Sean Bean heads cast for HBO's A Game of Thrones


Television

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Werthead wrote:
delabarre wrote:
Yeah, he looks like Orlando Bloom, whom I always pictured as Loras Tyrell. The Knight of Flowers must be pretty!
Of course, this has raised interest (particularly among female fans) in who they will be casting as Renly as well ;-)

They could get away with some impressive cameo stunt casting here, because Renly will only appear in a handful of episodes. Gerard Butler? Clive Owen? Henry Cavill?


delabarre wrote:
They could get away with some impressive cameo stunt casting here, because Renly will only appear in a handful of episodes. Gerard Butler? Clive Owen? Henry Cavill?

Renly has to be fairly young though. In the books he is 21, fifteen years younger than Robert. As Robert is now 45 in the TV show, they can go down to about 30 or so for Renly, but making him too old would make it unlikely he'd have taken Loras as a squire (he'd already have one), and also that he'd be at an age where Robert would have insisted on him getting married already for the sake of the family honour.

I think we can rule Butler and Owen out for reasons of age and also time constraints. They're very busy guys, and likely out of even HBO's pay range ;-)


Belfast DJ Kristian Nairn cast as Hodor.

Other casting announcements are also expected shortly, although this time round HBO are only doing big announcements for major actors they are casting. The 'smaller' roles seem to be being confirmed by the actors themselves via Twitter, Facebook and other mediums.


Veteran stage and screen actor Roy Dotrice cast as Grand Maester Pycelle.

Roy Dotrice has been in a ton of genre productions (HELLBOY 2, HERCULES AND THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS, BABYLON 5, PICKET FENCES, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, SPACE: 1999) and will be familiar to fans of the books who have picked up the audio books, as Dotrice is the reader of the first three books. As such he is the actor most familiar with the source material to be cast to date.

Liberty's Edge

Sorry, I'm late to the party ... :)

I'm certainly aware of Gearge RR Martin but I haven't read any of his books. This sounds very cool though. I liked Rome a lot and really like True Blood. I was/am also a big fan of Showtime's The Tudors, so having this series on a network like HBO should be excellent.

Two questions:

Not being at all familiar with the books, could they be considered "adult" content? I ask because most of the big HBO and Showtime series (The Tudors, Rome, True Blood etc) have plenty of sex, blood, violence etc. Will this Game of Thrones contain a similar level of such things or are we looking more at a PG13 Lord of the Rings level of content?

Also, being a big fan of The Tudors, I have really come to like Tamzin Merchant. I thought she did a GREAT job as Katherine Howard and was looking forward to seeing her in this. Has there been any word yet why she was recast?


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Marc Radle wrote:

Sorry, I'm late to the party ... :)

I'm certainly aware of Gearge RR Martin but I haven't read any of his books. This sounds very cool though. I liked Rome a lot and really like True Blood. I was/am also a big fan of Showtime's The Tudors, so having this series on a network like HBO should be excellent.

Two questions:

Not being at all familiar with the books, could they be considered "adult" content? I ask because most of the big HBO and Showtime series (The Tudors, Rome, True Blood etc) have plenty of sex, blood, violence etc. Will this Game of Thrones contain a similar level of such things or are we looking more at a PG13 Lord of the Rings level of content?

Also, being a big fan of The Tudors, I have really come to like Tamzin Merchant. I thought she did a GREAT job as Katherine Howard and was looking forward to seeing her in this. Has there been any word yet why she was recast?

Yes, there is adult content but not on the scale of Rome or Deadwood, except of course the violence level...can't wait to see the Red Wedding, sex is not as prevelant as it was in either of those shows but an incestual relatiionship is one of the keystones to one of the main story arcs.

Liberty's Edge

Marc Radle wrote:


Not being at all familiar with the books, could they be considered "adult" content? I ask because most of the big HBO and Showtime series (The Tudors, Rome, True Blood etc) have plenty of sex, blood, violence etc. Will this Game of Thrones contain a similar level of such things or are we looking more at a PG13 Lord of the Rings level of content?

Probably still R-ish, tho less sex in general than most of those series. There is an incestuous relationship and prostitution, but in general, as written the books were not very explicit or detailed about specific, um, encounters.

There is quite a bit of brutal violence (some to children) and there will be a high body count. And lots of blood.

Liberty's Edge

Marc Radle wrote:
Two questions:

Not sure how much they'll change the tone for the series but it is a very grim story at times. I've never seen more than a couple scenes of Rome but there are usually a couple sex scenes in each of the books and some of the battles and executions are brutal in the novels. I've been wondering if the tone of the books might make it a bit too depressing. Alot of things go wrong for a lot of people, both deserving and undeserving. Still they are great reads.

