Sean Bean and more cast in pilot

Here's a pic of Harington:
http://ntmedia.palm.tincan.co.uk/files/Kit-Harington7K4Fyd.jpg
Here's one for Lloyd:
http://www.trh.co.uk/images/bio/pic/hlloyd.jpg
And here's one of Gleeson, althougt it is from Batman Begins, so he's older now:
http://www.filmdope.com/Gallery/ActorsG/58178-26622.gif

Mark Addy is a decent choice. Not sure he looks entirely right but he's definately talented enough to do the role. Also he was in 'The Full Monty' a few years back.

Mark Addy and Sean Bean were in the serial killer trilogy RED RIDING together and both gave knockout performances..

WOW! Great scoop Winter. The Jon Snow guy looks almost exactly how I pictured him.

Addy should be okay, looks good in the few bearded/serious-looking pictures there are. I mostly associate him with humorous, not to say jolly roles … but I'm sure he's the right kind of talent.

For the rest, I trust the picks, and like the looks. There are some seriously evil and mad pictures of Lloyd out there, and Harrington fits perfectly in my mind, better than I hoped for. Plus the face is not conventional/stereotypical, for lack of a better expression. Given that they passed on some options we quite liked here, I'm sure they got even better choices, so there's nothing to worry. Martin also apperently watched some readings and loved their performance.

@Winter: the Wikipedia article gave credit where credit was due. Still, you could consider changing time zones :)

Huge! Finally some stuff to talk about!

Ryan: I always check THR, Variety, my email, Twitter, etc. to see if anything was announced before I go to bed. Of course, they announce it late at night (on a Sunday too!?) and it was the first time in weeks that I went to bed before 11!

May be time for me to get another writer on board. Someone on the West Coast, or even in Europe, so we can have round the clock Thrones news.

I do plan to put up a FAQ type post soonish. I'll have a link to it on the front page and keep it updated with any news we get. Although with the cast growing in size quite a bit yesterday, and still many more roles to fill, a separate post with confirmed casting announcements might be a good idea.

I've been wondering about that … wouldn't the source of the news be HBO / the producers? every news outlet mainly just adapts the original announcement slightly, if at all. Why would they include the "40-year winter" crap?

YES! Casting! *dances a little*

WiC, if you're serious about someone from Europe, maybe I can help out.

I'm impressed with the casting choices so far, btw. It certainly looks very promising.

I had Harry Lloyd pegged as Jon Snow about 18 months ago, but he's a good enough actor to play Viserys. He's been in Doctor Who, the UK's (rather crap) version of Robin Hood and if memory serves, he's the actual great great great grandson of Charles Dickens.

…although its nice to see guys like Bean to get the "ball rolling"…

Now, how about some beautiful ladies to round out the cast…

"Still feel the series needs a big name to carry it through other seasons though."

Maybe for Catelyn?

Thing is, if they get as far as series four, when Catelyn's role becomes so much less, all the other characters will ~be~ big names by then, even if they're unknown by now.

Quite possibly.

I was just thnking of The Tudors as a prime example of what I mean. Series One you had Henry played by a known actor in Jonathan Rhys Meyers and then had some star power and experience in chracter acting with Sam Neill. The Tudors did well to elevate and stretch relavtive unknowns in Henry Cavill, James Frain and Natalie Dormer, but still had Jonathan Rhys Meyers as the constant to carry the show after Neill dies at the end of series 1.

Here with GoT, we have Sean Bean as our version of Sam Neill; representing experience, name value and guranteed good performance. However as yet we don't have a Jonathan Rhys Meyers who can carry the rest of the show while the other actors are getting built.

Well, we have Peter Dinklage. He has a certain amount of star power and experience.

Well, I think that HBO's first aim would be making these young actors stars, like in everyone of their shows, just think about the Rome cast.

Rome is another good example, with Bean/Hinds compaired, but even they they had James Purefoy and to a lesser extent Kevin McKidd as already established actors to carry the rest of the show.

