In a recent comment on his Not A Blog, George R. R. Martin confirms what I had suspected, that principal photography on the first season of Game of Thrones is being pushed back until late July. He also mentions his plans (or lack thereof) on visiting the shoot.
Much as I would like to spend a lot of time watching the HBO series being filmed, it is simply not possible. I have way too much work to do here at home.
(And truth be told, a writer on a film set is often as useful as nipples on a breastplate. By the time the cameras start to roll, the project rests in the hands of the actors, directors, and showrunners. I am none of those things on GAME OF THRONES)
I may decide to visit the shoot when my own episode — episode eight — is being filmed. But even that depends on when and where and what I’m doing at the time. I will likely also drop by Belfast for a day or two after Octocon in Dublin come October, since I’ll be in Ireland anyway. (If we’re shooting in Belfast at that time, and not on some distant location). But only for a day or three.
Also, FWIW, I am now informed that the start of principle photography has been pushed back to late July.
Winter Is Coming: No surprise here. Consider, with just one month to go before shooting was scheduled to begin on the pilot all the major roles were cast, save Bran and Drogo, and most of the minor roles were filling up as well. Now, one month out from the planned start to filming and none of the additional major or minor roles have been filled. Actually they have less of the major roles cast then they did when the green light was given (Dany)! So the casting process seems to be taking longer than expected. And it sounds like the behind-the-scenes stuff may be a bit behind schedule as well.
All-in-all, while I’m a little bummed we will have to wait an extra month before we get all those fun set reports, I’m glad they are not rushing this thing. Hopefully HBO can temper this somewhat-bad news with some casting announcements!
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87 Comments
We asumed correctly, then. No harm done, just aligning the ducks, as GRRM said before the pilot :) Which itself was pushed back a fortnight or so, IIRC.
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
Also, the football fans around here will be able to concentrate on one thing at a time, mostly :D
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
Heh.
Like very much your last words.
Even form a perspective of two months (now) to the begining of the shooting, it is time to hear some casting news.
The_Rabbit01Quote Reply
That is a witty conclusion! :)
After many years of being histerical over world-championships, I will watch it totally relaxed.
I am starting to like it. As Monthy Pitons say: Always look at the bright side of life :D
The_Rabbit01Quote Reply
That explains why Sean Bean could take off to film a movie this week. I wonder if the delay has been on the cards for a few weeks then?
That also might put Kaya Scodelario back in contention for Dany. They should be starting to film WUTHERING HEIGHTS any time now. Assuming a standard (for a 2-hr movie) 6-8 week shoot, that makes her available for THRONES (assuming, of course, that she doesn't have any other projects lined up and that they're not filming Dany's scenes first out of the gate).
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
What a complex affair. It boggles the mind but it is a concern (for me) that things are delayed. Business as usual? Maybe, but delays often cause greater costs and make things more complicated for actors. On the other hand maybe it is a sign that great care is being taken with the cast instead of the deadline ruling decisions.
MrCereQuote Reply
Does weather mean much? I don't know much about the Irish climate, but i was just thinking – since GOT takes place in late summer – how far can they push it back?
I'm not really dissapointed by this. The casting news was already delayed, and thats what i'm most exited about anyway. Hopefully this won't push back the releasedate of the first season(?)
sjweningsQuote Reply
As much as I like instant gratification, a bit of extra waiting at this stage doesn't hurt that badly.
It'd be great if the delay also helps free up the schedules of people who otherwise wouldn't be able to consider the show because of prior commitments.
paulgudeQuote Reply
It seems IMO that they were starting with the audition, a little bit later than we were expecting.
For one issue we know for sure – Dany- one of the most crucial roles. With Tamzin gone, they are probably in process of finding a perfect Daenerys, and that is not easy job – it is a complex role.
Maybe they have issues too with casting LF or some other important character.
I doubt that Septa Mordane or Jory Cassel could be a hard choice to make.
It could be anything. Honestly they have only three months and a hal for all the preproduction work.
It is not much time at all.
The_Rabbit01Quote Reply
Wuthering Heights seems to have its own issues when it comes to delays. So far at least three or four different actresses have been tapped to play the female lead, Scodelario being the latest. AFAIK, they still haven't case a male lead, or any other characters for that matter. I don't think it will be filming anytime soon.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Exactly. They had almost a year (11 months) from the day the pilot was commissioned until they started filming. The casting period alone lasted from May all the way to October. And they were casting a lot less roles (although many important ones).
So yeah, once we weren't getting any casting announcements the first few weeks after the green light, I figured we were in trouble. The recastings just made it even more unlikely they would get every role filled by June.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
I'm wondering if that crazy Islandic volcano has influenced things. Northern Ireland is usually struck as one of the first countries when it blows it's ash up in the air and has been closed multiple days last month. But the atlantic flights usually can fly around it, so maybe not too big a problem there.