Edit: ninja'ed twice : \


Marc Radle wrote:
Not being at all familiar with the books, could they be considered "adult" content? I ask because most of the big HBO and Showtime series (The Tudors, Rome, True Blood etc) have plenty of sex, blood, violence etc. Will this Game of Thrones contain a similar level of such things or are we looking more at a PG13 Lord of the Rings level of content?

Answered elsewhere. Generally, there shouldn't be as much sex as in those shows (although there are two sex scenes in the first episode alone). Generally there's a character reason for a sex scene to be depicted, otherwise the author fades to black. HBO being HBO, of course, may just decide to throw a bunch more scenes in there for the hell of it.

Quote:
Also, being a big fan of The Tudors, I have really come to like Tamzin Merchant. I thought she did a GREAT job as Katherine Howard and was looking forward to seeing her in this. Has there been any word yet why she was recast?

No official word. The main rumour is that Merchant has seen her movie career start to take off after her appearances in PRIDE & PREJUDICE and THE TUDORS and she thought twice about committing to a TV series for the better part of the next ten years, especially playing a pretty demanding role who really goes through the wringer and back. There was certainly nothing wrong with her performance, and several people on the project (including George RR Martin) have expressed sadness at her departure.

Her replacement Emilia Clarke is somewhat younger and at an earlier stage in her career, looking for a big breakout role.

Liberty's Edge

Which character was she to play?

Dark Archive

Tessius wrote:
Which character was she to play?

Daenerys Targaryen.


Drama school graduate John Bradley-West will be playing Samwell Tarly.

21-year-old Bradley-West is playing Samwell Tarly, the son of the much-feared military genius Randyll Tarly (held by some fans, ironically, to be the Chuck Norris of Westeros). Deemed too soft to inherit his title, Randyll has sent his son packing to the Wall to join the Night's Watch, to stand guard for the realm of civilised men and defend it against the savage wildlings, possibly in Sam's case by falling on them. Sam later becomes a friend and confidante of Jon Snow (Kit Harington).


The choice for Hodor is weird. I forgot all about the Chuck Norris of Westeros, he won't be in ADWD?


Since the restructuring (the second half of ADWD takes place post-AFFC and will feature some AFFC characters, including Cersei), it is possible that Randyll Tarly will be ADWD, but not certain.

Yet more additional casting news:

Miltos Yerolemou is playing Syrio Forel and Luke McEwan has been cast as Rast.

Yerolemou is a respected stage actor with only a few small TV roles to his name. He will play Syrio Forel, a fan-favourite character thanks to an extremely badass moment in the first book (which hopefully will make it into the TV show). Luke McEwan appears to be a complete newcomer, playing the fairly minor role of Rast, one of the numerous members of the Night's Watch.


Apparently the last major casting news until next week:

Conan Stevens as Ser Gregor Clegane

7-foot-tall Australian Stevens is a former professional wrestler who trained in martial arts and has appeared in (and even wrote one) a string of Thai martial arts movies. He is a fan of the books and lobbied hard for the role of Gregor almost from the first day that HBO optioned the series, even auditioning for Khal Drogo despite knowing he was the wrong ethnicity just to get his face known to the casting agents. He worked very hard to get this role, so congratulations to him for that.

In the books Gregor Clegane is almost eight feet tall, the largest and most feared man in the Seven Kingdoms, a savage warrior who is less of a knight and more of a force of nature. He is a loyal bannerman of Lord Tywin Lannister, who unleashes Gregor and his terrifying band of foragers behind enemy lines during times of war, where they invariably wreck havoc. Gregor is loathed and despised by his brother, Sandor (Rory McCann).


Interview here with Lena Headey. She discusses the role of Cersei and also her work on TERMINATOR.


The biggest casting news for some time:

Aidan Gillen is Littlefinger.

Gillen is best known as Mayor Carcetti on THE WIRE, and is playing the central role of Littlefinger, a political schemer at court whose machinations colour much of the plot of the books.

Dark Archive

Werthead wrote:

The biggest casting news for some time:

Aidan Gillen is Littlefinger.

Gillen is best known as Mayor Carcetti on THE WIRE, and is playing the central role of Littlefinger, a political schemer at court whose machinations colour much of the plot of the books.

That is some excellent casting, I can't wait to see him in action.

