As Martin has already mentioned, Benioff and Weiss have stated that all casting suggestions should be posted over at the Westeros forums. The producers have an account there and have promised to check the suggestions. With almost two months worth of suggestions accumulated, poster Smoldering Hound has begun running polls to find out the most popular candidates. He has since posted the results of the voting. Below is the full list of actors for the pilot, as voted on by the Westeros forum members.
A Game of Thrones, As cast by the Westeros Board. Don’t agree with it? Vote in the polls (all character names link to their respective Poll)!
STARRING
Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Eddard Stark
Ben Barnes as Jon Snow
Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister
Alexander Skarsgard as Jaime Lannister
Emily Browning as Daenerys Targaryen
Tricia Helfer as Cercei Lannister
Kelly MacDonald as Catelyn Stark
Jodelle Ferland as Arya Stark
Asa Butterfield as Bran Stark
Rory McCann as Robert Baratheon
Rachel Hurd-Wood as Sansa Stark
Avery Clark as Theon Greyjoy
Harry Eden as Robb Stark
Rupert Friend as Viserys Targaryen
Elias Koteas as Jorah Mormont
Jason Mamoa as Khal Drogo
Max Pirkis as Joffrey Baratheon
Ray Stevenson as Sandor “The Hound” Clegane
Bill Nighy as Grand Maester Pycelle
Vincent Regan as Ser Rodrik Cassel
Ian Holm as Maester Luwin
Michael Fassbender as Benjen Stark
Ian McNeice as Illyrio
Ryan Simpkins as Myrcella Baratheon
Will Poulter as Tommen Baratheon
and
Tom Hiddleston as Ser Waymar RoyceWith Locals cast as Beth Cassel, Jeyne Pool, Septa Mordaine, Ser Boros Blount, Ser Meryn Trant, Jory Cassel, Harwin, Hullen, Will, and Gared
Winter Is Coming: Not a bad list. Certainly seems about right for the budget. There are a few actors that probably wouldn’t be cast due to scheduling conflicts (for example, Skarsgaard is in True Blood and MacDonald has been cast in the Boardwalk Empire pilot), but overall I think all of these names are decent possibilities.
Update: Smoldering Hound has left a comment stating that the list is still a work in progress. You can still head over to the forums and vote for the different candidates, or if you don’t like any of the choices, post some of your own!
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76 Comments
Not a bad list, I dont like the choice for the hound and The guy playing Castle seems to young. I always pictured some one like Sam Elliot as Rodrik. For the hound I would pick Kevin Durand http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1925879552/nm0243806
AnonymousQuote Reply
Wha? A person of non Turkic or Mongolian descent as Drogo? Booo!
Steppe MercQuote Reply
Again, I’m so happy there is no voting on the actuall actors since the list is mostly retarded, tho with a few exceptions that could work. Too bad they cant use the swede for Jamie due to True Blood as he really has the look.
Ben Barnes and other actors that are WAY to ambitious, could never play in a series meant to last for seven seasons. He’d jump ship the second he got offered a better paid gig.
There is just so many factors playing in on something like this. Does the actor have: the time, the right age, the talent. Would he agree to: being nude, being tortured/torturing on screen like a mad man, playing all the seasons.
-T
AnonymousQuote Reply
How can they hope to complete this project with child actors and expect seven seasons? wont that be seven years of production. An actor who is 10 will be 17 by the end? “Tommen is that a beard?” I will remember this as the moment i realised ASOIAF will not work as a tv show. Maybe one or two seasons will work, but if that is so then what is the point my friends? I am a sad Panda tonight.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Ray Stevenson seems to small of frame to play the Hound; Anon1′s suggestion of Kevin Durand is better, but still seems like they could find someone a little bulkier.
I also agree with Anon1 that Vincent Regan is too young for Ser Rodrik; and that Sam Elliot with his bushy chops and ‘stache would seem a good fit.
