Get Your First Glimpse of ‘Beowolf’, Esquire’s New Drama Series (VIDEO)

Beowolf Esquire

Esquire Network turned to the thousand-year-old epic poem Beowulf (yep, the Old English saga students have struggled with for century or so) as inspiration for a rip-roaring series that sounds like the love child of Game of Thrones and Vikings.

Set in the mythological kingdom of the Shieldlands, the 13-episode drama, which premieres on Saturday, Jan. 23 at 10/9c, stars Kieran Bew (DaVinci’s Demons) as the beleaguered hero Beowulf, who returns home to find a changed town and to be accused of murder He then sets out on a journey to find the true murderer and seek justice for those who were slain.

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Joining him in the cast are William Hurt (Damages) as Hrothgar, leader of the Alliance of Shieldlands which is made of 13 tribes, and Beowolf’s adoptive father; Joanne Whalley (Wolf Hall) as Rheda, Hrothgar’s wife and a rising leader; Ed Speleers (Downton Abbey) as Slean, Hrothgar and Rheda’s ambitious son whose jealous of his father’s affection for Beowolf; Lauran Donnelly (Outlander) as Elvina, a healer who has affections for both Beowolf and Slean; and David Ajala (Black Box) as Rate, an Alliance warrior looking to protect people in the kingdom.

Expect lots of derring-do, sex and maybe a monster or two (think giants and ogres). Watch the first trailer of the epic adventure below.