Indeed (just to add) no doubt plenty of Bean/Ned fans will continue to watch in the hopes of some violent revenge being carried out. ;)

Ned dies…??? lol

Yeah, what anon said. Sean Bean is what you might call a 'hook'. I have faith enough in the story.

i don't agree about the known-actor syndrome.

this series, unlike sopranos, the wire, six feet under, etc. has a best-selling book series behind it. this will bring the missing interest.

also, actors, like stories, grow in the telling. did you know james gandolfini before sopranos for anything other than beating up patricia arquette in true romance? and yet he has become fairly monumental in the TV world.

did we know michael c. hall before he played the son and brother who ran the Fisher & Sons funeral parlor in Six Feet Under?

did we know david duchovny before The X-Files? Jerry Seinfeld before Seinfeld? Jennifer Aniston before Friends?

you get what i'm saying.

just cast this "right" and make sure it's acted well. and make sure the writing is better than it should be, and i personally believe we'll be just fine without casting many other known names.

however, that isn't to stop some b-list talent to this series, especially with dinklage, bean, and potentially gillian anderson attached. hollywood tends to work that way (starfucking i mean, pardon the terminology), so we'll just have to see who emerges in the roles of jaime and cersei (the two next likeliest candidates for a renowned actor).

personally, i agree with other posters who feel having FEWER known names would serve this series better, we don't want to bring too many actors with "baggage" for their roles in other films.

…ryan

Harry Lloyd in that pic looks like a young Nicolas Cage or Keanu Reeves, he possesses that charisma both men has. Kit Harrington, on the other hand, the more I look at his pic the more he reminds me of a character that could play a David, if he could convey that much emotion on photo alone, what more could he do on screen.

With guys like these on the show, I expect that a lot of the new fans will be of the female species. That is, if they can take how the pilot ends. :D

@Ryan Dunn

I totally agree with yah, very good points. I was on the verge of posting something very similar but you beat me to it!

@Marko – I think I like that picture even better. :)

Should we get that far… Fan reaction to Bean's beheading should be interesting. I know people who stopped watching Deadwood after Wild Bill was murdered, because he was the most well known/familiar character to them. They missed out, obviously, but you've got to expect some fan backlash.

Wow. This Lloyd fellow for sure knows how to change personality. He looks completely different in that pic Marko uploaded. He looks like a guy that has just recently escapes from the mad house. Creepy as hell . . .

Just fyi, I signed up earlier on one of the big Sean Bean fansites, and chatted a little with some of the fans about the casting. They seem thrilled, and and have been reading the Wikipedia entry on Ned Stark, so they already know about his exit from the series. Many are also planning to read the books prior to the show being filmed too.

Mixed feelings here, have to be pleased with Bean as Ned. The others I'm not so sure about Addy and Lloyd not what I had in mind appearance wise but are probably good enough to pull it off, Harington just not good enoguh in my opinion given the importance and longevity of the role.

@ Anonymous 11:37 AM – How is it possible to judge Harrington at this point as "not good enough"? Hard to tell if someone is good enough when we have very little to go on. All actors have to begin somewhere – and this could very well be his big break. I trust the casting directors didn't just pick him off the side of the road one day because he looked the part. Give them some credit.

Harington just not good enoguh in my opinion given the importance and longevity of the role.
Well, GRRM said in his Not a Blog that David and Dan can't say enough about his talent and intensity so I think I'll have faith in what they say. They've been awesome casting so far so if they say Harrington is great, I'll believe them.

I've noticed there is some confusion as to the spelling of Kit's surname. THR got it wrong (or there was a typo in the source material), and there are further misspelled versions abound :) Checking a bit, you can see that the right spelling is with a single R, so HARINGTON. Hope his name soon becomes a household one ;)

"So you've seen Harington in a recent stage production, I take it…?"

Seen him in War Horse at the national and thought he was awful. Here is a review that tends to agree with that assesment:

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/theatre/show-23374823-details/War+Horse/showReview.do?reviewId=23557149

and I quote "Unfortunately, Kit Harington’s Albert is comprehensively out‑acted by Joey, as well as a marvellously inquisitive wheeled goose."

Should point out for those that don't know Joey is a horse btw. If you ask me they sacrificed talent for looks on this one, disappointing.

Given that the show will involve Others, Direwolves, seven-foot tall warriors, dragons and folks with violet eyes and platinum hair, I doubt they've cast Jon Snow on looks alone.

P.S. Also would like to see C4 News' Jon Snow in a cameo…

Well, I'm willing to give Harrington the benefit of the doubt. I think it would be hard not to be upstaged by gigantic horse puppets. There must have been something in his audition to make them cast him in such a huge role. I guess time will tell…

PlainJane: They are aiming for an Oct. 12th start date.

and I quote "Unfortunately, Kit Harington’s Albert is comprehensively out‑acted by Joey, as well as a marvellously inquisitive wheeled goose."

