You read that right. We are going to talk season two. “But Winter,” I hear you asking, “don’t you think it is too early for that? Season one hasn’t started airing yet and we don’t even know if we will get a season two!” Very true. However, all signs are pointing to a green light. Also HBO’s recent trend of green lighting the season right after the first episode airs means casting would be going on at the same time as the first season is airing, not leaving us much time to discuss potential candidates. I figure with some time to kill over the next few months, we can talk season two casting now and maybe Benioff and Weiss will get a chance to check out our wish lists and maybe nab a few fan favorites once it comes time to officially begin casting.
So let’s hear it folks. Who are your top picks for some of the prominent season two roles? Any and all names are welcome, but remember, realistically almost all of those cast will be from the UK. We will take some of the most popular names for each role and do individual posts for each character during the new year, just like we did for the pilot and season one. But this thread is open for all suggestions. After the jump, you will find a list of key characters they will likely be casting for season two. Now let the casting games begin!
Dragonstone
Stannis Baratheon
Melisandre
Davos Seaworth
Riverrun
Hoster Tully
Edmure Tully
Brynden “Blackfish” Tully
Renly’s Host
Margaery Tyrell
Brienne
Mace Tyrell
Randyll Tarly
Harrenhal
Jaqen H’ghar
Roose Bolton
Vargo Hoat
King’s Landing
Dontos Hollard
Mandon Moore
Podrick Payne
Winterfell
Ramsay Snow
Jojen Reed
Meera Reed
Iron Islands
Aeron Greyjoy
Asha Greyjoy
Balon Greyjoy
Across the Narrow Sea
Rhaegar Targaryen
Elia Martell
Strong Belwas
On the Wall
Dolorous Edd Tollett
Qhorin Halfhand
Craster
Gilly
Ygritte
590 Comments
Ooh.. the thrill of the speculation again… cool.
I guess most of the 2nd season cast will be mainly filled by unknowns, much like the actual cast of the show.
My votes and wishes are for
Zeljko Ivanek as Roose Bolton: plenty of HBOs experience, fits the role like a glove.
Dante Nero as Strong Belwas: Much like Conan Stevens, maybe they just go back past castings instead of looking fo new people.
Joseph Campo as Dolorous Edd: A small wink to the fans, Joe indeed has the sense of humour, it’s a small role and his looks are not important to the part.
Keith Allen as Balon Greyjoy. Very small role, and can see it happening.
Peter Mullan as Davos Seaworth/Randyll Tarly. It’s strange, but I think he would be awesome in any of those very very different roles.
Keep them coming!
CaedesQuote Reply
Jemaine Clement as Roose Bolton would be perfect
Julian WalkerQuote Reply
Oh my, oh my … that is indeed a lot of new characters!
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
This is too dreamy, but Liam Neeson would be a PERFECT Blackfish
BilboQuote Reply
Kevin McKidd as Stannis! please HBO!
Laura LuchettiQuote Reply
Why is Rhaegar Targaryen listed? I thought they would not be including flashbacks??
BilboQuote Reply
Blake Ritson as Ser Davos Seaworth
williamhperkinsQuote Reply
Since I’m sure people will be linking to IMDb profiles and photos in this thread quite a bit, here is a tip on how to link them properly.
If you want to link the name to a profile/photo (or any other portion of text), simply highlight it, click the “link” button and copy the URL into the field and hit OK. It will turn that portion of text into a live link.
If that is too much work, you can just paste the URL right into your comment and WordPress will automatically convert it into a live link once you post the comment.
DON’T use the “link” button just to post a URL. If you do that, it will drop the URL into an HTML tag, but since you didn’t highlight any text the tags won’t have anything in-between them and then your link won’t show up at all. People have been doing this a LOT.
Hope that helps folks. Happy casting!
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
@Laura Luchetti, Alright, I know I don’t know you, but you are pretty hot looking…just wanted to say that.
BilboQuote Reply
That Blake dude looks kinda young, don’t he? Doesn’t Davos have like 7 kids?
BilboQuote Reply
Good idea to look at Nina Gold’s projects for casting ideas… she has a large pool of actors she uses regularly.
What do you think the chances of Michael Fassbender showing up on the show are? He’s a rising star, but still not big in the US. A recurring role on a big HBO series could be an excellent foot in the door for him. Centurion proved he’s got the chops for medieval action.
williamhperkinsQuote Reply
williamhperkins,
Love the Blake Ritson idea for Davos! I’m about to start ACOK on my re-read…I’ll keep that in mind! He’s my absolute LEAST favorite POV character, and that image may spice things up a bit.
David ThomasQuote Reply
Fassbender was recently in the Nina Gold casted Jane Eyre.
williamhperkinsQuote Reply
We don’t know for sure whether they will be using flashbacks or not. Hoping I can get a definitive answer in a couple weeks when I’m out in LA.
Still the House of the Undying stuff isn’t really a flashback and will almost certainly be included. The Rhaegar and Elia scene, with him talking about the Prince that was Promised, is a key scene to understanding the overall story.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Christopher Eccleston has to be in this show. There are numerous roles he’d be great for- but my pick is Aeron Greyjoy.
ShinyteapotQuote Reply
Christopher Lee as Hoster Tully
Morena Baccarin as Melisandre
and Brian Blessed as Craster
alexQuote Reply
Richard Armitage as Stannis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvUT1AGxPUs
http://www.youtube.com/user/elvirasweeney?feature=chclk#p/a/u/1/-Fd95fRF0bQ
Gillian Anderson as Melisandre
Keith Allen as Balon Greyjoy
MyriLQuote Reply
John Hodgman for The Tickler!
He’s a fan of the books, has said he’d do the part, GRRM likes him, and I think he’d be great.
Also, Tim Roth and Robert Carlyle have both had their TV shows end this year. Roth for the Blackfish and Carlyle for Davos? Honestly, I feel the two could pull off a couple of parts.
Like someone’s suggestion for Keith Allen as Balon Greyjoy. There’s been a criticism that he chews the scenery a bit too much in some earlier works, but that really comes down to direction and editing in my mind. I think he’d be great and the familial connection is too good.
I still like dark horse Peter Serafinowicz for Stannis. He’s a great comedic actor, but his ability to play a solemn character works as well.
I like someone’s suggestion of Peter Stormare for Hoat.
I hope Alice Henley finally gets a role a Ygritte.
I like someone’s suggestion of Brad Dourif as Crastor.
Semi-serious suggestion of Crispin Glover for Jaqen H’ghar.
paulgudeQuote Reply
Lauren Ambroseas Ygritte
BigTomDEQuote Reply
One more thing, this is by no means a definitive list, just the roles I thought would be most likely to attract known actors and spark some casting discussion. If you have someone you think would make an absolutely perfect Biter or Pyat Pree, feel free to post it.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Ugh. I meant “Craster.”
Also, Brienne? Source of endless debates. Barring an unknown I think I like Gwendoline Christie best out of all of the suggestions I’ve seen so far.
paulgudeQuote Reply
Fassbender is a great choice, he could be a ramsay or an edmure.
Brendan Gleeson for Mace. A pipe dream? yes.
Mark Strong could be stannis, i think it has been mentioned before.
Also Rhys Ifans, he could be davos, frankly id just like to see him in the series.
VancouveriteInAccraQuote Reply
Lauren Ambrose as Ygritte
BigTomDEQuote Reply
I think you really have to discount North American actors for roles. Peter Dinklage is the exception to the rule, mostly because he is perfect for the role (though time will tell if his accent is passable or not).
