Peter Dinklage was a guest star on the NBC sitcom 30 Rock last night. In it he plays a member of the UN that meets Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) and ends up going out on a date with her. Here is a clip from last nights show. As you watch it, try to picture Dinklage as Tyrion and see what you think. You can watch the whole episode here.
Winter Is Coming: The more I see Dinklage in comedic roles such as this one, the more I think he is perfect for Tyrion. I know the usual complaints regarding Dinklage; he is too old, not ugly enough, etc. But he doesn’t look that old, I think he can pull off late 20s/early 30s well enough. Interestingly, they never mention Tyrion’s age in the script, so maybe the producers don’t want to restrict the casting choices on this role? Also make-up and prosthetics will go a long way towards uglying him up. And really, whomever they cast, will probably never be as ugly as how Tyrion is described in the books. I think he would be a perfect choice, if they can get around the scheduling issues.
Loading ...
24 Comments
I could definitely see him as the funny and witty Tyrion. But I wonder how he would do with the high end political drama when he has to out manuever Cersei and Littlefinger among others. Can he pull it off?
AnonymousQuote Reply
I think he’d be great but I still reckon that if people demand a younger looking Tyrion then Jordan Prentice is perfect. You only have to see “in Bruges” to realise he can do Tyrion’s humour with ease.
red snowQuote Reply
Guys and Gals,
I've been following the postings here and on the Westeros Forum for a while and I must comment on a common theme I'm seeing from hard core fans (of which I'm one, of course), but that I think is setting us up for disappointment and D&D up for undeserved jabs.
While the ages/sizes/"precise looks" of the characters is of HUGE importance in some instances (Jon's age, Tyrion's size, Cersi's and Jamie's hair color, etc), in other instances, those things are not crucial to the plot at all (Tyrion's exact age, The Hound's size/age, Ned and Robert's exact ages, etc). The pilot, never mind the whole season, will NEVER be cast if every actor/actress must appear exactly as in the books and exactly the age as portrayed in the books.
As long as the Mountain is big, who cares how old he is? As long as the Hound is fierce, who cares if he's in his 30's rather than his 20's? As long as Tyrion is a caustic dwarf, so what if he's in his 30's, as long as he can believeably be a little younger than Jamie and Cersi.
These characters lived in a time when life expectacies were low and life was hard. People died young and appeared older than they do today due to the harshness of life. Children clearly "grew up" quicker, marrying and breeding at 13-15 routinely. Fighters began training and preparing for war as teenagers. The scars of battle can age a face as easily as time.
From a production standpoint, it's not realistic to think that it would be acceptable to portray Dany at 14 and expect sex scenes with Drogo, a kiss with Mormont, or a bared breast.
Yes, Cersi must be blonde and Tyrion must be a dwarf. AND D&D report that ages have already been adjusted. As long as the crucial timeline remains consistent, so what. D&D will not and should not pass at the opportunity to cast an outstanding actor like Dinklage because he's a little older than the character is suppossed to be. If Ray Stevenson is willing to portray the Hound, who bloody cares how old he's suppossed to be, his age is apparently irrelevant to the plot, as is his exact size.
PLEASE – lets not fall into the trap that will lead us to certain disappointment if our favorite character is not cast PRECISELY how he/she is portrayed in the books or how we picture him/her. As long as D&D stay true to the plot, I want to see quality actors like Dinklage, if they are willing.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Thank you for that long post Anon. These echo my exact sentiments, as I believe people are being too nit-picky with looks and similar things of the characters. Satisfying die-hard fans (which all of us are) by following the book to the letter should not be the main concern for the producers or directors. Intricate details are not what is most important to the ultimate success of the show, which is what we all want.
What they are, and should, be doing is making this into the best TV SHOW adaption they can. This includes gearing the show to appeal to broad audiences, as well as making changes for the television medium rather than print.
So rather than hoping to find an ugly, short, young person with mismatched eyes who is willing to cut his nose off after a few seasons, who is still an average actor, hope for someone that can accurately portray the essence of Tyrion. Apply this previous sentence for all characters, think about it, and hopefully you won’t be let down with what you see when the show (hopefully) airs.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Anon #2: Great post. I agree 100%. Talent should come first. If you have two equally talented actors but one looks more the part, then by all means, choose the one that closer fits the character’s description. But I expect they won’t be fretting the details of looks and age (especially for the older characters, the kids would need to be closer to the age given in the script and/or book). And to those who are hoping that all the characters are exactly as the book describes them, they are sure to be disappointed.
WinterIsComingQuote Reply
Thanks for this clip, and all I’m going to say is that, in my opinion, Dinklage would be the perfect choice for casting Tyrion.
