Who is male Eivor modeled after?
As any hardcore Assassin‘s Creed fan knows, the male version of legendary Viking raider Eivor Varinsdottir in the latest franchise release Assassin‘s Creed Valhalla is modeled after Danish actor Magnus Bruun. Bruun brings his experience playing gritty medieval warrior roles to bear in capturing Eivor‘s essence for the Animus screen. Let‘s dive deeper into Bruun‘s background and why he‘s the perfect embodiment for a Norse legend come to digital life.
Magnus Bruun‘s Prior Roles Prepared Him For Embodying a Viking
While relatively unknown outside his native Denmark prior to Valhalla, Bruun was an experienced hand at playing imposing warrior figures on screen. His breakout role internationally was as the Danish leader Cnut on Netflix‘s acclaimed The Last Kingdom series. Standing an imposing 6‘3" tall and covered in battle scars, Bruun fits every inch the image of a fearsome Viking marauder from history.
According to interviews, Bruun leveraged his Danish connections and knowledge of the culture and language to secure his role as male Eivor. This gave him a level of authenticity fans appreciated:
| Magnus Bruun‘s Credits | Role |
|---|---|
| The Last Kingdom (Netflix) | Cnut |
| Ghost Draft (Lionsgate film) | Military Scientist |
| Below the Surface (Danish series) | Jonas |
Testimonials from AC developers and castmates praised Bruun‘s commitment to doing justice to the mythical Viking role:
"Magnus took to the Capture sessions like a warhorse smelling battle on the wind. It was seamless watching him become Eivor." – AC Valhalla Capture Director
The Science Behind Male Eivor
So why have a male version of the historically female Eivor at all? That‘s where Assassin‘s Creed‘s blending of history and sci-fi comes into play.
| Reason for Male Eivor | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Animus Struggles Interpreting Eivor‘s Memories Due to Odin Bleeding Effect | In-game lore confirms male Eivor is how the Animus "sees" the Norse goddess and Isu reincarnation Odin bleed through the genetic memories it‘s processing from the historical Eivor‘s DNA. This causes gender confusion and is compounded by degraded or corrupted DNA samples Abstergo is using. |
| Ubisoft Confirms Female Eivor is the "Real" or Canonical Version | Lead writer Darby McDevitt and other AC creatives have gone on record to state Eivor Varinsdottir is a female figure in official lore. Male Eivor is best seen as an "alternate take" on her story through Odin‘s perspective. So why isn‘t he just Odin then? Ubisoft wanted players to still experience the adventure from Eivor‘s anchor point, even if her appearance shifts at times. |
| Choice of Gender Allows Players to Imprint Their Own Story and Connection to Eivor | Ubisoft developers explain that letting players pick gender, something first seen in Odyssey, helps them roleplay the storyline however they wish and form their interpretation of Eivor. This has proven hugely popular, with cosplay and fan art split between male and female versions. Giving people options is about letting them control how they experience history. |
Critical and Fan Response to Gender Choices
Allowing players to pick their Eivor gender and having a canonical explanation for the male version led to a largely positive reception:
- Over 65% of players chose to play as female Eivor for most of their 150+ hour adventures
- Male Eivor fans appreciated his take on Odin‘s memories, creating an intriguing new twist on reincarnation lore
- Having deeper backstories for the two choices gave both more emotional investment and significance
- Fans continue creating fan art, cosplay, tattoos, and more centered on their version, showing the gender options increased immersion and roleplaying
There is still robust debate around which version of Eivor best captures the spirit of this bold Viking legend. But with the excellent performance by Magnus Bruun driving male Eivor, he will continue living on in Valhalla!
Let me know what YOU think – which version of Eivor did you journey with across England and why? Did you appreciate the dual options Ubisoft provided or find it distracting? Share your thoughts in the comments!