While I have not seen this play, the reviews the run with Kit Harington seem mixed. I think the circumstances involved in the play itself make it hard to judge his acting ability based on this role alone. I found this snippet in Berkshire Review for the Arts

"The linchpin, however, is one person, the remarkable Kit Harrington as Albert, who must convince us that passion for a horse is the moral equivalent of honor in battle… Harrington's intensity of feeling toward Joey is shattering."

Sounds like he could be a Jon Snow. GRRM also mentioned his intensity.

Here's a link:
http://berkshirereview.net/2009/07/14/war-horse-national-theatre-michael-morpurgo-nick-stafford/
for anyone who's interested, they give a pretty good synopsis of the play. It sounds interesting.

- The 40 Year Winter

take THAT, associated press…

…ryan

@Ryan

FYI You need an edit on your blog! You put "inability to put inaccurate…" :)

@anonymous 12:38…blatant spoilers are what they are. Ruining the show for people who haven't read the books doesn't help the series any. Maybe you should think a bit before you type. It helps.

Has it ever been ruled out that Tom McCarthy will play any role?

I notice he has a beard these days, certainly didn't last year.

Maybe a minor role. Someone that dies in the Pilot?

Really exciting news.
Somehow I can't see HBO not picking this series up.

@us2809 – Nice job with the photo.

Although I don't think the hair color suits Lloyd very well. :(

@Ray you might want to read WiC's posts here about spoilers. I believe he asked folks to keep it spoiler free.

Anachronite: I would like to keep it as spoiler free as possible, yes. If you wish to discuss a major spoiler, try to mark it as such in your comment. However in discussions like this I realize that a spoiler here or there may slip out. Just want to avoid spoiling someone unnecessarily is all.

All that being said, any one that comes onto a fan site like this one has to realize that the potential for spoilers is there, especially in the comments. So it is kinda proceed at your own risk, as well.

"@anonymous 12:38…blatant spoilers are what they are. Ruining the show for people who haven't read the books doesn't help the series any. Maybe you should think a bit before you type. It helps."

It's astonishing that someone who hasn't read very far into the series would even come here and read this stuff. I guess I just find it odd how someone could be a huge fan (hence coming here reading the comments on a blog for a show which doesn't even start filming until October) and come here but have not read the entire series or at least most of it?

Here are some images of Addy with facial hair. I pictured him as more of a Varys or Dontos, but hey…acting ability and make-up can make any actor into a character.
http://www.revolvingdoorstheatre.co.uk/Images/markaddythumbnail.jpg
http://content7.flixster.com/photo/89/43/15/8943153_tml.jpg

1. Thanks so much for your diligent work, WiC. These updates are often times the highlights of my day!

2. I agree with the comments about HBO "making" actors, and there seems to be enough well known talent to bring fans into the series, which I don't think will be a problem considering True Blood's success with very few named actors and an even smaller book fan-base.

3. All of this recent news seems to tell us that HBO is gearing up to make this show a major endeavor. With the casting investments they've made, I can't help but think that they're going to order at least the first season, and unless the show bombs majorly, they will probably keep it rolling for the entirety of the books. Now if only GRRM can get out the last 3 books before HBO catches up!

Valar Morghulis.

yes, put up the spoiler alert people. the show creators don't spoil the film when talking about it, they use phrases like (SPOILER ALERT:) "the things i do for love," and we use terms like "the red wedding," for a reason.

just be mindful to those who might only be halfway through book one and excited to see the show get picked up.

@nicole: thanks for that catch. fixed and fixed.

@Børre: i couldn't agree with you more. i feel like we are in great hands with the producers and casting, they have diligently been scouring the globe from nyc to sydney to northern ireland looking for talent. they're digging into the UK stage acting circuit and unearthing young talent.

they know what they're doing. they also know they won't be able to please everyone, but i trust they are ensuring that whomever they cast can "act" and pull off the parts they are reading for.

…ryan

…ryan

@WiC

I see where you're coming from, just saying that I think it's odd anyone would be trolling around in here if they where not huge GRRM fans is all.

Of course I always follow the rules and I don't post any blatant spoilers, ever.

Oooo Harry Lloyd. He played a creep prince in The Devil's Whore and was awesome in BBC's Robin Hood. He'll do an excellent job.

Here is a picture of Mark Addy http://www.filmdope.com/Gallery/ActorsA/20649-26512.gif On this picture he look like Robert I imagine. On another hand Sean Bean is a great actor and I have glad that he is casting Ned.