AnonymousQuote Reply
He was incredibly funny in “Death at a Funeral”. That’s when I first thought he would do a great Tyrion.
AnonymousQuote Reply
heis too cute,maybe he is the “Brad Pitt”of the dwarfs.Maybe if he can waddle and feigning bowlegs,i agree.
sweetmartinQuote Reply
I have always pictured Tyrion as older like 30, but he is younger than Jaime (he killed his mom in child birth!) so he would have to be like 20ish in the book. I don’t think it matters if someone looks older in real life because Tyrion is disfigured and the person who plays him would have 7 layers of make up on.
EnchanteQuote Reply
Another note, being pretty in real life doesn’t matter, picture Charlize Theron in Monster
EnchanteQuote Reply
I guess I’m biased because Dinklage was one of my favourite actors before I even read the books, but I was honestly shocked to find out that ANYONE could dispute the option of Dinklage as Tyrion. In my mind his acting is so amazing that I had never even considered his age or looks an issue. My struggle isn’t in preventing myself from hoping that Dinklage as Tyrion would be physically perfect, it’s trying not to get my hopes up that Dinklage will be cast. Many people have said it before me; Tyrion is one of the most complex characters I’ve ever read, and even though Prentice showed his comic capabilities in In Bruges, I don’t think he could carry the role. But like I said, I’m trying not to get my hopes up.
AnonymousQuote Reply
I agree with much of what’s been discussed and presented, aside from a few things:
The younger characters (Sansa, Robb, Joffrey, etc.) will need to be written (in the series) as older than they are in the books. At least 18 years old. Many of the marriages in the series would equate to pedophilia today, and would be a tough pill to swallow for the average viewer.
Secondly, I don’t think that Dinklage would be a good fit for Tyrion. They need to find someone who looks more like the late, great Marty Feldman:
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k23/dblshell/MartyFeldman.jpg
There are a great many little people working in Hollywood. Dinklage’s recent fame should not make of him an obvious choice.
Rock DeputyQuote Reply
Michael J. Anderson, from Carnivale, would be a better choice:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Michael_J_Anderson_2.jpg
I just don’t think that Dinklage looks sinister enough.
Rock DeputyQuote Reply
I saw Dinklage play Richard III on stage in New York and he was excellent, fully capable of the darker aspects of Tyrion’s character. The production wasn’t very good but Dinklage was one of the few bright spots in it.
BrudeQuote Reply
I recently saw a movie w/ Dinklage called “Tiptoes”. It’s not a great movie, but if you want to see a Dinklage character with an edge, here you go. He’s in a supporting role: French, sometimes drunk, always lusty, brash – there’s definitely some Tyrion in parts of the performance).
AnonymousQuote Reply
Rock;
I don’t see why they all need to be aged up. It’s a periodic piece. They were different times, and most people viewing will understand that. Now, for scenes with any sexual content, you obviously need to have them played by adults, but aside from that it’s just acting.
I say give the viewers the chance to be horrified at seeing a twelve-year old marrying a man of 42. It’s all part of the gritty dark world of ASoIaF.
They pulled it off with Octavia in ROME pretty well, no?
DanQuote Reply
oktavia wasn’t 12… or at least she didn’t look like it…
AnonymousQuote Reply
Octavia was well under 18, I’d say about 16. After all, she wasn’t married or by that time.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Well first of al the actor was well above 16, and could ahrdly pas as one being 16 yeas old… Secondly there is a huge difference between a girl of 16 years of age and one on 12…
AnonymousQuote Reply
ROCK:
yes Michael J Anderson is the perfect fit. He’s who i picture when i read the books. I even hear tyrion with a higher pitched voice when i read the books. I realy hope he’s considered.
-Jono-
voidQuote Reply
LOTR style for Tyrion please, not Peter Dinklage.
And Tyrion is 8 or 9 years younger than his twin siblings. Jaime was 17 when he killed Aerys; Ned was 20. 15 years passed, as Ned is 35 at the start of AGOT. I don’t think too much time has passed since then, only like two or three years til we get to the end of AFFC. That would place Tyrion at around 23-25, which is still pretty young.
Jon SnowQuote Reply
Isn’t Tyrion supposed to be facially-deformed, though? It would be difficult to tell a 25-year-old (facially-)deformed man from a 40 year-old one, no?
Besides, Dinklage -looks- young.
Mr. CerealQuote Reply
I agree with you all the way. Peter Dinklage is the only one I want to see playing Tyrion Lannister.
High and Mighty JeffreyQuote Reply
Dinklage? Nah, the only one that I can see as Tyrion (who si one of my favs in the book, of course) is Warwick Davies. He’s the same age as Dinklage, he has a lot more film experience (especially in fantasy-set movies), has great comic talent…
AnonymousQuote Reply