A prominent character I don’t see on the list (although if we are just casting the pilot, he might not be needed yet), is Hodor. I can’t think of anyone right-off, but they will need him by 2nd episode.
johnnybaowulfQuote Reply
I think that they should cast Alexis Denisof as a character… sure he’s not English, but he does a great British accent, thanks to living there for so long. And he’s an awesome actor. Of course now that he’s going to be a dad it might be harder, but he hasn’t had a role for a while, sadly. Maybe Littlefinger (though he could be too old).
Steppe MercQuote Reply
Not bad. Awesome for Cersei, Jaime (too bad they can’t get him; Josh Holloway is still a possibility? He’s always been Jaime in my mind), Joffrey, Arya (OMG, Arya, I love that girl they chose. Please, please, HBO, get her, she’s perfect), Bran and Sansa. Dany’s could be ok. Viserys definitely looks too old. Dinklage is and will always be my Tyrion.
Ben Barnes is very cute and could be a great Jon, but he’s too big for this project, I think
sara-rojoQuote Reply
Not to sound too repetitive, but the Hound is way off. Aside from that, I’m pleased with the list thus far. It looks very accurate in general. Theon isn’t what I pictured, but I think he’d work well. Avery Clark looks like the humble, likable ward that viewers might initailly be drawn to. That will make for a real engaging moment once the show depicts his more sinister aspects (the heavy-handed turn against Winterfell, for example). A good list. Let’s hope it gets even better over the coming days!
BrianQuote Reply
“Ray Stevenson seems to small of frame to play the Hound”
I’m guessing you’ve never seen ROME. He bulks up quite impressively and has the acting chops to do the role brilliantly. He’s also an extremely professional actor and is already proficient at swordplay (from both ROME and his earlier role on ther otherwise flawed KING ARTHUR).
In fact, Stevenson’s higher profile as a result of ROME may mean that he wouldn’t be up for doing another multi-year series when he could make more doing movies. HBO also seem a tad reluctant to share leading actors between their shows, which could be another problem. But acting and physicality-wise, Stevenson would certainly be my first choice.
Casting Gregor is going to be a much bigger problem though.
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
I know everyone loves Dinklage as Tyrion but my problem with him is that the Imp is supposed to be several years younger than Jaime and Cersei, not the other way around. I can’t think of anyone better but that would always nag at me.
OmagusQuote Reply
What about Littlefinger?
LordnedsheadQuote Reply
The list is OK, but I just don’t understand everyone wanting Tricia Helfer as Cercei … the woman can’t act. She is a supermodel that plays a deadpan robot in a camp sci-fi show (and I like BSG).
Seriously guys, we want actors who have the talent to match their looks. Cercei is one of the most important roles. We need the equivalent of a Polly Walker as Atia for this role.
The Josh Holloway suggestion for Jaime is another example of people just not getting it. He would be attrocious. This is english period drama not some redneck fantasy setting.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Little finger is not in the Pilot. Dream Cast wise Ed Nortan. ( would never happen though) but I think James Macavoy or James Callis ( Baltar) from battle star would both make excellent Littlefingers.
J
AnonymousQuote Reply
The only way this could work, with all the kids and everything, is for a network to man up and film all seasons at the same time!
Since we don’t have the stories for those, I’d say halt here and re-shot in 5 or 6 years – when the books are done (at the current rythm…).
About the cast, it’s obvious it’s never going to be like that. Most of those are big enough names the the star themselves – not share the stage. I forsee a kind of unknown cast, much like The Legend of the Seeker (murder of The Sword of Truth books, but a nice example) with the larger part of the budget being spent re-creating Westeros.
DavidQuote Reply
The child casting concerns me a bit, but I imagine most every part that would need it is replacable by later seasons. Sansa doesn’t need replacing, no matter how long the show goes on, as a young woman can still play teenage. Same with Jon Snow. Joffrey, we know won’t need replacing. Bran will probably still look okay even if the actor hits full puberty. The big worries will be, in order, Arya, Tommen, Myrcella, Lord Robert of the Vale, and Rickon. These will be interesting to see dealt with. Hopefully rampant actor replacements will not chafe too badly. Especially Arya *shiver*.