They expect that we won't see the ashcloud back till autumn because the summerwinds blow the ash away from Europe. Let's hope they can fly everyone in and out during the season.
KnurkQuote Reply
My GOD the bad news never ends. First the books are indefinitely delayed, now the show.
This tale of Westeroes is cursed!
shadallionQuote Reply
If she can act – which seems to be the case – and she's available, I would love to see Scodelario get the part.
Jaqen_HgharQuote Reply
As pointed out above, there has been major travel disruption into Ireland because of the volcanic ash cloud situation, and now there's a period of strike action on British Airways coming up (although I suppose Europe and UK-based actors can slum it on a low-cost carrier for an hour instead ;-) ) which may have affected casting sessions, location scouts and so on.
It's also possible that the sheer number of actors they needed to find has proven more overwhelming than they first thought, and maybe a number of their first choices weren't available in June but perhaps were free in July. In addition, based on this new filming project Sean Bean has flown out to take part in, it's possible he asked them for the delay so he could tackle this movie and, combined with the other factors, they agreed.
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
Just watched "The Good Guys" on Hulu and remembered how much I want Andrew Divoff as Ilyn Payne:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0228678/
paulgudeQuote Reply
The "nipples on a breastplate" comment has had me chuckling all day. I'm trying to think if that is ever made fun of in the books as well….
Ondy2112Quote Reply
Look at the silver lining and think positive, perhaps so many high profile actors wanted roles and possibly a great number of auditions were nailed for the smaller roles that D&D are having a difficult time choosing amongst the enormous talent.
TysnowQuote Reply
According to Westeros it would seem that Irish born actor Yare Michael Jegbefume has tweeted that he had a audtion for Jhogo and Qotho. this suggests that they may be going for a multi-ethnic Dothraki population.
GrimtuesdayQuote Reply
Yeah, I think it's uttered a few times in the books.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
I guess it may have to with Jason Momoas ethnicity beeing a little… uh.. undecidable-looking.
sjweningsQuote Reply
I think it might be the way that they go about kombating the whole racism thin because, realisticly there are only a few black people in ASoIaF none of which play a very prominet role in the story at this time. Therfore they will make the dothraki a more diverse people to avoid those sorts of acusations.
GrimtuesdayQuote Reply
I wouldn't think so, but if it IS the case, then i don't like it principally. That would be so-called reverse racism, and thats not that much better.
This is high-speculation that theres probably no reason to take much further, though.
sjweningsQuote Reply
I'm not sure if we've talked about this guy yet.
Errol Clarke http://www.uk.castingcallpro.com/view.php?uid=116…
Tweeted "America? Morocco? Northern Ireland? All of them are one casting!!! Wooo Hoooo!!! "
Sounds like Thrones.
Phoenix_tornQuote Reply
NICE!!! I think you're right.
The "America" thing might just be the fact that the show will be shown in the US, unless there's something we don't know…
paulgudeQuote Reply
Dolorous Edd opined that glass knives were about as useful as nipples on a knight’s breastplate, but Jon was not so certain. The dragonglass blade was sharper than steel, albeit far more brittle.
…….
She blamed Pycelle; he should have told the silent sisters that Lord Tywin Lannister never smiled. The man is as useless as nipples on a breastplate.
pualoQuote Reply
I think, honestly, that the racial diversity of a cast is in the back of any producer's mind. Whether you let it inform your choices or dictate them is another matter.
Like I've mentioned elsewhere, although HBO can be more progressive in their casting than other networks, they also seem to be less concerned about *appearing* diverse, having the races present in a particular show driven by the story rather than politics. For example, Carnivale had a cast that was pretty much full of white folks.
My guess at this point is that the Dothraki will be diverse within the parameters of Momoas' ethnicity, so that it would be believable that they are related in some way to him.
paulgudeQuote Reply
Stephen R. Hart is my choice for Ilyn Payne http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1242679/
Gene4244Quote Reply
i don't think HBO is trying to actively fight racism by any means.
but to call the casting of a black actor in a fantasy series reverse racism is seriously misinformed.
educatedponyQuote Reply
did no one else have the impression that the dothraki people were a hodge podge of all the different tribes/villages/cities they'd sacked in their nomadic wanderings?
educatedponyQuote Reply
Does that mean Ilyn Payne is going to die by being shot through the head twice and then blown up with a grenade? Mikhail was almost indestructible.
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
I did, but more in the fact that Vaes Dothrak and the individual khals' baggage trains would have lots of people from across Essos (and maybe Westeros and Sothoryos as well) in them. My assumption was that the actual Dothraki warriors themselves would be a more homegenous group.