The Exchange

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James Cosmo (Campbell from Braveheart) has been cast as Jeor Mormont, Lord Commander of the Nightwatch.

This is the actor whose face and voice I visualized in my head for this character when I read these books. Perfect.


Werthead wrote:
Interview here with Lena Headey. She discusses the role of Cersei and also her work on TERMINATOR.

Goodie, now I have an excuse to watch Aberdeen again.


An absolute ton of new casting announcements:

Jerome Flynn as Bronn
James Cosmo as Lord Commander Jeor Mormont
Francis Magee as Yoren
Peter Vaughan as Maester Aemon
Megan Jones as Old Nan
Sir John Standing as Lord Jon Arryn (flashback)
Gethin Anthony as Lord Renly Baratheon
Kate Dickie as Lady Lysa Arryn
Lino Facioli as Lord Robin Arryn (renamed from Robert Arryn)
Eugene Simon as Squire Lancel Lannister
Derek Halligan as Ser Alliser Thorne
Dominic Carter as Commander Janos Slynt
Susan Brown as Septa Mordane
Josef Altin as Pyp (one of Jon Snow's friends in the Watch)
Dermot Keaney as Gared (replacing Richard Ridings from the pilot)
Brendan McCormack as Ser Vardis Egen (a knight at the Eyrie)
Emun Elliott as Marillion (the singer Cat meets at the inn)
Jefferson Hall as Ser Hugh of the Vale
Ciaran Birmingham as Mord (the jailor of the sky cells in the Eyrie)
Antonia Christophers as Mhaegen (the mother of one of Robert's bastards)
Rhodri Hawkings as Mycah (the butcher's son who befriends Arya).

Yes, that's Jerome from popular easy listenin' singing duo Robson & Jerome, which is the biggest surprise out of the lot. James Cosmo as Mormon is brilliant though, as is Francis Magee as Yoren, the sort of roles they do a lot.

The Exchange RPG Superstar 2010 Top 32

Has anyone ever seen the pilot? Anywhere?


carborundum wrote:
Has anyone ever seen the pilot? Anywhere?

One guy from the Televisionary blog has seen it after a friend at HBO swiped it for him. He said it was amazing (and he'd never read the books and knew nothing about it beforehand).

Unless it somehow leaks onto the Internet, we'll probably never see the pilot now. Too many roles have been recast and they're refilming just about the whole thing from scratch, one or two small scenes excepted.


Another one, this time of interest for HARRY POTTER fans:

Natalia Tena as Osha

Tena plays Nymphadora Tonks in the POTTER movies, although I understand they've cut her on-screen role down a lot from the books. In THRONES she plays Osha, a wildling warrior-woman from beyond the Wall who takes refuge in the Seven Kingdoms and befriends the Stark children (erm, kind of).

The Exchange

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Werthead wrote:
carborundum wrote:
Has anyone ever seen the pilot? Anywhere?

One guy from the Televisionary blog has seen it after a friend at HBO swiped it for him. He said it was amazing (and he'd never read the books and knew nothing about it beforehand).

Unless it somehow leaks onto the Internet, we'll probably never see the pilot now. Too many roles have been recast and they're refilming just about the whole thing from scratch, one or two small scenes excepted.

GRRM has said that they are refilming the prologue; however I haven't gotten the impression that they are refilming everything, so my expectation is that we will see the pilot as the first episode, with Tamzin Merchant and everything else (except the original prologue).

Dark Archive

delabarre wrote:
GRRM has said that they are refilming the prologue; however I haven't gotten the impression that they are refilming everything, so my expectation is that we will see the pilot as the first episode, with Tamzin Merchant and everything else (except the original prologue).

I'd be very surprised if they didn't reshoot scenes including actors that were replaced. It would be pretty jarring for viewers who haven't been following the production to see different actresses playing Dany and Catelyn in the first and second episodes. Plus, if they're willing to reshoot the prologue just to improve its quality, it seems likely that they'd reshoot those scenes for the sake of continuity.


Yeah, there's no way they'll change actors between Episodes 1 and 2. First off, we know they're not doing that. HBO have already confirmed that all of Cat and Dany's scenes will be refilmed. I'm also hearing that other scenes may be reshot due to the children aging 8-9 months between the pilot and now. Secondly, no series has done that before. TRUE BLOOD's pilot had a different actress playing Tara and BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER's pilot had a different Willow. Both pilots were comprehensively reshot for the series itself.