@Anonymous 2:03 PM – Good shot of Addy there. Is that from The Order? That's at least one non-comedic film role for him right there. I had completely forgotten about that movie.

Oh, one technical issue, btw: there's a 'Jon' label missing in this post.

1. Really excited about the casting news, each of them, even Sean Bean (the rumors were hard to believe).
2. Not worried about bad reviews about individual actors–I'm sure they directors liked what they saw and know what good acting is.
3. SPOILER ALERT: All Men Must Die.
4. To Powers-That-Be: Please find the perfect Catelyn-who-is-clearly-not-Gillian-Anderson.
5. Legion–I totally agree. Sam Neill was to the Tudors what Sean Bean is to GoT. I agree also with other posts that there's probably enough star power, and that the story will have grabbed imaginations by then, enough to put characters and actors into viewers' hearts.

Sean Bean is awesome. No arguing there. I'm thrilled that we have a guy like him in these series (even if it is for just one season, no matter if HBO will continue with the next books/seasons).

BUT…

Sean Bean is not a Stark as far as looks go. He lacks the frozen-face-dead-serious-guy aura. Sean Bean, on the contrary, looks cunning and even mischievous, especially when he smiles. I always imagined him as Bronn.

Sigh. You can't please everybody.

I'm sure he'll do a great job, despite the fact that he doesn't quite resemble my mental image of Ned.

Interesting that Kit Harington is 22. Perhaps they did age Jon Snow up purposefully, and the sides weren't a typo. Maybe for some butt-naked shots of him when he's (SPOILER:) hip-deep in Ygritte.

Still, he looks young. They might be able to get away with saying Jon Snow is 17 or 18. And it's been said the intensity he brought to War Horse was spectacular, especially in his interaction with "Joey." (a puppet horse)

That's like perfect training for CGI acting. If he can love a puppet horse, he can love Ghost.

I want to see him next to the actor playing Robb, whenever we get that.

Do we have an age on the Batman Beyond kid yet?

I wouldn't be surprised if Steve Buscemi (read: someone unexpected and famous) showed up as a secondary character in hypothetical season 2 or 3, etc, to give a little star-stir, as these shows often like to do.

Are there any more recent images of Jack Gleeson? How old is he? In the photo posted above he looks about 10. Joff is a nasty cry baby, but he's not supposed to look like a little kid.

For that matter, how old is Harington?

I'm surprised there hasn't been more talk on whether or not they've aged up the younger characters (maybe because no one else can tell, either).

@yea high…

he's 14, and goes to school in dublin, from what i've gleaned on other boards where people claim to know the boy.

…ryan

@bardamu

i was wondering this afternoon actually, how many agents were calling the actors they represented, telling them the casting news and how it would be a smart move to get involved in this series.

look out for some 9th inning surprises methinks.

…ryan

- The 40 Year Winter

take THAT, associated press…

In all fairness to the Associated Press, that article you linked came from Reuters and it was merely quoting the original Hollywood Reporter article, anyway, which also got it wrong.

I was basing my age estimate off of comments on the imdb site (via Gleeson's profile there) – posters there claim he was 13/14 during 2005/2006 timeframe. That's why I was guessing 16/17…maybe 18. Honestly don't know though.

"@anonymous 12:38…blatant spoilers are what they are. Ruining the show for people who haven't read the books doesn't help the series any. Maybe you should think a bit before you type. It helps."

Hey, i'm sorry if that spoiled you, i just tend to assume anyone posting here will have at least read the first book.

@Brude, fair enough, maybe i'll target my comment a little more.

…ryan

Joff is 13/14 in the side, so a small 17 year old sounds pretty good to me.

Nicole: I had found that pic as well, but wasn't sure if it was Gleeson since the photo is titled "michael and john." I didn't see any Michaels in the cast for A Shine Of Rainbows though, so maybe he goes by Michael now? Or maybe Jack is his stage name? I don't know.

Would love to get a current photo of this kid. Maybe when David & Dan get around to posting on Westeros about this latest batch of casting they will have a recent photo for us.

Jackie Gleason…

Joffrey (Jackie Gleason), shaking fist at Cersei: Lady Mother! Why I oughtta…. To the Moon, Mother! To the Moon!

This was my first thought last night after a quick search of jack gleeson. I thought I'd share if there were any The Honeymooners fans out there.

doh, sorry about the john bell misfire. i think i found jack gleeson though!!

here's some screengrabs from a low-budget fake trailer he and his buddies made i'm pretty sure…

- Jack Gleeson, 2009

- "Painted Chaos" Trailer

the trailer is pretty remarkably terrible, HOWEVER, you can see how this kid might be able to pull off the role, and i'm actually quite excited about his being cast.

