The Northman,' according to Robert Eggers, is a true picture of Viking culture and mythology

"The Northman," a new star-studded revenge epic from director Robert Eggers, is both a big popcorn movie and a true picture of Viking culture and mythology, according to Eggers.

Alexander Skarsgard plays Viking prince Amleth, who flees his home in the North Atlantic when his uncle (Claes Bang) cruelly murders his father, King Aurvandil, in 895. (Ethan Hawke).

Years later, Amleth disguises himself as a slave and journeys to Iceland to avenge his father's murder and to rescue his mother, Queen Gudrun (Nicole Kidman). Along the way, he meets Olga (Anya Taylor-Joy), a fascinating woman with whom he makes his first true human connection since childhood.

"There really hasn't been an accurate Viking movie ever before," Eggers said at the film's London premiere. "I was working with the greatest historians and archaeologists in the field, and one thing is for sure, this is the most accurate Viking movie that's ever been made."

Skarsgard, who had been working on a Viking epic for some years before meeting Eggers, is producing "The Northman."

He remarked, "It's been a dream of mine since I was a small child growing up in Sweden, surrounded by runestones."

To play the burly Viking, Skarsgard, 45, underwent a physical metamorphosis with his "Tarzan" trainer Magnus Lygdback.

"Amleth becomes a hybrid of a bear and a wolf when he transitions from his human condition to his spirit animal state, therefore it was vital to bulk out and get a little bigger," he explained.

Eggers had already directed two feature films, "The Lighthouse" and "The Witch," but this was his first time directing a violent, large-scale action scene. To keep his hundreds of extras, stunt performers, and animals on schedule, he needed precise preparation and organisation.

He adores realism, extended takes, and situations with no cuts. It's difficult to shoot large, large action set pieces with only one camera and one shot. As a result, we had to rehearse them a lot and work on the choreography and the interplay between the characters and the camera," Skarsgard remarked of the experience.

In April, the film "The Northman," which also stars Icelandic singer Bjork in her first big screen appearance in 17 years, will be released in theatres all around the world. (Reuters)