Norwegian soccer superstar Erling Haaland is making his film debut, playing (natch) a Viking in Viqueens, the upcoming animated film from fellow Norwegian Harald Zwart (The Karate Kid, Agent Cody Banks), The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Haaland will voice an animated version of himself, a Viking called Haaland, in the film, described as an animated adventure-comedy set in a “world of fearless warrior girls, icy fjords, and Silk Road mythology.”

For Haaland fans that casting could hardly be more apt. 6’5” and statuesque, with a muscular psysique, tremendous attacking speed and shoulder-length block locks, the Norwegian striker has long been compared to a viking warrior. Just 25, Haaland is already a legend of the sport. He holds the single-season goals record in England’s Premiere League (36 goals in his 2022–23 season for Manchester City) and was the fastest player in history to score 100 goals, hitting the career landmark in just 105 matches.

“As a Norwegian storyteller making a Viking adventure for a global audience, having Erling Haaland join ViQueens feels incredibly exciting,” said Zwart. “Erling has already become a kind of real-life Viking icon around the world – powerful, fearless, and uniquely Norwegian. Bringing him into this universe as himself gives the film an unexpected energy and authenticity that felt completely right for this story.”

Brit pop singer Rita Ora and actress Ella Purnell star in ViQueens, voicing the leads, Hedvig and Ingrid, two rebellious Viking girls who defy tradition to embark on an epic cross-cultural journey from Norway to China. Ora has lent her voice to the character of Wondering Blade in the Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight aninmated series and was in the voice cast of Pokémon: Detective Pikachu. Purnell is best-known for her roles in TV series Yellowjackets and Fallout but also voiced Jinx in the hit animated series Arcane.

Other cast members including Steve Speirs (Star Wars – Episode One: The Phantom Menace) as King Erik, Anton Lesser (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) as his scheming brother Lars, and British comedian and TV personality Alan Carr as the Bard, a lyrically-challenged royal scribe. Acclaimed composer Christophe Beck (Frozen, Frozen II, Buffy The Vampire Slayer TV series) is writing the original score for the film.

Zwart is directing ViQueens, with Veslemøy Ruud Zwart of Norway’s Zwart Arbeid (The 12th Man, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones) producing for Karve Animation.

ViQueens is Zwart’s first animated feature. The Dutch-Norwegian director has moved between U.S. and European features for most of his career, mixing local-language films including World War Two drama The 12th Man (2017)and soccer comedy franchise Long Flat Balls with Hollywood fare like fantasy adventure The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (2013) and 2010 The Karate Kid reboot starring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith.

ViQueens is currently in production. Sola Media is handling worldwide sales. The company first pitched the project to buyers with an exclusive teaser at the American Film Market last year, and will be looking to secure major territory pre-sales at the Cannes Film Market this week.

Getting Haaland on the ViQueens team is certain to boost the project’s international appeal. He is one of the world’s most recognizable athletes with a global fan base, including more than 40 million followers on Instagram.

“Erling Haaland transcends sports – he’s a global cultural figure,” notes Solveig Langeland, Managing Director of Sola Media. “His involvement brings another exciting dimension to a film that already combines international adventure, humor, and emotional storytelling in a way we believe will resonate with audiences everywhere.”

ViQueens is executive produced by Torgeir Sanders of Gimpville (Troll, Troll Hunter), Robert Chandler of Space Age Films (The Amazing Maurice, The Canterville Ghost), Peter Clausen of OPCM (Lilyhammer, Jo Nesbø’s Harry Hole), Andrew Williams of Vamonos, Rasmus Ramstad of Rumba AS, and Langeland.

The film is slated for delivery in late 2026, with a home territory release planned for this Christmas.