Gillian Anderson and Lauren Ambrose… I don’t imagine they’d even be considered. Anderson’s faux-English accent is awful.
williamhperkinsQuote Reply
Don’t forget Jason Momoa!
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Seconding Joseph Campo for Dolorus Edd, if not Mance himself. I’m really hoping the guy gets a role, and Edd would be perfect.
fevredreamQuote Reply
Winter Is Coming,
True, forgot Momoa. Though I don’t think the American accent will be an issue in Dothraki :P
williamhperkinsQuote Reply
Sarah Bolger for Margaery Tyrell, no question. I loved her in the Tudors.
Polly Walker as Melisandre. She rocked Atia in Rome, and I can so see her playing the cunning, powerful and beautiful sorceress.
Carry Mulligan for Asha Greyjoy because she’s a superb actor and just how I pictured her.
But please people, don’t suggest USians. They are awfully distracting in historical and fantasy pieces (unless it’s US history of course) and almost universally dreadful. Peter Dinkledge is an exception (since there aren’t that many to choose from) and hopefully his accent doesn’t stand out too much. Though casting a USian for Drogo still bugs me. They should have gone Asian.
clemintineQuote Reply
Melisandre (from hell) and Dolouros Edd :-)
durandalQuote Reply
You left off Rorge and Biter. My only wish lists are Peter Stormare as Roose Bolton (or Vargo Holt as Brude suggested), and Raimi Malek as The Bastard of Bolton (both dwell in LA I believe). Also I like Tim Roth as Davos or Mance Rayder.
dizzy_34Quote Reply
As far as aging up goes, does anyone think they will age up Jojen or Meera? In the book, they are listed as 13 and 16 years old, respectively. I’m guessing they will remain around the same age.
As for Margaery, she is listed as 15 years old in the book. They will almost certainly age her up to 18 or so and will likely be casting in the 18-24 range (similar to Dany).
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
I love the Zeljko Ivanek and Joseph Campo ideas! That’s about the only role I can see Campo in, though–doesn’t speak much, and is melodramatic when he does speak.
Ygritte – Felicia Day (totally doable)
Asha Greyjoy – Karen Cliche
Brienne – Dot Jones
Rhaegar – Victor Webster
Margaery – Tamzin Merchant (a much better role for her, as they’re aging it up)
Melisandre – Lindsay Lohan (seriously! she needs a comeback and she does slow-burning red-headed psycho very well)
Meera – Hailee Steinfeld
Jojen – Jimmy Bennett
Dontos – David Henrie
David ThomasQuote Reply
Mark Strong-Stannis
Bread Dourif- Balon Greyjoy
Idres Elba- Strong
Gérard Depardieu or Jermy Irons-Dantos
Jason SQuote Reply
Personally I hope he is cast for Stannis, he is about the right age and level of actor for the role, and appearance wise he is spot on imo. Mark Strong would also be ideal but is probably way out of hbo’s budget considering some of the films he’s been in.
Robert Carlyle absolutely needs to be Davos. He would really nail Davo’s character perfectly and hbo would definitely be able to afford him. It would be a wasted opportunity if hbo doesn’t at least consider him especially since he is now available.
Link in case you do not know him:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001015/
I’ve always had a fondness for Damian Lewis as an actor and ever since he was mentioned for Edmure Tully I couldn’t quite get that out of head. Again right level of actor, age and appearance and well within what hbo can afford.
Link: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0507073/
Those would probably be my top picks for now for a few of the roles.
AbstractPlainQuote Reply
clemintine,
I believe the prefer the term American, but Momoa is “Asian” enough. He’s half native-Hawaiian and has Native American ancestry as well. I always pictured the Dothraki as some kind of Eurasian plateau people. They are heavily based on the Mongols and the Huns, so somewhere in between seems like a suitable middleground.
williamhperkinsQuote Reply
See my above disclaimer. I actually did have them on there but removed them since I didn’t think they were quite on the same level of many of these other characters.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Karoline Herfurth for Ygritte
she is a german actress, but since she’d play the role of a wildling a slight accent wouldn’t be too distracting, I imagine…
PonineQuote Reply
I always felt that the perfect Blackfish would be Jeremy Irons.
thewopperQuote Reply
I don’t see Kevin McKidd as Stannis, but I’d love for him to have a role in this series!
Also – someone mentioned Jeremy Irons.. I’d be ecstatic to see him as well but he’s filming The Bragia for Showtime so I don’t know if it’ll be possible to get him. He would be superb in many roles though! Here’s hoping! lol
I can’t wait to see the rest of the casting for Renly’s Host and Dragonstone.
LinayusQuote Reply
Raeghar and Elia? What makes you think HBO is casting for these roles? Are they going to include flashbacks? It would be great, don´t get me wrong, but I think they have enough material with the livings. Besides, there is no match for the true DRAGON!
That Peter Mullan IS Davon Seaworth! He looks screwed and noble at the same time.
Jeremy Irons could make a good Blackfish.
I agree with Caedes upon Zeljko Ivanek. Long haired and clean shaven and we would have dear Roose.
What about Steven Waddington as Randyll Tarly?. His brief appearance on the Tudors was pretty convincing and he is red-haired as Brienne should be.
I don´t know about Stannis (it was suggested Mark Strong but I´ve never seen his acting) For me those characters along with Melissandre are the essence of the new characters in the second book.
FingolfinQuote Reply
Stannis Baratheon – Christopher Ecclestone
Melisandre – Never seen her act but for me Christina Hendrix has the perfect look (and boobs). I just have a bad feeling she’s not really a good actress.
Felix ZschieschowQuote Reply
Dragonstone
Stannis Baratheon – Christopher Eccleston
Davos Seaworth – Robert Carlyle
These two actors could do lots of roles though. I just want them in there! But this is where I want them.
Chris Eccleston is taller than Robert Carlyle, as befit a king and his devoted servant, plus I see Eccleston doing brooding and tortured with Carlyle as his loyal, straight forward and sympathetic right hand man very easily. Also Davos (as a POV) is a larger role than Stannis, and I think Eccleston would be happy to be able to do more than one thing. He might feel typecast though and he definitely doesn’t like that.
Riverrun
Edmure Tully – What do people think about David Tennant for Edmure? He can do happy-go-lucky, he can do serious, and he’s of a right age to be Michelle Fairley’s younger brother…
King’s Landing
Podrick Payne – Thomas Sangster (if he still looks young enough). Btw, how old is Pod? Are we ever told? I’d guess about 12…
Winterfell
Jojen Reed – If Thomas Sangster isn’t young enough for Pod, he could make an excellent Jojen.
KatjaQuote Reply
thewopper,
Gods, yes! I would love that!
Flóra BallabásQuote Reply
Ygritte: Lea Seydoux
Roose Bolton: Mads Mikkelsen
Ramsey Bolton: Michael Pitt
Qhorin Halfhand: Nataniel Parker
Melisandre (from hell) & Dolouros Edd :-)
durandalQuote Reply
alex,
oh! Morena Baccarin would make a great Melisandre! Her or someone quite similar to her fits my mental image quite well. Look at this picture, her brown eyes look almost red ;) : http://hintergrundbilder.wallpaperstock.net/morena-baccarin-wallpapers_w4599.html
Brian Blessed would also make a good Craster. He’s got quite the ‘character-face’: http://news.superiorpics.com/2006/11/09/BLESSED_TO_VOYAGE_TO_MARS_.html
Good suggestions you got there, in my opinion.