AnonymousQuote Reply
i’m glad that someone else thought of kevin durand for the hound. I was watching the last season of lost the other day and thinking “wow, the guy who plays keamy would be badass as the hound”
AnonymousQuote Reply
I saw Ray Stevenson as Bronn, not as Sandor…doesn’t fit.
Oeffinger FreidenkerQuote Reply
I’d say Cate Blanchett for Catelyn. Maybe she’d have to go brunette but her face is just perfect for how I pictured the character. Kelly Macdonald seems too naive and young for me.
Mac
AnonymousQuote Reply
Rowan Atkinson for Littlefinger? Anyone?
Otherwise pretty cool choices. Not sure about Arya and Hound though.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Anyone else think the cast is to pretty?
John CQuote Reply
Ray Stevenson as Sandor “The Hound” Clegane is a great choice!
AnonymousQuote Reply
Jason Mamoa as Khal Drogo is perfect!
Look:
http://hulk69.com/files/JasonMomoaSGAdude.jpg
AnonymousQuote Reply
In this picture, Jason Mamoa is really perfect for the role of Khal Drogo!
http://l.yimg.com/img.tv.yahoo.com/tv/us/img/site/91/30/0000039130_20070413145208.jpg
AnonymousQuote Reply
Wow, I cannot understand the hate for Ray Stevenson. He would make a splendid Hound.
Overall, I think the list is pretty good. Don’t forget however, that Mance Rayder makes an appearance in the Pilot! I’ve always pictured him as Jon Bon Jovi – although I realize his New Jersey accent would not exactly fit in.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Oh my bad. Didn’t realize we were talking just the pilot here.
LordnedsheadQuote Reply
And yes, I agree that Ray Stevenson would kick ass as the Hound. I think the problem is that the faithful readers view him as too small. Ray looks like a pretty big guy, but the Hound is a giant. If you want faithful appearances I doubt Ray would fit the bill. But if you would be willing to make a height concession to trade for what could be the perfect actor to evoke the Hound’s tortured psyche, then Ray could very well be your guy.
LordnedsheadQuote Reply
I like it…although I have to admit, I’m not over-pleased with the choices for Dany or Jaime. I’d always imagined the former as looking a bit more exotic (though perhaps they can change that with makeup), and as for the latter…meh. I just have a very particular image of the Kingslayer (and it’s not Josh Holloway either, I might add). To be fair, it’s likely that very few actors could really satisfy me on these two points: they’re two of my favorite characters.
AnonymousQuote Reply
I would choose Richard Armitage as “The Hound”.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Am I the only one questioning how the boy playing Robb is like 10?
AnonymousQuote Reply
Don’t the kids age throughout the series? I don’t think they would have to replace the actors from season to season. I’m only to the first parts of Clash of Kings so correct me if I’m wrong. But The Game of Thrones story is basically about a year in terms of the timeline. Aging some of the kids doesn’t bother me that much. As long as they don’t get carried away and have Bran as a teenager…
dizzyQuote Reply
the list sucks. the most poor choice was that actor for sandor clegane. the actor seems like in his 40′s, while sandor is 26-28 at the begining of the series. same for jon snow.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Also I do think that they will need to game a “name” actor as one of the leads (probably Eddard) in order to attract the mainstream HBO audience. I think that was one of the problems with Rome that no one was a “name” that pulled people in to watch the show from the beggining. It doesn’t have to be a huge star but someone people recognize. Kind of like Anna Paquin was to True Blood.
dizzyQuote Reply
That’s get a name actor…
dizzyQuote Reply
I don’t know about anyone else, but I really don’t like Peter Dinklage as Tyrion… And if Ron Pearlman was a few years younger, he would be the choice for the Hound. No contest.
