Ragnar Lothbrok will be getting more opportunities to pillage the West after all. The History Channel announced on Friday that Vikings is renewed for a second season, which will be aired next year.

Vikings renewed Vikings renewed Vikings renewed Vikings renewed Vikings debuted in the 10:00 p.m. ET timeslot with a lead-in from the “The Bible” on March 3, and it has proven itself as a ratings success. It now ranks as the No. 1 new cable series of the year, and the first season hasn’t even reached a major climax yet.

Vikings is a win-win for us,” said Dirk Hoogstra, EVP, Development and Programming for History, in a statement. “As our first scripted series, Vikings has paid off in a big way with critical acclaim, strong ratings and a passionate, loyal fan base. It came out of the gate strong and has stayed on top, solidifying History as a major player in the scripted genre, just as we are in reality.”

The show has indeed built a fan base, but it does face some challenges in the future. Vikings will not have The Bible as a lead-in for the rest of the season, and the show will be off the air for close to a year before its second season premieres.

However, given the ratings it’s earned thus far, Vikings has a good chance to earn its share of the TV market. Look for Vikings to return in spring 2014.

Source: Deadline