I’m still a Fan of Alice Henley for Ygritte (following link is not work-safe :-) ) : http://hotnudestar.com/7468-georgie-henley-photos.html
She has Ygritte’s face (in my opinion ) and is still pretty. ;)
And yes…Brienne is an endless debate…I bet even after she is cast.
SchlafmohnQuote Reply
John Hurt as Hoster Tully!
I don’t see Pod as that young, at least in the series, but that kid could make a great Jojen.
Dot-Marie Jones is how Dot Jones is sometimes listed–I really want her for Brienne! She’s perfect as Coach Bieste on Glee, and Coach Bieste is a complete rip off of Brienne as a character anyway. Not a lot of GREAT actresses for that part, and Dot Jones is a fantastic actress.
David ThomasQuote Reply
These are the three characters that I have actors in mind for at the moment.
Stannis Baratheon – Mark Strong
Davos Seaworth – Tommy Flanagan
Brynden “Blackfish” Tully – Jeremy Irons
LynonQuote Reply
Mark Strong is too hot to play Stannis! But Stannis can be hot, I guess, since it is HBO.
David ThomasQuote Reply
clemintine,
Polly Walker would be amazing as Melisandre! Good call! She did the manipulative, power hungry, slightly(?) delusional and crazy type on Caprica too, and she was great. I guess most people have imagined Melisandre as younger and thinner, but Polly Walker does have some serious curves.
KatjaQuote Reply
David Thomas,
Well, I think most people would say that Dinklage is too hot to play Tyrion, but he is. But I agree, Stannis can be “hot” as you put it.
LynonQuote Reply
Agree with Carlyle and Lewis
As for Eccleston as Stannis- I certainly wouldn’t object to that, he’s more than capable of playing that role well. Anything that gets him in the show is fine by me! But I would still choose the Damphair- it’s an interesting role and I think will require a particularly good actor to come across as more than a one note mad prophet. Besides, if they stick with the descriptions in the book, that’s a Greyjoy nose :)
ShinyteapotQuote Reply
never happen, but Sacha Baron Cohen as the Goat!
fake-o name-oQuote Reply
paulgude,
Keith Allen as Balon Greyjoy would be nice if only cause he’s Alfie Allen’s actual dad.
I can also definitely see Brad Dourif as Craster. The only thing I can clearly remember him from is the game Myst 3, but he was perfectly crazy in it. Muss his hair and wrap him in dirty furs and he’s perfect.
KatjaQuote Reply
I know that she is going to be hard of get, but i think that Katee Sackhoff (Kara thrace, a.k.a. starbuck of galactica) could do a GREAT Brienne of Tar. What do you think? so say we all?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38117284@N00/1272299280/
http://blogs.chron.com/tubular/archives/Starbuck%20halfsize.JPG
DashQuote Reply
Dash,
Katee has the balls but I don’t know if she has the vulnerability that Brienne needs. Plus, she’s a stunner and nowhere near tall and beefy enough. And has anyone ever heard her do accents?
I don’t see her being harder to get than Robert Carlyle and some of the other names that have been mentioned here though. Not for a major HBO show.
KatjaQuote Reply
I always imagined Louisa Lytton as Gillie (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1863068/), although I had to do a search to get her name.
Here’s a picture; http://www.danceanddance.com/dancers/Louisa_Lytton.jpg
john smithQuote Reply
Katee would be a pretty good Brienne. Not so big, but she’s got the right attitude, and clearly can act. Wonder if they’d ugly her up. I’m sure many would complain she’s too good looking, but I never found Sackoff a typical beauty, by any stretch.
Steve BQuote Reply
Damein Lewis IS Beric Don so we cant have him.
I LOVE Liam Neelson as blackfish but cant see it
Stannis Baratheon – Christopher Eccleston – NO.
Davos Seaworth – Robert Carlyle – YESSSS!!!!
i dont no the actors name, maybe someone could help, but wild bill from deadwood would be a good balon greyjoy if he could nail the voice. we have seen he has great acting chops, iusnt a massive star they couldnt get and looks the part.
GazQuote Reply
I’m beginning the Jonathan Rhys-Meyers for Oberyn “The Red Viper” Martell campaign early for Season 3.
shadallionQuote Reply
Well, if HBO could pull it off, I think Paul Bettany would be THE Roose Bolton. Surprised no one has suggested it yet.
André SeixasQuote Reply
Ygritte – Emma Watson
JohnQuote Reply
I remain a big fan of Mackenzie Crook for Vargo Hoat, as I suggested over on Westeros over a year ago, initially. I think he is quite capable of pulling off the part, and if IMDb is any indication, he’ll be available, since Tintin is in post-production and Ironclad has wrapped up production.
For Craster, I still like Brian Cox. but he’s a very busy, in-demand actor at the moment.
LangkardQuote Reply
How about Malcolm McDowell or Christopher Lee as Maester Cressen?
The Last BaronQuote Reply
Bilbo,
Ehm. I’m blushing :) I’m a long time reader, by the way.
Laura LuchettiQuote Reply
David Thomas,
Dot Jones! Perfect for Brienne. I’ve been worried since AGOT was first announced that they wouldn’t be able to find someone who has both the physical requirements and the acting abilities – suggestions were always either female wrestlers/bodybuilders with no acting experience or actors who were too Hollywood pretty. Jones is a wonderful idea!
LangkardQuote Reply
Steve B,
Oh come on. Katee Sackhoff is beautiful! Maybe she’s no Natalie Portman or Scarlett Johansson, but in any normal lineup she’s stand out a mile!
KatjaQuote Reply
AbstractPlain,
Eccleston as Stannis is a great idea. Never considered it!
paulgudeQuote Reply
Gwendoline Christie is my favourite suggestion for Brienne. She’s tall, the right age, British, and with the right haircut and makeup I think could look great. She’d need to build up some muscle, but that’s what gyms are for.
Katee Sackhoff, great though she is, is far too short for Brienne and I have no idea whether or not she could do the accent.
Dot Jones- don’t recognise her but she seems too old to me.
ShinyteapotQuote Reply
Katja,
I’m outing myself as a Doctor Who fan but regardless of that fact I think David Tennant as Edmure would be great, especially when I think of Ginger Littlejohn in Bright Young Things.
paulgudeQuote Reply
MyriL,
Agreed. Richard Armitage would be spectacular as Stannis Baratheon. His 2010 role of SAS, John Porter(Strike Back) and Guy of Gisborne(2006-09) were both mindful of the Lord of Dragonstone’s steely-backbone and determination. The conflicted moral aspect of the character could be compared to Armitage’s rogue MI-5 agent, Lucas North, in this year’s SPOOKS, series 9 (BBC).
Armitage has stated in the past that he’d enjoy playing partially bald or even totally bald if required.
