D. to another time and place. If the follow-up is anything like his previous effort, it should be a feast for the eyes.
The filmmaker’s latest effort, the Ryan Gosling thriller Only God Forgives, wasn’t very well received during its screening at this year’s Canne Film Festival. Refn’s work is often polarizing, so this writer is definitely curious to see the feature for himself. It’s currently unclear when the flick will arrive in theaters across North America.
Are you a fan of Nicolas Winding Refn? What do you think about the director putting together a sequel to his 2009 adventure flick Valhalla Rising?