…ryan

Joff is listed in the script as "(13) but tall for his age," which is exactly how he's described in the book. Though only 13, he's of a size with the older Jon Snow and Robb. Joff seems to take after his father, who is also always described as very tall and who won his first tourney melee at only 13.

I really hope they pick a good actress for Danny, someone who can look it and maybe also have been heard of or at least someone who can pull off looking like i imagine Danny(Gemma Ward is my fav for that role).
Also i love these acting choices especially bean. If they keep up the good work with the show i may actually have to get HBO in fall 2010

Something very Macolm McDowell – A Clock Work Orange about how that Gleeson kid looks now.

I like this one of Jack Gleeson, if he's older now, but this supernatural "prettyness" and cruely at the same time seem to be in him

http://www.filmdope.com/Gallery/ActorsG/58178-26622.gif

@Ryan Dunn

Wow. Nice find! He does look and sound fairly young – they just need to do something with that mop of hair he has. :)

like i imagine Danny(Gemma Ward is my fav for that role).

Ward does have a great look for the part, though she is like 6' tall (or near enough), and Dany is supposed to be pretty petite – tiny next to Drogo and really all of her protectors, like Jorah and the Bloodriders. This can be cheated and it's not the most important thing for the part, just something to consider. Also, it could work to make her seem more regal once she comes into her full power and majesty.

I'm not familiar with her acting, so I can't comment there, but boy, she's got some ethereal beauty, that girl.

btw, THIS was always who Dany was in my mind, as I read the books (only blonder-er)…

- Tania Raymonde

…ryan

rutger hauer is how i pictured tywin also, and i don't think he's too old is he?

…ryan

This is my Dany. I think it's ESSENTIAL that she has a sort of really, really unorthodox beauty.

http://www.etapetki.com.pl/galleries/znane/B/Emily_Browning/Emily_Browning_j4.JPG

(in case anyone's unfamiliar, that's Emily Browning. I think she's been in a "dream casting" or two)

Ryan Dunn, you're not the Ryan Dunn of Jackass fame are you?

I'd love to see Charles Dance as Tywin.

@ Ashli

-Nice pic of Emily Browning. Good point about her looks. Is she in the running at all? I'm not familiar with her.

Just to add to Ryan Dunn's great finds on Jack Gleeson. I'm pretty sure this is him, in the centre in the red cape, from January 2009.

I agree about Arya Coltaine777. I'd also still like to see Holly Bodimeade as Sansa. I hope at least one of my casting predictions comes true!

I would love to see Sansa played by Jodelle Ferland (Tideland, Silent Hill), who will be 15 in October, though I bet the children will be all UK or Irish talent.

- Jodelle Ferland Pic

- Jodelle Ferland Gallery

…ryan

Damn, I am even more excited now! So far (besides the relatively unknowns with only small parts like Lloyd, Harington, etc.) the actors cast are actually the people I pictured in my mind. This is great.

if there's one thing I'm sure of, it's that hair can be changed. Rutger Hauer is an excellent actor who can carry himself with the grace, confidence, and ice chill demeanor of Tywin, don't you think?

Regarding Sansa, yes jodelles a bit too young. That's still who I envision in the books though!!

…ryan

@ Ashli: According to GGRM, casting has continued "most recently in Australia".

Emily Browning is Australian (although I'm not sure that's where she still lives). I agree that she has an unusual sort of beauty that would fit the part of Dany.

I find it hard to believe that it will not go forward as a series after this.

There's Emily de Ravin, from LOST and Brick, who is now only in occasional episodes of LOST, since her incident as Claire. Who might she be good as, anyone?

…ryan

addy will make a brilliant robert…robert is nothing lordlike…hes a comical slob and i think addy was the perfect choice…if you saw him in a knights tale he can sure pull off the part

Addy is listed at 5'10" and Robert is supposed to be something on the order of 6'5", Ned like 5'11 or 6 '0.

There are camera tricks that can make him look taller.