RAbloggerQuote Reply
i am going to do these by role as i break them down. first up,
Brienne.
face it folks they aren’t going to do ugly ugly. maybe hollywood ugly but even that isn’t necessary. what is necessary is “manish” or made to look manish and act manish in a world where women are supposed to be “proper ladies”. that should set her apart enough character wise for the show. the acting ability to do niave, tough, vulnerable but kick your ass is more important than being ugly imho.
and height is a bit of an issue. i simply cannot find anybody 6′ ish that can act who isn’t a thin supermodel type. i think shorter but stockier with a squarish face that could be made to look a bit manish is more important than height as height can be fudged on camera. so my choice would be…
Michelle Ryan – she definitely has the strong thicker body type, she also has a squarish face that can pass for manish with work (don’t get me wrong i still think she is hot) and best of all she can actually act. she was great in Jekyll, pretty good in Merlin and had a decent tough girl role in an episode of Dr Who … so she also has nerd fan cred.
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?Quote Reply
Yes, however if they follow the book as it’s written (which they may not) Rorge and Biter get a lot more “screen” time than even Balon Greyjoy gets.
dizzy_34Quote Reply
Gaz,
Damian Lewis as Edumure would be fitting as some people have suggested here.
dizzy_34Quote Reply
next up,
Melisandre
people. Polly Walker is way way way way way way way way too old for Melisandre. and not nearly hot or smoky or sultry looking. seriously, get over Rome. she was shite in Caprica.
there is only one person to play Melisandre ….
A. Eva Green
but i did have a weird back up thought
B. Shirley Manson
would definitely be unexpected and she proved in T:TSCC that she can actually act. plus she is fairly tall and alien looking which would work for the tall and very foreign Melisandre from Ashaii
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?Quote Reply
paulgude,
On a Doctor Who theme, how bout Karen Gillan as Ygritte? She’s got the right accent and everything!
Or Bonnie Wright…
KatjaQuote Reply
I like the Kevin McKidd Idea for Stannis. I guess he’s make an okay Davos or even one of the Ironborn. He just NEEDS to be associated with this series in some way.
What I’d really like to see though is Ian McShane as Craster.
Lord Ned’s HeadQuote Reply
whoever suggested Léa Seydoux a while back for Ygritte was inspired.
dizzy_34Quote Reply
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?,
Dot-Marie Jones is definitely big and tall enough in all respects to do Brienne, and she’s also a fantastic actress. To me, she’s the Peter Dinklage here–the obvious and almost only choice.
I’m curious why no one else seems to think so (so far). Is it because she’s on Glee? It’s a recurring role but not a series regular, so she could get the time off… Or is it because she’s not British? Too unattractive? There’s something both sweet and tough about her at the same time, and that’s Brienne to a T.
David ThomasQuote Reply
Shinyteapot,
The Katee Sackhoff suggestions used to baffle me until I finally saw BSG. Now I realize it’s because she did a decent job as Starbuck, who was sort of a non-pretty sort of “one of the guys” type of character. Again, though, sort of.
It says to me that if her portrayal of Starbuck makes folks think she’d make a good Brienne regardless of their physical differences, then HBO will have an excellent chance of pulling off a casting that will be accepted after initial resistance. It’s not hard to get an actress closer to Brienne’s age and build that can do the things Katee Sackhoff did in that role.
All this said:
HBO’s production is rapidly becoming its own thing, so I can’t use the books as a pure predictor as their casting choices any more. If Katee Sackhoff were cast, I think that she’d be begrudgingly accepted.
paulgudeQuote Reply
Isn’t Dot Jones a little too old for Brienne? Brienne is supposed to be in her twenties, remember she falls in love with Renly when she’s a teen and he’s a couple of years older than her I believe. Dot is almost 50, the whole Brienne/Renly thing would not work.
She would be a great choice if she were 20 years younger though.
Jardin17Quote Reply
I floated this one a while ago but how about Sasha Baron Cohen for Vargo? I think it could be hilarious. Might also give him a chance to do some real acting. He was great in Sweeny Todd. If he’s busy, maybe Mr. Katie Perry could play the role instead?
Lord Ned’s HeadQuote Reply
dizzy_34,
yup, i do agree, but i just think that the youthful slimer lightning lord suits him better.
i like brendon gleeson for edmure, yup hes a lil old but they aged up cat and if they dye the hair…..prob to big a star to get tho
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0322407/
GazQuote Reply
Ygritte: Bonnie Wright (was also going to be my suggestion, somebody beat me to it. would be a perfect role for her to put HP and kiddie things in the past and move to the next step of her career “you know nothing Jon Snow”. plus i barely recognized her in more recent photos. plus could bring huge nerd cred.
or Karoline Herfurth (a brilliant suggestion i totally second, Perfume: Story Of A Murder was a great film)
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?Quote Reply
Jardin17,
Dot Jones is way too old. I think even with aging up the cast Katee Sackhoff is a little too old, especially against Gethin Anthony.
paulgudeQuote Reply
Oh and by hilarious I mean hilarious in a creepy-pervy kind of twiasted way!
Lord Ned’s HeadQuote Reply
David Thomas,
or because she is like twice the age that Brienne is supposed to be. if Brienne were really 40-50 she would be totally jaded by that point in her life and would never entertain the idea of loving Renly. it is only because she is pretty young that the notion, while still foolish in her own admittance, isn’t something she can simply just utterly ignore.
dot jones would be a great casting for Brienne 25 years into the future but for the character in the books it is a wretched idea.
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?Quote Reply
Tamzin Merchant for Ygritte. I pictured her with red hair whenever I read… She would be so perfect! Please bring her back for Ygritte… please?
Also, Richard Armitage for Stannis… or anyone. I love him.
SarikaQuote Reply
Hoster Tully – Roy Dotrice. Isn’t he in bad health anyway, would hardly have to do any acting.
Brad VillaneQuote Reply
Katja,
I think Karen Gillan would be absolutely perfect as Ygritte
alexQuote Reply
Michael Wincott as Aaron Greyjoy or since he hardly ever gets to play the good guy Quorin Halfhand. (He’s Canadian though I believe) And while I’m on awsome voiced actors isn’t Alan Rickman free for one of these roles? For some reason I picture him as Doran Martel, which wouldn’t come into play for a while.
dizzy_34Quote Reply
Melisandre
Eva Green. period. end of. :)
and for those suggesting Polly Walker i am flaberghasted. she is A. way too old (and looks even older) and B. way too not sultry and exotic enough. not to mention she just played the whole religious fanatical leader thing and was totally rubbish in Caprica (however good she might have been in Rome she was crap in Caprica).
my out of left field pick would be Shirley Manson. she was pretty darn good in T:TSCC and would fit the exotic look and height of the character pretty well.
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?Quote Reply
Think you have a possible spoiler in your list there.
It’s not revealed til the end of the book that Reek = Ramsay Snow
WatQuote Reply
Has someone already mentioned that Richard Armitage is busy with The Hobbit?
dizzy_34Quote Reply
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?,
Eva Green was nabbed for the Camelot series.
dizzy_34Quote Reply
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?,
Wow, for stupid reason I never saw Brienne as that young. I always saw her as about 35 (which Dot Jones could definitely pull off). That’s horrible–I guess because she’s always constantly described as so ugly, I just aged her up in my mind. I’ll have to talk to a therapist about that…
All the Renly and Jaime love interest stuff–there’s no reason a 35 year old couldn’t still have such crushes. Since she’s been so isolated for so long, she has a much younger emotional age anyway. I guess all that backstory about all the different suitors she had refused just made me think she was an “old maid” instead of a fresh young woman. I forget that she probably got her first match when she was 13…
David ThomasQuote Reply
I like Fafha Baron Cohen for the goat. Rowan Atkinfon might work af well.