In additional news, shooting of the full series begins tomorrow :-)


Werthead wrote:


In additional news, shooting of the full series begins tomorrow :-)

So when is the pilot going to be aired [in theory, at least]?

The Exchange

Tequila Sunrise wrote:
Werthead wrote:


In additional news, shooting of the full series begins tomorrow :-)
So when is the pilot going to be aired [in theory, at least]?

Probably not until the entire season is ready to air.


Tequila Sunrise wrote:
So when is the pilot going to be aired [in theory, at least]?

A quick look at hbo.com just shows "2011."

Dark Archive

Wolfthulhu wrote:
Tequila Sunrise wrote:


So when is the pilot going to be aired [in theory, at least]?
Probably not until the entire season is ready to air.

Yeah, the redone pilot will air as the first episode of the series next year. The original pilot will probably not be intentionally released.


The pilot will air as Season 1, Episode 1, a week before Episode 2. It will not be aired separately to the rest of the series.

Interesting news. Sky One will broadcast GAME OF THRONES in the UK and the Republic of Ireland next year as part of their new deal which will see them broadcasting all HBO shows in the UK (all of their new shows and all of their old ones as their deals with other channels such as FX and the BBC run out).

On the plus side, this means they'll show the series in a good timeslot with solid publicity. Obviously on the bad side, it means a ton of people won't be able to watch it, increasing the number who download it, and it will not attract anywhere near as much media attention as when the BBC was involved.

In related news: Roy Dotrice has had health problems and sadly has had to withdraw from the production. His role of Grand Maester Pycelle has been replaced by Julian Glover, a very fine actor. GRRM reports that Dotrice was very happy with this choice, as he and Glover have worked together in the past. The production are now looking at finding another role for Dotrice, who is expected to be in recovery from his illness for the next four months. On the plus side this now means that Dotrice is possibly more likely to be able to do the DANCE WITH DRAGONS audio book.

Three further roles have been announced: Amrita Achari as Irri (one of Dany's handmaidens), Sibel Kekilli as Shae (Tyrion's love-interest, kind of) and Roxanne McKee (yes, her from HOLLYOAKS) as Doreah (another of Dany's handmaidens).


For some people, this will be the biggest casting news of the entire series to date. But, basically:

Charles Dance is Tywin Lannister.

What more to say? One of the very best British actors around is playing one of the most layered, interesting and well-developed 'villains' ever written. His scenes with Dinklage should be beyond awesome.


All right, glad to see it!

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Werthead wrote:
Sibel Kekilli as Shae (Tyrion's love-interest, kind of)

Wait?.. The Porn Star Sibel Kekilli? It very much looks like her....

Scarab Sages Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4, Legendary Games

Werthead wrote:

For some people, this will be the biggest casting news of the entire series to date. But, basically:

Charles Dance is Tywin Lannister.

What more to say? One of the very best British actors around is playing one of the most layered, interesting and well-developed 'villains' ever written. His scenes with Dinklage should be beyond awesome.

O.

M.
G.

A deliciously perfect casting choice. That RULES.


Dragnmoon wrote:
Wait?.. The Porn Star Sibel Kekilli? It very much looks like her....

I understand she appeared in a couple of explicit films, but I think calling her a 'porn star' is something of an exaggeration. She wasn't Traci Lords or anything like that.

Liberty's Edge

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Werthead wrote:
Dragnmoon wrote:
Wait?.. The Porn Star Sibel Kekilli? It very much looks like her....
I understand she appeared in a couple of explicit films, but I think calling her a 'porn star' is something of an exaggeration. She wasn't Traci Lords or anything like that.

Granted..

I believe her porn movies became more famous after her acting carrer, unlike Tracy Lords, who became famous as a Porn actress first, though unlike Tracy Lords you can still find all the porn movies she was in.

Edit: I knew Sibel Kekilli as a porn star first, was not aware of her non porn acting until this thread.


Entertainingly, after the Sibel Kekilli discussion it appears that actual proper hardcore porn star Sahara Knite (Google with discretion!) has been cast in a minor role in the series. The exact role is unknown, but information hints it might be for a role at Chataya's (the high-class brothel where some of the action, so to speak, in the first two books/seasons goes down, also so to speak) or it could be a role in Daenerys' storyline, possibly Jhiqi (her other handmaiden, Irri, has been cast already).

Also slightly randomly, British guitarist Wilko Johnson, well-known on the British blues scene and a former member of Dr. Feelgood and later the Blockheads, has been cast as Ser Ilyn Payne, the King's headsman.


New trailer and behind-the-scenes featurette.