AnonymousQuote Reply
“The list is OK, but I just don’t understand everyone wanting Tricia Helfer as Cercei … the woman can’t act. She is a supermodel that plays a deadpan robot in a camp sci-fi show (and I like BSG).”
This statement is plain wrong. Just look at the episode ‘Pegasus’ where Helfer has to play the brutalised, traumatised Gina and also Six’s reaction to her double’s condition. Brilliant stuff right there.
I don’t think Helfer is available, nor is she the right fit physically for Cersei (Helfer is very tall and slim, Cersei’s height is unremarkable and she starts losing her waistline later in the series). But acting-wise she could pull if off.
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
it is always fun to speculate on casting but is it realistic that Ben Barnes (28 this summer) plays Jon Snow (14)?
Like David says…”unknown cast with the larger part of the budget being spent re-creating Westeros” is the way it goes…I hope…
AnonymousQuote Reply
Emily Browning must be in this in some capacity. She has star potential.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Christina Hendricks for Cersei !!!!!!
AnonymousQuote Reply
This list is pretty good! Overall I think they are good choices, but I have to agree with those that said its mostly unlikely due to budgeting/scheduling. I would expect to see mostly unknowns, with maybe 3-5 recognizable actors.
I especially like the choice of that guy from True Blood as Jaime! I think he would make a good fit.
NicoleQuote Reply
Ben Barnes wouldn’t be able to do the pilot, seeing as the next Narnia movie films this year, and he is strongly rumored to be playing some character in the sequel to Twilight.
I hated him in Prince Caspian. :P
AnonymousQuote Reply
(as keeper of these lists)
Note that this is a living list, which can and will change over time. Please, please, please go make your opinion known by voting in these polls! Some of the first place votes are landslides, but some are still hanging by a vote or three. If nobody is there that you like, suggest someone! (and also suggest them in the official casting threads so them producers get exposed to them.
Characters to run polls on were determined by whether they were likely to be in the pilot, and had had at least 3 actor suggestions in the official casting suggestion threads. (except Illyrio, which was an accident at the time)
Smoldering HoundQuote Reply
“The Josh Holloway suggestion for Jaime is another example of people just not getting it. He would be attrocious. This is english period drama not some redneck fantasy setting.”
See, this is why he’s perfect. He’s Australian.
AnonymousQuote Reply
If anyone has ever seen a movie called “In Bruges” it starred Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as two hitmen working for Ralph Fiennes. There was an actor name Jordan Prentice in the film as well…I think he would be a perfect candidate for the role of Tyrion.
BrianQuote Reply
Oh and that guy who appealed to the westeros board for Theon? NO. Watch his audition videos. He actually makes me cringe at GRRM’s dialogue – which is very good on it’s own. If that guy is reading this, please bow out for the good of what you claim is your favorite series. Maybe you’re not a bad actor, but you are certainly not right for A Game of Thrones.
AnonymousQuote Reply
“”The Josh Holloway suggestion for Jaime is another example of people just not getting it. He would be attrocious. This is english period drama not some redneck fantasy setting.”
See, this is why he’s perfect. He’s Australian.”
Err, Josh Holloway is Sawyer from lost.
Perhaps you were thinking of Ryan Kwanten who plays Jason Stackhouse from True Blood?
AnonymousQuote Reply
Not to be harsh on those guys but I’m glad this isn’t anything official. Ben Barnes is way too handsome and way too old for Jon Snow. The guy’s 28, that’s like 10 years older than the choices for Joff and Robb. Looks-wise he’s more Baratheon than Stark. Tricia Helfer is so overrated, she’ll make Cersei look like cardboard and people already complain that the character is cardboard as it is. Kelly MacDonald is too soft and unrefined for Lady Catelyn. Rachel-Hurd Wood, also too old, maybe five years ago but kids grow fast. Ray Stevenson again, he’s about 15 years older than the character they’re casting him for. Picking a realistic cast is hard especially with all those kids but I’m still glad this isn’t *it*.