Ofcar Ifaak would be a bit more realistic though.
durandalQuote Reply
Christopher Eccleston as Stannis is really the only option. Everyone else pales in comparison.
BTW: stop mentioning Felicia Day, Lindsay Lohan, or anybody from “Glee,” Are you serious with this Felicia Day nonsense? YUCK.
Rhiannon JungQuote Reply
Wat,
WHAT??????
I assumed I couldn’t possibly be spoiled having read AGOT through AFFC at least three times each. If you were spoiling ADWD, please make that more clear! :)
I’ll try to pretend I didn’t read that…
David ThomasQuote Reply
i think people are fans of Felicia Day because she came out very early as a big fan of the books and stated she’d love to be in the show before the pilot was even shot. plus as a Whedon regular darling she has a lot of indie nerd cred. i wouldn’t be mad if she got it but there are better people for sure.
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?Quote Reply
Rhiannon Jung,
Damn, Rhiannon, PMS much? Sorry I pushed some obviously fragile psychological buttons there.
David ThomasQuote Reply
With all the talk of casting Battlestar Galactica vets, folks with geek cred and fans of the book, I’m surprised Tricia Helfer hasn’t been mentioned yet…
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
that really really really really f**king sucks. i guess i will have to be a big fan of that show too now. tho the guy who did torchwood is involved and i like that show so …
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?Quote Reply
David Thomas,
Nope, that one is definitely AFFC… Re-read the last Theon chapter, you’ll see.
KatjaQuote Reply
outside of being the perfect look for Cersei i am not sure what else she would fit for? i am not saying that i am not happy with Lena (i like her and she is a good actress) but Tricia looks way way way more like Cersei imho. tho Lena is probably a better match to be a twin of NCW than TH would have been.
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?Quote Reply
Winter Is Coming,
I’m surprised Jamie Bamber and James Callis haven’t been mentioned… They’re English after all.
Where would Tricia Helfer be though? Melisandre is the only one I can think that fits. She’d get to wear a red dress again and everything.
KatjaQuote Reply
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?,
All that is true, but I also like Felicia Day’s mix of strength and fragility. I’ve seen her cover a variety of roles (beyond the game nerd type thing she’s best known for), and I think she would give Ygritte dimension the character needs.
In the wrong hands, Ygritte can come off like a Xena type, and I think the character is more nuanced than that. I want to see the potential for her humor and romantic side as soon at the same time I see her kick ass. And I certainly don’t want a 16-year-old playing her…she should quickly be seen as Jon’s emotional match or better from the get-go. And since Jon is pretty emo to begin with, you don’t need a teenage Lucy Lawless to pull that off.
David ThomasQuote Reply
Katja,
Thanks, Katja. I’m clearly missing something! Since I’m about to finish AGOT on my fourth re-read, I’ll look for that when I get there!
David ThomasQuote Reply
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?,
you know Brienne, I don’t see it, Melisandre maybe.
dizzy_34Quote Reply
Good God, she’s perfect. 6’4″ and not too curvy
jwsnasaQuote Reply
Hayley Atwellwould be my ideal Melisandre, don’t know how busy she is though she’s close to wrapping Captain America. I like Rebecca Hall for Asha.
dizzy_34Quote Reply
Hannah Murray as Ygritte
Noomi Rapace as Asha Greyjoy
Gwendoline Christie as Brienne
Peter Stormare as Stannis
David TQuote Reply
David Thomas,
Actually it’s in the last Theon chapter of A Clash of Kings, not A Feast for Crows. And it’s not a subtle implication – he shows up and explains it.
mummerQuote Reply
David T,
Add Esme Bianco as Melisandre to that list.
David TQuote Reply
Just to back up my Atwell suggestion.
dizzy_34Quote Reply
David Thomas,
? ? ? ? … I’m going to just hope that was an inside joke between you two, rather than a incredibly tacky gratuitous insult…
mummerQuote Reply
Roose Bolton: Zeljko Ivanek – Pulls off sociopathic extremely well. Being a Czech actor who attended college and drama school in London, I bet he does an English accent fine. He’s also an HBO alumni, the only issue may be that he’s too busy starring in The Event.
Ygritte: Alice Henley – She was our mystery TIA, right? So maybe HBO is considering her already? I like what I’ve seen so far of her acting and I love the bone structure of her face. With some red hair, Henley would look just like a sexier version of the book Ygritte.
Brienne: Gwendoline Christie – She’s young enough and has the right physique (really tall, not too skinny or curvy) for the part. I like her stage acting and the interviews I’ve seen of her. She can put on muscle and wear armor to cover up. With fake teeth, freckles, and a bad haircut, she’ll look plain. I don’t think there’s going to be a “perfect” Brienne actress who embodies all the book characteristics. Christie’s the best I’ve seen so far.
Half MyrishQuote Reply
How about Ray Stevenson as Stannis and Kevin McKidd as Davos?
ChrisQuote Reply
Reading through the suggestions it strikes me that some casting suggestions are really excellent, and sometimes I’m thinking WTH.
The only casting choice I think should really go through, is casting that guy who is putting out those videos on YouTube.
SlyntQuote Reply
The only two I have had thoughts about recently are;
Edmure – Damian Lewis – The more I think about this one with the aged up generation of characters, the more I see Damian is Edmure, besides the gingerness in him anyone who has seen him play in anything (band of brothers alone is hugely impressive) will know he has range and so much class.
Stannis – This one is more of a pipe dream these days, it did not occur to me until I was re-reading Storm of Swords just the other day that if he was not rising into movies so much now that Mark Strong (ala bald in Kick Ass) would make an awesome Stannis.
Ser KarnaanQuote Reply
Luis Tosar for Stannis!! He has the lloks and the attitude!!
Andrea Burgos PrietoQuote Reply
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?,
colour her hair red and cast her as melisandre.
other options I’m open ( maybe the aunt of tyrion)
HellharlequinQuote Reply
Bill Nighy as The Blackfish.
ErlendQuote Reply
I don’t really know the names of many actors (just faces I recognize), so I’ve mostly stolen these suggestions from everyone else and picked out my favourites.
alex,
Morena Baccarin for Melisandre is a stroke of genius, I think. She never would have popped into my mind, but now that you’ve mentioned it, I think her understated style of acting would be perfect for a part such as Melisandre, which really requires a careful balance between theatricality and subtlety.
I also like either of Alice Henley, Lauren Ambrose or Karoline Herfurth for Ygritte.
Mark Strong for Stannis makes sense for me. There’s just something about the way he carries himself in photos that screams Stannis. I think he has the right kind of…stern, almost villainous look that Stannis needs to have (precisely because Stannis ISN’T a villain). It’s really pretty irrelevant whether or not Stannis is attractive or unattractive, as long as his personality comes of as cold and unapproachable. I’m pretty excited to see who they will cast. Stannis is a favourite of mine. Richard Armitage could also work. I’ve seen him in quite a lot and he’s always impressed with me. I could also believe he was related to Gethin Anthony and Mark Addy.
Sarah Bolger for Margaery.
Robert Carlyle for Davos.
David Tenant as Edmure would be hilarious and potentially awesome and unexpected, but I don’t see it happening just because he’s such a big-name actor. Damien Lewis actually fits my mental image of Edmure perfectly.
