While the Greeks and Romans have always been well-represented on the big screen, their northern neighbors, the hearty Vikings, have received comparative short thrift. Classic films like Spartacus, Gladiator and 300 all serve as fine tributes to the Greco-Roman legacy and culture. Vikings, on the other hand, have been represented by such lame offerings as Pathfinder and The 13th Warrior.
Maybe Ryan Phillippe can reverse that trend. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the pouty-lipped former Mr. Witherspoon has signed on to portray a seventh century Viking warrior in writer/director Menno Meyjes' (The Martian Child, Manolete) upcoming epic Last Battle Dreamer. Phillippe doesn't exactly seem like the raping and pillaging type, but who knows. Perhaps he can channel some of that post-divorce rage into his performance. Sean Bean and Abbie Cornish are set to co-star.