Looking good. Especially encouraging to see Sean Bean being so positive and upbeat about the project.

Scarab Sages Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4, Legendary Games

Thanks for the trailers; they look GREAT.

I may have to bite the bullet and sign up for HBO.

Silver Crusade

Werthead wrote:

New trailer and behind-the-scenes featurette.

Looking good. Especially encouraging to see Sean Bean being so positive and upbeat about the project.

Want. Hard.


Possible logo.

Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister.

An absolute metric ton of images taken from the previews and behind-the-scenes clips.

Some interesting tidbits from the last month and a half or so of shooting:

They are filming out of order, with the first month of shooting concentrating on Episodes 3-5, including the Hand's Tourney scene (which had over 200 extras present) and several meetings of the King's small council. Some additional footage set at the Wall, featuring Jon Snow's integration into the Night's Watch, has also been filmed, along with several scenes involving Daenerys Targaryen and her adventures on the eastern continent.

Contrary to earlier reports, which suggested that only Dany's scenes would be filmed in Malta and everything else in Northern Ireland, there will be a mixture of scenes spread across the two locations. More of Dany's material will be filmed in Northern Ireland (particularly her scenes crossing the Dothraki Sea and in Vaes Dothrak) whilst some of the Maltese locations will stand in for exterior filming of the city of King's Landing.

A great deal of attention is being paid to fine detail. A shot of Grand Maester Pycelle's desk reveals scrolls bearing the names of previous Targaryen kings (even down to the fact that King Aegon IV left off the honorific 'King of the Rhoynar' due to his dislike of the Dornish), whilst King Robert's crown has a stag motif to reflect the Baratheon heraldic symbol. Eddard's small council seat has the symbol of a hand imprinted on it, whilst Petyr 'Littlefinger' Baelish wears a small clasp in the shape of a mockingbird.


It's been announced that GAME OF THRONES will air in the UK on a brand-new channel, Sky Atlantic, which Sky are launching in the New Year. This new channel will apparently focus on 'premium' US drama and will be the home of most of HBO's shows in the UK, as well as bought-in drama from other channels such as AMC and Starz.

The first major show to air on the channel is BOARDWALK EMPIRE, which launches in March 2011 (five months after US transmission). GAME OF THRONES is expected to air in April 2011, just a few weeks after US transmission. TRUE BLOOD will remain on FX (due to a lifetime deal for the show), though Sky may be able to air re-runs at a later date. Sky have also poached MAD MEN from the BBC to air on the new channel.

The good news for existing Sky subscribers is that Sky Atlantic will air as part of the basic package, with no need to upgrade or pay out more money. There are also rumours that the new channel may air without adverts, the only way to accomodate these cable show's longer-than-normal run times.

As to the series itself, filming is now approaching the halfway point, with the emphsis switching to scenes in Winterfell and reshooting some of the scenes from the pilot with the new actors.

Sovereign Court

Netflix needs to go in on that deal.


io9 have reprinted an article I wrote about the Malta leg of filming.

Filming is heading to a close, with maybe 4-6 weeks left. Things are still looking very good for a March airing date.


HBO have put up a fresh new video about food in the series and the amount of thought they have put into how food in King's Landing should be different from Winterfell and how both should be different from Castle Black. Impressive stuff. They also confirm that they see King's Landing as very much a more Mediterranean-style climate (at least at this point) than is perhaps gotten across in the books.

Lena Headey also gave this mini-update on her Facebook page:

Quote:

"Game of thrones is coming to the end of the season one shoot and I can tell you that I believe even the most ardent fans will be smiling in 2011. Everyone has brought their A game. Amazing scripts,sets,costumes and a diverse group of interesting/talented actors. Winter is definitely coming.

It was -4 in Belfast the other night...Home sweet warm home is but a few days away"


For STARGATE: ATLANTIS fans, the first pics of Jason Momoa as Khal Drogo.


I got to say, Werthead: great coverage of the HBO's A Game of Thrones. You certainly keep us informed. Thanks, guy.


Not a problem :-)

In new, er, news, Beric Dondarrion has been cast with Australian actor David Michael Scott. This is surprising as there seemed to be an expectation that Beric and Thoros were going to be left until Season 3 to be cast (with Beric perhaps being pointed out on the tourney field with his helmet on and being sent on his mission by message rather than directly). Instead HBO seem to have gone for it in Season 1.

That does leave the question of will Thoros also be cast (he could just show up as one of the BwB in Season 3). It also still leaves Walder Frey as, by far, the biggest character not yet cast.

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