Also, I think out of the suggestions that I’ve read, Gwendoline Christie is the only one that remotely suits Brienne, although for Brienne I would much rather they took the time to find a young, unknown actress who fit the part better. Dot Jones is far, far too old, and Starbuck is far, far too attractive and too short. I just wouldn’t buy it if Starbuck was Brienne. :/
Steve Hugh WestenraQuote Reply
a few others people i’d like to see in the show. some with parts some who i don’t really care or know where they’d fit best but would love to see in almost any role:
Johnny Lee Miller: Blackfish?
Rufus Sewell: Stannis?
James Nesbitt: maybe busy with the Hobbitt? maybe a small role? Jaqen H’ghar
Imogen Poots: Margaery Tyrell?
David Tennant Lord Beric? anybody really. probably too busy.
Gary Oldman: let’s face it the guy can play anybody. maybe a small part as Roose Bolton or Jaqen H’ghar?
Rebecca Hall: probably no real spot for her but i’d love to see her in the show
Alexander Siddig: Red Viper or Doran Martell depending on how they age the roles.
Martin Csokas: Stannis? anybody really.
Eriq Ebouaney: Jalabhar Xho
James Frain: anything
and sadly, for the life of me i cannot think of a young ethnic female actress for Meera. for me the perfect look would be a young Thandie Newton
i’m sure i’ll think of more later but that’s what i got for now …
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?Quote Reply
What about Rufus Sewell for Stannis? He always plays Stannis in the movie that plays in my head.
JoffreyStoneQuote Reply
Lyndsey Marshal as Asha Greyjoy. I’m surprised she hasn’t been mentioned yet. She’s been on Rome, has the perfect attitude, and looks like she was a hatchet-face during her adolescence but now she’s smokin’ hot.
I haven’t been able to get behind many of the suggestions in this thread, but I’m officially campaigning for Karoline Herfurth as Ygritte and Sarah Bolger as Margaery. I would also be deliriously happy with either Christopher Eccleston or Mark Strong as Stannis. I think Eccleston could balance Stannis’ frailty with his iron will a bit better whereas Strong would render it somewhat campy. I would also happily watch Eccleston as Aeron Damphair.
saellysQuote Reply
David T,
Noomi Rapace is gorgeous and amazing of course, but she’s a Swedish actress and I think her upcoming spot in Sherlock Holmes 2 will be her first English speaking role. I think someone from the UK is more likely for Asha Greyjoy.
Half MyrishQuote Reply
André Seixas,
I suggested Paul Bettany for Roose a while back in another post…he’s still my #1 pick for the role.
Tommy Flannagan for Davos!
Stella MarisQuote Reply
Ok, here are a few suggestions and thoughts…
I like Ecclestone for Stannis.
I like Robert Carlyle for Davos.
I LOVE Damian Lewis for Edmure. (That would be perfect IMO)
I like Christopher Lee as Hoster Tully or maybe Richard Attenborough or Peter O’Toole.
I like James Callis for Mace Tyrell.
I like Adrian Paul for Vargo Hoat. (That’s right, The Highlander himself)
Gmoney84Quote Reply
okay. seriously. this is f**king genius. it was so obvious it was staring me in the face. Noomi Rapace would make the PERFECT Asha Greyjoy. the whole Millennium (“Girl With/Who”) series of films was amazing and she was great. you get all sorts of mad props for this suggestion.
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?Quote Reply
Erlend,
Sounds crazy at first glimpse, but actually I can see it.
(Though, I doubt it could happen he is too big name).
I am not really an casting idea expert and not too much in the game of casting suggestions but I got an idea recently for season too.
Rade Serbedzija is the actor from my country but he made a break through into international scene, lately he played Gregorowitz in the HP 7.
He has strong eastern accents but who I do not mind if someone from Quarth would speak with “foreign” accent.
Let s say Pyat Pree for a start, but if there was no the problem with accent, I am sure he would make a fantastic, crazy Craster.
The RabbitQuote Reply
+1 on , unfortunately he’s Spanish soI don’t see it happening…
Jean MckrauQuote Reply
saellys,
Marshall seems like a good suggestion in terms of looks and attitude, but what about her age? She’s 32 and Alfie Allen (Theon) is 24. Aren’t Asha and Theon are only supposed to be a few years apart from each other as siblings, which makes it hilarious when Theon hits on Asha before he knows who she is.
Half MyrishQuote Reply
I think there’s only one really key casting for this season: Stannis. Roose would be number two. Stannis and particular, and to a lesser extent Roose, are vital to cast well because they have to be a bit ambiguous: Roose because he has to be creepy and offputting without shouting “don’t trust me I’m a weirdo!” right from the beginning. He has to look dangerous but competant and solid. Stannis even more so because I think he has to be both sympathetic and unlikeable. Sympathetic because he has a serious claim to the throne and people are meant to think “hey, the guy’s a dick, but you know actually maybe someone with a rod up their arse should be in charge, and he always does what he thinks is the right thing, so kudos to the man”, but also unlikeable because people are meant to think “he’s a dick with a rod up his arse, please can someone else win?”
The ideal actor for the role would be Patrick Stewart… a long, long time ago. Somewhere around 1976 (“I, Claudius”) to 1979 (“Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy”). He’s got the ideal combination of respectable, honourable, reliability with a very hard, inflexible edge. I don’t know what modern actor would be best.
Roose is easier, and I’ve no real idea about him. My only real suggestion (and that’s mostly because he’s wonderful) would be Stellan Skarsgard, who I think can switch easily from “quirky and likeable though rather cold” to “terrifying bastard”.
I’m not a fan of putting massive stars into the show, unless it’s as really minor characters – John Hurt, for instance, is an incredible actor, but between his charisma and his reputation he would steal the scenes and spoil the illusion, I think. Great for someone like Balon, where the scene could do with stealing, but for somebody who’s more prominent it could be dangerous.
Having said that, I think my two ideal actors would be Jim Broadbent and Mark Rylance. The former is famous, but not TOO famous, and in any case is so ordinary-looking that he tends to fade into the background. And he might be willing to do it, particularly if it’s not a major role, or not in later series. Unfortunately, I can’t think of any role that would suit him. An interesting idea might be an against-type Doran in a later season – I like the idea of Broadbent playing a character with more bite to him, and I think Doran’s “everyone thinks he’s inoffensive and passive but actually he’s burning with anger and plotting bloody vengeance” thing would suit him pretty well.
Rylance could no doubt play any role he wanted (he’s fifty, but could play older or younger, and looks like a chameleon), and he’s won two Oliviers, a BAFTA, and a Tony, while remaining entirely anonymous even to British viewers, let alone Americans (though clearly some people have heard of him, as he was recently voted third greatest stage actor ever). Problem is, I can’t imagine him wanting the job. Partly because he seems a “serious film” kind of guy, when he does films at all, which is very rare, and mostly because he seems to be having far too much fun on stage for such a commitment. He’s currently in New York, in a role where his first entrance is a 40-minute comic monologue in rhyming couplets complete with genuine belching that ends with him locking himself in a small box for five minutes. Don’t see him doing boring old TV for years on end…
Maybe…. Stephen Rea? Great actor, seems eager for work, but not in anything major for quite a while so might be willing to take the job.
WastrelQuote Reply
David T,
Noomi Rapace is inspired. Not sure if they could get her, but it’s a great idea.
paulgudeQuote Reply
Also…Eccleston for something, but not Stannis. I could easily see him as one of the Greyjoys!
Another potential for Davos might be James Callis (although perhaps he’s a bit young?).