Kit Harrington looks PERFECT as Jon Snow
here is proof: This is a new photo of him-

http://tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:K0j7-mj2iWMwJM:http://www.facebook.com/profile/pic.php%3Fuid%3DAAAAAQAQhL5l1dWaAt14PGb95d7xKwAAAAjKRzGn-TcxMw%252C%252C

When I first heard about HBO ordering a pilot for thrones i doubted that it was going to get picked up.
over the last 9 months or so things have been looking good, especially with quality of directors, actors etc….
I highly doubt that Sean Bean would've got the role if they weren't definitely going to go ahead with one season…so this settles it for me

@TGrando357

Damn, I am even more excited now! So far (besides the relatively unknowns with only small parts like Lloyd, Harington, etc.) the actors cast are actually the people I pictured in my mind.

Harington playing a small part? Have you even read the books?

(SPOILER) Jon Snow is one of the most important characters, and survives at least to book 5 while Addy, for instance, dies relatively early in season/book 1. (/SPOILER)

@WiC

Speaking of favorite characters. Have you ever thought about throwing out a poll for people's favorite characters? Might have done it before and I missed it but if you haven't I think it would be interesting to see who everyone's favorites are! Just a thought.

Correction: the reel* world – the pun got the best of me :P

@ Mr. Cereal

Where yah been haha

Hey, what do you think about this guy? I think he has the looks for Jaime:

http://www.imdb.com/media/rm119116800/nm0655585

http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1391958272/nm0655585

http://www.mtv.com/onair/room_401/images/host/host_281x211.jpg

"The kicker is that the person who plays Cersei would have to look similar to the Jaime actor, so I'm guessing the two roles are gonna be tougher then finding someone who just looks the part."
You are absolutely right, Rer.But, maybe they will decide that they don't have to be so identical.
And about Daenerys: I would like to see some fresh face, who has few appearances, but is not very famous. I think the same about all children roles.

So we've moved the conversation here …. LOL …. ok, so

@ Legion – Of the 2, though I might agree with you regarding Warwick Davis having more star power than Dinklage, Davis will always be remembered as Willow, now I love Willow (no shame here), but Davis is also know for using prostetics (Harry Potter, Star Wars) so we hardly ever see him …. Dinklage on the other hand is know for his drama pieces (station agent, Find Me Guilty, the one with Vin Diseal, Narnia) but also know for his bits of comedy (30 Rock, Elf, Underdog) … besides Davis for a little person is too small for Tyrion ….

@ Ryan – "40 year old Winter" …. Funny

@US2809 – thanks for the PS of Lloyd, never really seen his work, but he has that Viserys look, especially when you add the hair and the eyes … yeah he has a evil, gaunt look to him …Wake the Dragon indeed!!!

When it comes to Robert, remember he was a man that at one point was in his prime and now with inactivity, drinking, whoring is now a shadow of his former self … so yeah, I think Addy can pull it off …

as for Tywin … I could go with either Rutger Howard or Charles Dance as long as their bald, no exceptions …. I read somewhere, someone mentioned Kurtwood Smith (Red from That 70's show)for Tywin and he has that no hair almost down

let me know guys

@Gaines

I liked the second link of John Simms, the hair did it for me and with a descent mustache (maybe with goatee) and he could pull it off

Oh I could also see Ed Harris or Patrick Stewart as Tywin … what can I say, have a thing for bald men as do few men can pull it off!!! …. LOL!!!!

One more note guys:

You should know that GoT is going global because I just came from a spanish blog promoting GoT (www.pammhg.com)

and some have made interesting choices for Littlefinger:

James Callis & Billy Campbell, I'd go for James Callis

Here are some more interesting choices:

Kevin Durand – Gregor Clegane

Liam Neeson – Ned … to late

Brandon Gleeson – Robert … same here

Francis Conroy – Lisa Tully – for me, to old, Lisa is younger than Catelyn

Katee Sachoff – Brienne Tarth … passable

Christopher Lee – either as Tywin or Maestre Aemon …

Any thoughts?

@RitariKnight

Harington playing a small part? Have you even read the books?

I believe he meant that they only had small parts before GoT.

@anon: I think Jared Padalacki is too young for Jaime, plus he'll have his hands full with Supernatural.

@Ausir: No way! It would be too disgusting. Especially for actors. They will not choose (I really hope so) brother and sister!

Some of you are taking this age discussion too seriously.

a)thirty-year-olds in Westeros are not the same as thirty-year-old in our world

b) The harrenhal tournament and Robert's rebellion are imo completely irrelevant for the tv-show. It's just background history, which isn't needed to tell the story on screen.

I was thinking about the age thing.