I went over to that message board and didn’t see anywhere to actually discuss with the people participating in those threads, you’re just supposed to mention names and that’s it. Seems like a frustrating way to put criterion for the characters down.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Anon: The casting subform can be found here. http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php?showforum=27
As you mentioned, all of the stickied threads are for suggestions only, not discussion. But quite a few threads dedicated to discussion of casting certain characters can be found on there. And you could always start your own thread if there isn’t one for the particular character you wish to discuss.
WinterIsComingQuote Reply
Poll threads are fair game for commentary as well, so long as only one of the replies has a vote list.
Smoldering HoundQuote Reply
I agree with both the top choices for the Hound. Ray Stevenson would portray him better IMO, but David Benioff has the facial structure (compare him to the Dark Sword miniature).
Still, even if they go for David, Ray might be still get Bronn, so all is not lost.
13!
AnonymousQuote Reply
Since I’m not able to post over at Westeros yet I’ll post this here. Anyone seen the Budwiser commercial with this girl in it? http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2320532/
This girl has Cersi written all over her. Even has the green eyes. Don’t know if she can act but I’m assuming the producers will be looking for “unknowns” for most of these parts.
dizzyQuote Reply
The guy for Drogo is horrible, how could anyone think otherwise? Its obvious that Drogo and the Dothraki are either Turks, or Mongols. At the very least they need non Mongol Asians (Chinese, Korean, Japanese even) to play them!
Steppe MercQuote Reply
I like Jeffrey Dean Morgan, but I can’t really piture him as Ned. Though it would continue his trend of being dead on every show he’s in.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Just wondering Winter is Coming, do you have any idea when we might get some sort of inkling as to the real cast? Or would you at least have the ability to tell us when casting is beginning?
LordnedsheadQuote Reply
you are being too limited in your actor candidates for Tyrion …have we forgotten Peter Jackson and his ‘forced perspective’ filming ….this allowed him to use any actor he wished for the hobbits… So let’s please widen the talent pool for Tyrion … None of the actors mentioned so far are capable of playing him
coltaine777Quote Reply
Um, that makes no sense. Hobbits are small people (proportionally). But Tyrion is a (very ugly) dwarf, so obviously a dwarf or a little person would have to play him.
SteppeMercQuote Reply
Not necessarily, as Gimli was played by John Rhys-Davies who happens to be taller than Viggo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom and Ian McKellen.
But I still think Peter Dinklage is as close to a perfect match for Tyrion as you’re likely to find.
DanQuote Reply
Max Pirkis would have been perfect…five years ago.
Vince Regan? No. I don’t agree with that one.
But otherwise, I can totally buy into most of this proposed cast. For casting by a bunch of fans, it avoids the ridiculous 25 A list at once tendency too.
And yes, Tyrion is younger. They’ll have to go unknown there, but, I appreciat the thought.
I think the “type” of actor cast for the role sums up the characters quite well though. Not bad at all, all things considered.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Lordnedshead: That is a good question. I was actually going to make a blog post about that. Basically though, they need to get a casting director in place before anything else. Hopefully we will hear from David & Dan soon regarding that.
WinterIsComingQuote Reply
I’ve been falling behind on my asoiaf gossip but I have to say when I read this list, I myself lapse into full out fangirl mode at several intervals, particularly with the suggestion of Stevenson as the hound. That is one casting i would NEVER have thought of and yet, now that it’s been said, I can’t picture him as anyone else. I fell in love with stevenson a little (lotta) bit after his role in Rome and I think he could carry the exact balance of crazy and pitiful necessary for sandor.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Other than Peter Dinklage, I really liked the casting for Bran, Viserys and Jorah Mormont, they’re exactly how I imagined they would look when I read it.
A few casting choices that I disagree on, however, are Ned, Arya and Pycelle. Though I admit that Ned’s part was because of a personal aversion to Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
Arya is way too old– fifteen, when Arya is supposed to be nine at the start of the series. If anything I think they should cast child actors slightly younger than described, so that as the series goes on we won’t have Arya as a young woman instead of a little girl.