Does anyone remember how old Ser Dontos is in the books? I pictured him being in his forties or so, but I have a feeling he’s younger than that by a bit.
Another character who will need to be casted, and who we have a reasonable chance to speculating upon (unlike children, etc) is Patchface.
Steve Hugh WestenraQuote Reply
I just looked a pictures of Damian Lewis again. That dude is perfect for Edmure. Somebody needs to call his agent ASAP.
Gmoney84Quote Reply
Wastrel,
I could actually see Stephen Rea for any number of roles in this…Plus, he’s a great actor from what I’ve seen.
Steve Hugh WestenraQuote Reply
!!
OH. Also. Although I am more and more falling in love with Damien Lewis for Edmure, Alan Tudyk would also be great in the part. They could easily dye his hair red….
Steve Hugh WestenraQuote Reply
Gmoney84,
The good news is that Game of Thrones has enough buzz that I suspect any available actor even marginally suited for a role has been submitted by their agent.
Damian Lewis really needs a good project in my opinion, and I’d be happy to see him as Edmure.
paulgudeQuote Reply
I think realistically, Christopher Eccleston has an excellent chance of being cast as Stannis Baratheon. He’s got the right look, attitude and most importantly the right Goldilock level of star-power for this HBO role (not too high, not too low).
As for some of the others, just off the top of my head, David Morrissey for Edmure Tully. Roy Doltrice for Hoster Tully.
And I’m calling it first (apologies if it comes true) Amanda Peet will be Melisandre.
mcguffin1899Quote Reply
Melisandre – Monica Bellucci
oenoneQuote Reply
Wastrel,
I agree with everything you just wrote! Awesome.
David ThomasQuote Reply
Edmure-I’m sure some will try to say he is too old perhaps, but in contrast to Damian Lewis, I think that David Thewlis could be a great.
Blackfish-Peter Gallagher . . . although as has been mentioned, American actors are not that likely and could stick out. I do love the idea of (as one mentioned) John Hodgeman as The Tickler and feel he would be great for that role (looks like the average guy).
DavosPeter Mullan for me, but I’d be happy with Carlyle as well.
More later perhaps, good suggestions all around for the most part.
Tyler L. MetcalfeQuote Reply
Hiya, guys! A correction and a thumbs up:
Zeljko Ivanek is not Czech but Slovenian, at least he was born (t)here but has been living in the USA for most of his life. And I think he would be great as Roose, looks- and character-wise.
@Rabbit (hello there, neighbour!): Rade Šerbedžija is an actor I would very much like to see as Craster. Hopefully his “bad” accent in Holywood production is due only to his playing Russian and other non-english-European characters. (but maybe it’s the other way around and wouldn’t that be sad…)
BlubluQuote Reply
Steve Hugh Westenra,
I believe Dontos is actually older, not younger, like in his fifties. Forties at least, since he constantly refers to himself as old in the books. He was a child during the Defiance of Duskendale when King Aery’s destroyed the rest of House Hollard.
Half MyrishQuote Reply
Blublu,
Welcome Blublu!
Živijo :)
The RabbitQuote Reply
Gmoney84,
I would watch paint dry on Damian Lewis (it would certainly be more enjoyable than those Zegerid commercials). Excellent suggestion!
David ThomasQuote Reply
Sorry to say but a lot of the folks mentioned are either definitely or likely unavailable.
Damien Lewis is doing a pilot for Showtime — if it gets picked up, he’s busy into late 2011.
Eva Green is doing the Starz Camelot show.
Armitage is down in New Zealand doing The Hobbit films for the next 1-2 years.
Kevin McKidd is busy on Grey’s Anatomy.
Morena Baccarin is currently busy on V, although she is more likely to be free after this season than Kevin McKidd is.
Carey Mulligan is way too hot in films right now to agree to do a supporting role in a TV series. There’s no more chance she would to it than Keira Knightley would. I can’t see Liam Neeson doing TV either, or to a lesser extent, Paul Bettany.
And I have to agree that Dot Jones is 20 years too old for Brienne — she also has a very midwestern sensibility about her that I don’t think even a great UK accent could overcome. More importantly, she is simply too old.
LynnQuote Reply
Waaaay back when, before this was even beginning to happen, Neeson was my dream choice for Ned, having seen (and loved) Rob Roy. I agree that he’d probably be too old for Ned now, so I’ll happily take him as the Blackfish!
Kathrina MartinsenQuote Reply
Personally, I would love to see John Simm as Ramsey Snow and Jason Isaacs as Roose Bolton. Every time GRRM mentions Roose’s soft, menacing voice and pale eyes, I can’t help but picture Jason Isaacs.
And I’m totally behind any casting of Gwendoline Christie as Brienne. Inspired.
Simone de RochefortQuote Reply
I really hope HBO cast Princess Shireen for S2. The girl has dreamed of dragons since she was old enough to remember. I know Shireen hasn’t played a big role in the books so far, but I am going to *guess* GRRM has big plans for her. As of AFFC, Shireen is the only trueborn Baratheon heir to Storm’s End and Dragonstone.
As for casting Margaery Tyrell, Gilly and Ygritte, I bet HBO will cast them all pretty. I would personally prefer to have a homely Ygritte a la the books but I doubt that will happen. Ygritte will be pretty. I would think a few lucky actresses that read for the part of Daenerys will get a shot at Margaery, Ygritte, Jeyne Westerling(if they have Jeyne in S2) or maybe Gilly. Gilly has had just as much screen time in the books as Margaery, maybe even more. Gilly might prove to be an important character in the later books for many reasons. Like Sam, Gilly was with Maester Aemon on his deathbed. Only the Seven know what Maester Aemon could have told her…….Plus, Gilly knows about the Others, the switched babies, Bran and Co being alive and Coldhands . Gilly is a pretty juicy role for a young actress….
I wonder if HBO will cast Pia from Harrenhal? Like Princess Shireen, she will be cast depending on how important they turn out to be in the later books. I’m sure GRRM has filled in HBO on who they need to cast for sure for S2. A character like Pia could be given a bigger role very easily. Off topic- but when Jaime saves Pia in AFFC, I knew he was on the right path….finally!
Here is my pick for Mel-
Violante Placido – give her red hair and eyes and we are ready to go!
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm653956352/nm0686376
winterqueenQuote Reply
Henry Cavill for Garlan Tyrell :P
SensukiQuote Reply
Bilbo,
agree!
StuQuote Reply
A bit OT, but I bet HBO isn’t going to give Melisandre red eyes for the series, just the red hair. Have we seen any contacts used at all, considering they didn’t give the Targaryens violet eyes or change any other eye colors?
Half MyrishQuote Reply
Also, love Brad Dourif as a Kraken :) he could do Balon or Aeron.
Other characters not yet mentioned (not massive roles though):
Salladhor Saan
Cleos Frey
Robar Royce
Emmon Cuy
Wendel Manderly
Ser Amory Lorch
Qyburn
Smalljon Umber – I would assume that he’d be cut ?
Maege Mormont
Dacey Mormont – also probably cut
Aeron Greyjoy
Xaro Xhoan Daxos
Pyat Pree
Qhorin Halfhand
Rattleshirt
SensukiQuote Reply
Ratlleshirt: David Hayman
Ser Dontos: Ken Stott
durandalQuote Reply
Karl Johnson as Dolorous Edd.