With regards to the adults, I don't think it's really the end of the world what age they are, so long as Robert, Ned, Catelyn, Jaime and Cersei look like they could be of a similar age, and Tywin looks older. A 45 year old Ned is not likely to be a significantly different person to a 35 year old Ned. Ditto Cat. Ditto Robert. And so on.

It's the kids that need to be similar ages to their characters, or at least, look like they could be. An eighteen year old Sansa is not going to be the same person as a twelve year old version, or have the same story arc. A twenty year old Dany will not react and think the same way that a fourteen year old one will.

So I'm not really worrying about the adult ages at all, storywise. It's the kids I'm more concerned about.

Well twins with diffrent sexes cannot be identical twins.. so jaime and cercei probably could just look like normal siblings.

I didn't read through all 200 comments, so someone might have thrown this out there. Who are the front-runners, or who would you like to see play Daenerys? I'm trying to think of a good actress to play her but am drawing a blank. I think Sean Bean is a great choice. Just wish he'd be in it longer.

Steven: The top two fan choices for Dany are probably Emily Browning and Gemma Ward.

That being said, they will most likely cast a complete unknown.

Marko: Ah yes, thanks for the reminder. It's fixed now!

To those that don't check my Twitter, this guy apparently auditioned for Drogo, although it looks like he won't get it.

@Ray: Yes, that's what we could definitely think, but then again it could a coincidence, and the two castings are more or less an obvious choice. Now, if D&D went down under to check on the girls because we said so, their loyalty is no longer questionable :) I meant it more like a joke.

@WiC – That guy is MUCH better than Dante Nero, but still not great.

I feel like for Drogo's casting, the look they're going for is Middle Eastern/Imhotep from The Mummy, but the look I think most of us are looking for is Mongolian + Native American.

I'd imagine the reason they're going for Middle Eastern is due to filming in Morocco – they'll be able to get a lot of native Moroccans as extras if they base the Dothraki around that particular look.

There they go about the ages again. Even though looks are important, makeup and clothing can do wonders when it comes to age.

But minors shouldn't be cast as Sansa or Daenerys. They have nude scenes, even cable networks won't go that far (exposing minors).

My guess will be younger looking 17-19 years old girls. That would also mitigate the the aging process, if they ever get to do all the seven seasons. Remember that if they start with a 13 years old girl now, she'll be 20 by the time it finishes, but in book time she'd be still 16.

To sum it up, looks are important, but almost impossible to recreate like they are in the books.

I find it hard to have the scene on the throne room done without showing anything, I do believe that would ruin the mood way more than 3 or 4 years of difference.

There are also some examples of 20+ yo actresses that play teenagers, for example, Madeline Zima on Californication ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madeline_Zima ). She's around 24 by now, and it's supposed to be 16yo in the series. And she does look young when playing the role.

But yeah, we'll have to wait and see. I'd really love to see the casting requirements for those though.

I want a faithful depiction of the story in the books, the scene that told me that Joff was on the "point of no return" was actually that one. It was also the scene that convinced me that Tyrion was actually one of the good guys.

And as faithful I mean I wouldn't mind nudity one way or the other, it's the story I care about. And I still think it's possible to have a 18 years old girl pass as a little girl, especially since we are told Sansa looks very much a grown women from the start (except the dreamy eyes and the low IQ).

@ littleboots – Plenty of us think that anyway.

@ littleboots – Agreed. I think that's all going to change in the next few books.

I'll freely admit that Sansa is not a character I particularly care for, but I don't believe she deserves all the hate she tends to generate. Which I think keeping her as young as possible will make her a slightly more sympathetic character on the show. People can forgive naive, but not so much stupid.

@Stalin – I agree, I think GRRM has big plans for her in the future – she definitely has quite a cunning tutor.

I personally am a huge Sansa fan. I think she's really going to surprise her naysayers in the upcoming books (…when we read them, some 15 years from now).

Her actress needs to be able to cry at the snap of a finger, and that's not easy to find, especially in young ones.

Still, I think if you age Sansa to 18+ you lose a lot of her rivalry with Arya, unless she is also aged up – though that would be a mistake too, in my view. They're supposed to be butting heads constantly because they're completely different people, not because there's a 5-6 year age difference.

Now what you could do, if Sansa is required to be nude, is hire a 17-year old who looks 14-15. All the really bad stuff doesn't happen until season 2 anyway. By the time season 2 comes along, voila! A home-grown 18-year old.

(Though that still sounds more than a little devious)

My solution, as I've always said, is implied nudity over actual.

I'll just agree once more: If the cameras/actors tells us she's nude, she IS nude.

