Rita Ora has released “The Current,” a new song from the soundtrack of the upcoming animated film ViQueens, which premiered on streaming platforms on November 10, 2026. The British singer also voices Hedvig, one of two young Viking heroines whose adventure takes them from Norway to China. Directed by Harald Zwart, the film features Ella Purnell as Ingrid in its English-language cast and opens in Norwegian cinemas on December 25.
Rita Ora has added a new soundtrack release to her catalogue with “The Current,” a song written for the upcoming animated adventure ViQueens. Released on November 10, the single introduces a musical element of a film that follows two young Viking girls across unfamiliar lands, from the northern coast of Norway to the Chinese emperor’s palace. The project also brings the singer into the story as one of its leading voice performers.
The track is officially listed as “The Current (From The ViQueens Soundtrack)” and runs for two minutes and 57 seconds. Released through Range Records, it is a standalone song associated with the film rather than an announced preview of Ora’s next solo studio album. Its arrival gives listeners an early introduction to the movie’s musical world ahead of its Christmas release.
Daniel Silberstein, Sophie Simmons and Grant Averill are credited as writers of the song. The release connects the British pop artist with a film developed around friendship, courage and a journey that challenges the characters’ understanding of their own culture. Although it belongs to the movie’s soundtrack, it is available independently on digital music services.
Ora has a more substantial involvement than a typical soundtrack contribution. She voices Hedvig in the English-language version of ViQueens, playing the adventurous companion of Ingrid, the daughter of a Viking king. Speaking about the role, the singer said she enjoyed creating the character because she recognized aspects of herself in Hedvig.
Ingrid is voiced by Ella Purnell, whose screen work includes Fallout and Yellowjackets. The two actresses lead an English-language cast that also includes Alan Carr, Michele Moran, Anton Lesser and Steve Speirs. Their characters drive an animated story designed to combine adventure and humor with questions about loyalty, family and the choices people make when they discover uncomfortable truths.
The film begins in Lofotr, the Viking realm where Ingrid and Hedvig have grown up. Their journey starts when they decide to help a young stowaway return to his home at the emperor’s palace in China. What initially appears to be a journey to help someone in need takes them beyond familiar territory, across seas and along routes associated with the historic Silk Road.
As they travel, the girls discover that people outside their homeland view Viking raiders very differently. The figures celebrated as heroes in their own families are feared elsewhere. This realization challenges their assumptions about the adults they admire and becomes a defining part of the adventure.
When they return to Lofotr, Ingrid and Hedvig bring new knowledge and friendships with them. They must confront Uncle Lars, who is attempting to take control of the kingdom. The story incorporates inventions, fireworks and unfamiliar techniques as the girls search for a way to defeat him without repeating the violence of earlier generations.
Harald Zwart directs ViQueens, having previously worked on films including The Karate Kid and Agent Cody Banks. He also shares screenplay credit with Veslemøy Ruud Zwart and Stella Zwart. The Norwegian production takes inspiration from Viking history while building a fictional adventure intended for family audiences.
The Lofotr setting is more than a name borrowed for the screenplay. The Lofotr Viking Museum has contributed historical knowledge and environmental inspiration to the project, helping the creative team develop its depiction of the Viking world. The film uses that setting as the starting point for a much broader story extending beyond Europe.
ViQueens has separate Norwegian and English voice casts. Norwegian singer Dagny portrays Ingrid in the original-language version, while Isalill Kolpus plays Hedvig. Ora and Purnell take on those same characters for English-speaking audiences. The arrangement is an important distinction when identifying the performers behind the film’s two main roles.
The original orchestral score is composed by Christophe Beck, whose credits include Frozen and Ant-Man. His work forms a separate musical component from “The Current,” which is presented as a song performed by Ora. Together, the score and soundtrack single contribute to the film’s musical presentation through different parts of the production.
The film also includes a distinctive guest appearance by Norwegian footballer Erling Haaland, represented by a Viking character inspired by him. His involvement adds another recognizable name to the project, though its central story remains focused on Ingrid, Hedvig and their journey.
ViQueens is scheduled to reach Norwegian cinemas on December 25, 2026. Special gala premieres have been announced for Fredrikstad on December 12 and Lofoten on December 14. The confirmed Christmas release refers to Norway; no corresponding Greek theatrical date has been established in the information currently available.
For Ora, “The Current” is both a new music release and part of a larger creative role. She performs a song associated with the film while bringing Hedvig to life in its English-language version. The single is already available, with the animated adventure itself set to arrive in Norwegian cinemas during the Christmas holiday season.
