Travis Fimmel’s journey to Dune: from playing Ragnar in ‘Vikings’ to living on a farm

Travis Fimmel captured the world’s attention with his portrayal of Ragnar Lothbrok in Vikings (and some gamers may remember him as Anduin Lothar in the Warcraft movie). Now he takes on a new challenge in Dune: Prophecy as Desmond Hart, “a charismatic soldier with a mysterious past who seeks to gain the Emperor’s trust at the expense of the Sisterhood”. From the historical world of Norse mythology to the distant future of Arrakis, Fimmel’s journey has been both fascinating and unexpected.

Rise to fame: Ragnar in Vikings

Let’s face it, Travis Fimmel was Vikings. His portrayal of Ragnar Lothbrok, the fierce yet thoughtful Viking leader, made him a breakout star around the world. His rugged charisma, multi-layered performance and portrayal of a man torn between ambition and spirituality earned him widespread acclaim. Ragnar’s rise and fall became central to the series, and Fimmel’s ability to embody both a fierce warrior and a reflective, flawed human being made him a fan favourite.

The role catapulted him into the spotlight and proved he could handle just about any kind of complex, action-packed character. But when Ragnar’s story came to an end, Fimmel decided to take a step back from the Hollywood frenzy.

A quieter life

After leaving the Viking world behind, Fimmel did something unexpected - he went back to his roots, literally. Instead of chasing more big roles, he retreated to his farm in Australia. It turns out that Fimmel is more of a laid-back country boy at heart. While living the quiet life, he has been selective about his roles, carefully choosing projects that align with his interests rather than being constantly in the public eye.

Dune: Prophecy and Desmond Hart

While Fimmel has had a number of roles in TV and film, his next big role will take him into the sci-fi world of Dune with Dune Prophecy. He will play Desmond Hart. Desmond is a charismatic soldier with a mysterious past, in a story that will take us into the past of the world of this saga. It’s certainly a far cry from his days as Ragnar, but if there’s one thing Fimmel is good at, it’s playing characters that keep you guessing.