I’m a great fan of Bill Nighy, but he is wrong for Pycelle… I always imagined Pycelle to be a very frail and ancient-looking dude, and Nighy doesn’t really look all that frail.
Mr. CerealQuote Reply
Sansa is definitely not pretty enough.
AnonymousQuote Reply
“I always imagined Pycelle to be a very frail and ancient-looking dude, and Nighy doesn’t really look all that frail.”
He doesn’t really seem to be described as THAT old and frail until having been thrown in the dungeons.
And I have to say, after having watched Slumdog Millionaire the other night, there ARE obviously quite talented child actors out there.
DanQuote Reply
“Arya is way too old– fifteen, when Arya is supposed to be nine at the start of the series. If anything I think they should cast child actors slightly younger than described, so that as the series goes on we won’t have Arya as a young woman instead of a little girl.”
Per the producers, we know that the ages of the children has been upped – Arya is 12 or something like that, at the time of the pilot (to avoid those rabid censorship-moms I guess) so a 15 year old actress isn’t really that far out… Same goes of course for the rest af the children.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Emm…did I miss something here. Game of Thrones is not set in England. Why are the concerns for english accents. I think they are overused as a short hand for “a long time ago” or “these are the good guys”…
AnonymousQuote Reply
winter, anyword on the budget for the show or pilot ? And would a actor strike in America affect filming in England
coltaine777Quote Reply
Anon: The series is most likely going to film in the UK, meaning the majority of the actors will be from there, meaning the accents will most likely be British. Having someone with an American accent may seem out of place.
coltaine777: No, no word on a budget yet. I did make a post speculating what the budget may be though. Check it out: http://winter-is-coming.blogspot.com/2008/11/money-makes-world-go-round.html
I’ve also made a couple posts on the potential SAG strike (http://winter-is-coming.blogspot.com/2008/11/is-another-hollywood-work-stoppage-on.html and http://winter-is-coming.blogspot.com/2008/12/sag-strike-looming-opposition-grows.html). To answer your question though, I really don’t know. Hopefully not.
WinterIsComingQuote Reply
“Per the producers, we know that the ages of the children has been upped – Arya is 12 or something like that, at the time of the pilot (to avoid those rabid censorship-moms I guess) so a 15 year old actress isn’t really that far out… Same goes of course for the rest af the children.”
Still, though.. a sixteen- or seventeen- year-old just *cannot* play a twelve-year-old, not unless he or she happens to be Gary Coleman… they just wouldn’t look right.
Mr. CerealQuote Reply
Although I like Skarsgard for Jamie, he’s not going to do “True Blood” and this. How about Chris Carmack? I heard him do a very good English accent in a production of “Entertaining Mr. Sloan.”
AnonymousQuote Reply
Skeet Ulrich as Littlefinger or Renly
AnonymousQuote Reply
After some review, I like this list. Special points of mention for me are Ray Stevenson as the Hound. This guy just likes to play rough and misunderstood characters. First the Punisher, now this…I totally agree.
Andy BarlowQuote Reply
the actor for John and waymar Royce are NO GOOD!! And I dont think that actor for Jamie (he plays in Tru Blood) is good enuf and he may even be too tall. And where is Stannis, Renly, The Spider, etc… otherwise the list isn’t bad!! They have some nice one’s on youTube as well.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Alexander Skarsgard as Jaime Lannister is a good choice, but will never happen. Too bad they can’t get Paul Bettany for Jamie. He would be a nice mix for arrogance and then tourtured suffering.
AnonymousQuote Reply
MICKEY ROURKE 4 THE HOUND!!!!!!!!!!
AnonymousQuote Reply
Second that. Would have been awesome, but sadly I don’t think he would even consider it.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Arnold Schwarzenegger for the MOUNTAIN THAT RIDES! after he is done with his governator gig of course
AnonymousQuote Reply
I think that the younger character's should be new faces, there is a lot of talent out there that just need's a chance to show what they can do
AnonymousQuote Reply