That'll do plenty.

also

it's the mistreatment by joff more than the exposed skin of sansa that is the point of that scene. If you've seen the Stephen king adaptation Carrie you'll agree it is possible to reduce a person to ashes without nudity being the prerequisite.

…ryan

I don't think the hudity is needed, or as other have said, go for shoulders and show her getting laughed at and told to disrobe. Keep the camera from the neck up.

Plus, its just more heartbreaking to see someone that actually looks/is supposed to be – thirteen (a child) to have to take their clothes of.

Child nudity (even if its only implied) is just that much stronger. And we'll feel more sympathy towards her, wich seems extremely important for her character.

gemma ward for dany!

after the sean bean and peter dinklage news if i heard they cast gemma ward i would run out and buy an HBO subscription right now.

i am pleased as punch with the great job they're doing casting and that WiC is doing reporting it. i just really hope that if they are in australia looking for actors it means they are auditioning gemma ward. since anna sophia robb is a little too young and also american, i feel like gemma is the perfect, perfect lady for the job. quite talented too.

my problem with gemma ward is that i can't get past the fact that she looks just like the characters in recent juxtapos a la gothic illustrations, from artists such as mark ryden and ray caeser. check this out if you don't believe me. she's too porcelain doll frail to me.

- Gemma Ward, Illustrated? Creepy!

…ryan

Mark Ryden is creepy…and thanks to you so are Gemma Ward and Emily Browning now.

My problem with Gemma Ward is her eyes … now the girl is not ugly but her eyes (for me) are wide … making her almost alien like not ethereal ….. as for Emily Browning … I'm out on that one … can anyone PS her with the hair and the eyes?

Awesome news!!! I had several geek out/fist pump moments when I read this!

@ ryan dunn
you don't think that by casting gemma d&d could potentially tap into the great legions of mark ryden fans??? kidding, of course. a juxtapose cover featuring modern artist's take on GoT would be pretty hilarious.

i guess for me gemma is just how i pictured dany. a very etherial, beautiful big eyed girl and yeah, kind of a waif. i also happen to think gemma ward is talented.

but of course, i'm probably going to run out and get a subscription to HBO no matter what for GoT. even if they cast miley cirus as dany (what a strange twisted move that would be!)

Gemma Ward looks like an anime character. She has the face of a toddler on the body of a woman.

Anyway, a friend of mine saw the play War Horse (with Kit Harrington), and after we worked out who he was, she claimed that he was an excellent actor, and the person she was most impressed with. So sounds pretty good.

Oh, and while I'm posting…

I feel giddy like a school girl with all this news… It reminds of when LOTR was first announced and then when the news started rolling in. HOWEVER, I think this show has so much more potential to be something groundbreaking… and well, fucking awesome for lack of better words.

And I agree with the fact that everything seems to be pointing towards a green-light. Given the scale of the things that have already been announced, and the high-quality of well-known actors that have already signed on… I really wouldn't be surprised if it has been pretty much given the green-light already. (Sean Bean seems like an actor that would be beyond signing on for a pilot without some sort of reassurance of the series being picked up… but I don't know how these things work, so I could be wrong.)

With all the chips that have fallen into place, the extra-ordinary support and interest that already exists, and using ASoIaF for the source(which will translate amazingly to a television series) I will be shocked if it isn't picked up…

I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but everything is going way too well at this point not to.

/end giddy rant

I just looked up gemma ward and I'm thinking she might be a good Dany. I have no idea where her acting talents lay.

/shrug

To Anon above,

Is that all? :P

"To Anon above,

Is that all? :P"

Hehehe, this is my dream cast. I mean if they found other talented actors/actresses for the characters I will be happy. And it isn't like I have only listed a-list actors like Brad Pitt and Nicole Kidman. I would say most of my suggestions are possible candidates.

The thought strikes & lingers…casting Dany, Cersei, Sansa, finding out if they do nude scenes.. It´s strenous, dirty work, but someone gotta do it!

Thoros of Myr

Oh, didn't realize the comments had two pages. That was directed toward the last comment on the previous page.

sigh.

@WinterIsComing

Shouldn't this be on your Featured Stories list?

Amazing news, I am glad with the choice. He is an excellent, albeit often overlooked and underrated actor! His credentials couldn't be any better for this type of project. He added a lot of depth and weight to the LOTR trilogy with his excellent portrayal of Boromir! We should all be at least encouraged at where this is heading. Keep up the good work!