That said, the Dothraki Sea appears to be far vaster than Mongolia or Siberia (or the two combined), so it's possible that we people (particularly ignorant Westerosi) call 'the Dothraki' is a much more diverse group and culture than first appeared.
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
I'd say that means they're casting the Dothraki bloodriders, bodyguards and other khals now.
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
Also, in Ireland, the Gaelic football championship starts this weekend. Belfast's team, Antrim, are playing my team, Tyrone. Support Tyrone. :D http://jamesmcanespy.co.uk
jamesimcanespyQuote Reply
I commented on an idea that they might be putting black people in there to avoid accusations of racism.
If that would be the case (IF) – Thats basically the definition of reverse racism.
sjweningsQuote Reply
Nice!! :D
@LivveHultQuote Reply
Did GRRM really write "principle photography"? /slaps forehead
BryanQuote Reply
Recognizing that a text may not have presented a racially diverse cast and looking to cast a more racially diverse cast is hardly reverse racism.
seamuskQuote Reply
and again we wait!
LiesieQuote Reply
Sophie just tweeted "OMG I just found out the biggest thing ever…. YOU WILL WANT TO KNOW!!!!!!!!!" I'll just pretend it's GoT related.
digQuote Reply
*Could* be something else, but the fact that she doesn't just say what it is means it might definitely be a GoT secret. Maybe a recognizable name as a cast member?
paulgudeQuote Reply
Yeah, I'm hoping it's a name/role to be excited about.
also, hi. long time lurker. you guys are awesome.
digQuote Reply
Do not know how to put that in words and I do not know if I am doing the right thing, but I saw (tweet was there for a second, and was deleted) one of the actors we talked about lately, announced that he urgently needs some horse riding classes!
Do we have first role cast?
The_Rabbit01Quote Reply
Oooh, sounds like it. Nice!
paulgudeQuote Reply
Uh…guys?
http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertain…
paulgudeQuote Reply
So, who's Emilia Clark?
First hit on Google:
http://www.myspace.com/emilia_ox
paulgudeQuote Reply
With HBO silence, and GRRM obviously not in position to say too much (that is understandable , I can see our FaBs prediction coming to life.
We are going to digging the cast by ourselves. :D
The_Rabbit01Quote Reply
cool! wonder if there are any pictures at all of her around the web?
@AshandereiQuote Reply
Could this be her?
http://www.spotlight.com/7655-7861-0395
Chris PierceQuote Reply
hmm.. wouldn't mind if it's the actress on that imdb page… wouldn't mind that at all :P
@AshandereiQuote Reply
http://www.spotlight.com/7655-7861-0395
That's all I was able to find. Hopefully this is the wrong Emilia Clark, because… meh.
AshliQuote Reply
Well, Emilia is from Manchester…:)
And she is nineteen.
The_Rabbit01Quote Reply
I hope that the Elena Satin debate will finally stop now.
: Evil Rabbit :
The_Rabbit01Quote Reply
I mean, she's very pretty, but in those pictures, her face is all wrong to me. I picture Dany to have very small, fine features, and this girl has a larger mouth and nose. Still pretty though, just not at all what I pictured. And her coloring is pretty dark.
But still better than Tamzin, I guess.
AshliQuote Reply
Same link I was able to find, and considering those pics match the few on her iMDB page, it looks like it is.
AshliQuote Reply
It should. Who cares at this point, yes?
paulgudeQuote Reply
Maybe, not exactly how I imagined Dany, but I like her.
The_Rabbit01Quote Reply
Yeah, it was the only link I could find on her apart from the linked IMDB.
I like her look for Dany. And I like the idea of an unknown in the role.
Chris PierceQuote Reply
Well, looking at the picture it's same actress as on IMDB, and of her Mo Ryan said:
"There's a profile for an "Emilia Clarke," which may not be the actress in question, on IMDb.com. That profile lists only a British drama, "Doctors," on "Clarke's" resume (and my understanding is that the "Games" actress does not have an "e" on the end of her name). "
paulgudeQuote Reply
:) Lets try to find Emilia s pics on the net.
The_Rabbit01Quote Reply
so excited! we have a dany! phew! she looks great, lovely eyes. congrats emilia!
elinorrabbitQuote Reply
Like I posted above, Mo Ryan stated that she wasn't positive the actress on IMDB was the same one, so I wouldn't put that down as solid yet. Not saying it *isn't*, but Mo wasn't sure about it.
paulgudeQuote Reply
Very good point.
Chris PierceQuote Reply
This was the Emilia Clark of the Myspace page:
http://www.facebook.com/emilia.clark14
Absolutely nothing to indicate she's an actress, so may be a red herring. Not the same as the person on the IMDB page.
paulgudeQuote Reply
I'd be more skeptical if her age, size (she's 5'2" and ~113 lbs) and location didn't all fit, but they do.
AshliQuote Reply
Here's the OTHER Emilia Clark I'm finding, 19, from Manchester, and it looks like she's blonde.
http://www.myspace.com/emilia_ox http://en-gb.facebook.com/emilia.clark14
The second picture is pretty unflattering but she looks a LOT closer to how I picture Dany
AshliQuote Reply
I'm excited guys!! If this is in fact our Emilia Clarke I'm not going to complain. Something in her eyes says Dany to me. Now let's see if she can act.
Phoenix_tornQuote Reply
The only thing I'd point out (which you may already know, just for others) is that Mo Ryan didn't say anything about location. The British show she listed was for the IMDB actress (Clarke) that she wasn't sure was "her" Clark. I agree that age and size fits well.
paulgudeQuote Reply
HODOR!
I knew it would be like that: Several months nothing – and than in one evening a bunch of stuff:
The new one: video tape of the Hodor audition over at Westeros blog!
The_Rabbit01Quote Reply
Plus, she's got horse riding skill!
paulgudeQuote Reply
Yeah, it could be her, after all.
The_Rabbit01Quote Reply
Oh my god, that's an awesome audition tape. I love how he has a little kid waiting around to be Bran for him.
AshliQuote Reply
I like him!
paulgudeQuote Reply
Liking the possible Hodor!
Not sure about the Dany, not enough information, plus we don't actually know who it is yet.
Ser_NAQuote Reply
Yes, finally we have a new Dany, and this diatribe can stop. Congratulations to Emilia, she must be exceptionally talented to beat out all the other candidates. Thank you D&D and HBO for releasing the news, it was getting shall I say, a tad noisy here at WiC.
TysnowQuote Reply
If this is really is our Emilia, that bio is quite impressive for a young actress, I really like the fact she has been doing mainly stage roles, as stage actors really do own.
TysnowQuote Reply
Lol That is one weird audition tape. The tattoos could be an issue. If they have 2 guys they like and they'll have to spend time and money covering 1 guy's tattoos, I'd guess they'd choose the other one. That being said I do like this guy.
Phoenix_tornQuote Reply
Dunno, but I WANT her to be!
OMG what beautiful eyes!!
You guys seriously rock.
CaedesQuote Reply
Wow ,I just had goosebumps merely by seeing "Bran" mounted on top of him.
He's a serious contender for the role, I bet.
And I find it funny how Bran also speaks in monosyllables… :-)
CaedesQuote Reply
Here is a commercial she's done (I think it's her): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=im2zLraEI8w
MilanQuote Reply
Great find!!
Chris PierceQuote Reply
Wow!
Here's another from the same campaign:
http://www.youtube.com/user/samaritans#p/u/2/Atje…
The only thing I'm not sure of is that the character's name is "Lisa" in the first one, but it's listed as Julie on the Spotlight page:
http://www.spotlight.com/7655-7861-0395
Still, though, I'm pretty sure it's the same person. Maybe they changed the name for some reason?
paulgudeQuote Reply
Great find indeed Milan!!
And according to the page Mr. Gude (yes, you are "Mr Gude" to me, hands down) found, those commercial are just 6 months old…
Risking in repeating myself… I now WANT this Emilia Clarke to be Daenerys.
CaedesQuote Reply
I'm with you on this all the way. This is some great work.
paulgudeQuote Reply
Yikes.
This video is so unprofessionally done, I have a hard time believing it was anything more than a "I'm unknown, but I'm big, can I be Hodor" request from a a fan.
Why would you shoot this in a tiny yard with no room for him to move? His failing at his "feat of strength" was a joke. I'm glad the other dude can't life the table, but if you want to show off your strength, you should maybe try to lift the object in question BEFORE you start filming.
I didn't like the way he was looking up at Bran's signals. Hodor has limited speech and capability, but he isn't deaf. When responding to Hodor-calls, the camera was never in the right spot, and he always had a stupid smile.
The challenge with Hodor is that he DOES have a range of emotion, and this "audition" doesn't show frightened Hodor or worried Hodor or anything other than "horse" Hodor. Which is exactly what Hodor SHOULDN'T be.
stevelabnyQuote Reply
I agree to a point. But I imagine its hard a hard casting side to give out. Hodor is a pretty "limited" character that says nothing but Hodor, but it may not be easy to explain that he emotes this word in many different ways in different situations.
I assume it's an initial video and if they see potential, they would bring him in for a real audition and explain the character a little more and hope to see more of what they want out of the character.
ChrisQuote Reply
This definitely didn't seem like a normal audition video, but Hodor is one of those roles where I think it's very possible that we may see an "outsider" get cast.
paulgudeQuote Reply
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