That would be awesome! :D
HulumuluQuote Reply
Craster: Warren Clarke
durandalQuote Reply
I would love to see Fassbender, Malcolm McDowell, and Douriff in there somewhere. For McDowell though I would want them to use some heavy make up because he is kinda iconic and it might take people out of the story. And how about Deborah Ann Woll who plays Jessica in True Blood for something ? Maybe Ygritte ? And how about Christina Hendricks from Mad Men and Firefly for Melisendre ?
AdamQuote Reply
oenone,
I second, third and fourth this pick, never occured to me, brilliant.
TysnowQuote Reply
awesome!!!!!!
HellharlequinQuote Reply
Melisandre is from Asshai on the other side of the world, she shouldn’t have a UK accent. So a non-UK actor would be best.
TysnowQuote Reply
What about our bonkers threesome from Qarth: Xaro, Quaithe and Pyat? You can lose the Warlock (or change it so he’s the one toasted in the House of the Undying) but the other two are reasonably important for Dany’s storyline.
Minor ADWD spoiler:
Xaro even shows up again in ADWD, at least briefly.
As others have said, Richard Armitage is out. He starts shooting THE HOBBIT in early 2011 and will be out of the running for a year. Maybe we can get him for a role in Season 3 or later. Ridley Scott really wants Fassbender for his two new ALIENS movies, which start shooting in the Spring. If he gets him, obviously he’s gone as well. Eva Green is in CAMELOT which probably rules her out of a project for a rival cable channel. Mark Strong, I think, is very unrealistic. He has a burgeoning movie career. If Stannis was a short role maybe he’d do it, but not a recurring role across at least four or five seasons (assuming ASoS is two seasons).
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
williamhperkins,
Since when does Native American = Asian? That’s pretty offensive and ridiculous.
What I meant by Asian was casting an actor from Asia. This is a little off topic, but HBO with their casting of the Dorthaki have toned down the Asian-ness, so to speak, making them racially all over the place (in contrast to the consistent lilly-white casting of all the Westros characters). There is a trend in USian cinema of systematically de-sexualizing Asian men, and by making Drogo a non-Asian actor they missed out on an opportunity to reverse the trend. Furthermore, there is also a trend of USian cinema treating people of colour interchangeably, which they too are guilty of (and probably will continue to in future seasons). Now would they ever have considered Jason Mamora to play say the Hound? He also has Irish ancestry. There are different standards for white as there are for people of colour.
clemintineQuote Reply
Edmure – Damian Lewis
Ygritte – Karen Gillan (assuming she’s not too busy with Dr Who)
Blackfish – Brian Blessed
Melisandre – Helen McCrory
Jan FennickQuote Reply
Mark Strong = Stannis
Robert Carlyle = Davos
Monica Bellucci = Melisandre
Claire Foy = Gilly
Karen Gillan = Ygritte
Joseph Campo = Dolorous Edd
TysnowQuote Reply
clemintine, the commonly accepted demonym for people from the United States is “American,” not “USian.” Yes, it’s not completely accurate, but many such terms aren’t — e.g., “African American” and “Native American” do not literally mean what their accepted use has come to mean. (Someone Algerian heritage would not call themselves “African American,” for example.) I’m about as liberal as you come, and hardly a flag-waver, but I find “USian” belittling and offensive. It’s polite to call people what they call themselves, not what you feel they should be called.
LynnQuote Reply
Monica Belluci looks like Melisandre to me: exotic, full lipped, pale skinned, heart shaped face. The google pic of her posing nude and pregnant was perfect. But how is her acting? I’ve only seen her in the Matrix Reloaded and she was alright, but not out of the ballpark.
Though I think an Asian actress would be excellent as well looks wise. I totally agree that a non UK sounding and looking actress should be cast for this part since Melisandre is from Asshai. We should have some diverse casting considering there are many different races in ASOIAF.
Half MyrishQuote Reply
David Thomas,
Because she is too old.
Brienne is in her 18-20′s at the books – and Dot Jones is in the end of her 40s…
Even if they age up the character, I don’t think Brienne would be so old.
I’m team Gwendoline Christie :P
Ana Carolina S.Quote Reply
Sarah Bolger would make an absolutely wonderful Margaery, but she’s been cast in FOX’s “Locke & Key”, so I think her availability is questionable at best.
InkasrainQuote Reply
Ok, she has a slightly larger-than-average jaw, but man-ish?? I can’t see her do a convincing Brienne at all. And then I’m not just talking about appearance. I thought in the early Merlin, when playing vulnarable, she did ok, but when she later had to play ‘evil’, in my opinion her acting was downright appalling!
From the cast of Merlin (if any of these actors would be available, next to filming the new seasons of Merlin), the true star is obviously Colin Morgan. He can show lots of different emotions in a very natural way. Not sure which role would fit him best, but I want him in! From the same show, Richard Wilson, Eoin Macken, and Santiago Cabrera also get my support (but the latter may have become too famous?).
Tar KidhoQuote Reply
Lynn,
How is USian offensive? You are from the US aren’t you?
The term “American” ought to refer to all the peoples of South and North America, Brazilians, Argentineans, Mexicans, Canadians, Chileans &c. But it doesn’t because the States has more cultural power and gets to do what it wants. I am merely pointing out your privilege to you and using more accurate and specific terminology (and as usual people get defencive when their privilege is pointed out). Who decided and accepted this demonym? Did the Guyanese get a say? Well, the people with power did. It is privilege to decide what to name peoples. both themselves and others, and to name them inaccurately. You’re right, you should call people by what they want to be called, and your nation has taken that away from all the other countries in the hemisphere.
It’d be as if, hypothetically, Britain was called the United Kingdom of Europe, and then decided that “European” only meant the people from their island. So then the French, the Italians, the Polish &c. couldn’t call themselves European anymore.
clemintineQuote Reply
David Warner for someone :) Best voice!
SensukiQuote Reply
dizzy_34,
Armitage will be on a break from The Hobbit in Jun/Jul/Aug of 2011 – probably same mos in 2012 as well. Those movies will be released end of 2012/13. If his schedule permits, the rightful king of Westeros would, in the person of Armitage, have the powerful commanding presence as written by grrm.
RAbloggerQuote Reply
Sam Neil would make a good Balon Greyjoy or Mace Tyrell. Plus he’s from Northern Ireland, don’t know where he resides though. Those roles are pretty much just guest staring roles anyways.
dizzy_34Quote Reply
Half Myrish,
She was very good in Le pacte des loups
I would love Monica Bellucci for Melisandre, but I seriously doubt it :(
I’m sure this would also be a role Tricia Helfer will go for, but I think she’s just a bit too skinny haha
SensukiQuote Reply
Marshal looked older than 32 in Being Human and much younger than 27 when she was in Rome. Theon was around 20 or 21 in Clash (correct me if I’m wrong, but I recall that he was taken as a ward when he was ten and didn’t return to Pyke for ten years), so they could reasonably put Asha around 25 or 26, which Marshal can totally pull off.
saellysQuote Reply
Ewen Bremner for Vargo Hoat or Shagwell, “The Fool”. He’s been great in everything I’ve seen him in.
I’ll mention Monica Bellucci for Melisandre, too.
OlyvarQuote Reply
Sir Christopher Lee is my ideal Qyburn. It works on so many levels, and here is one role where it’s not a bad thing to have an iconic actor to let you know, hey, do pay some attention to this guy. The raw vigor that the man brings to the role would make for an excellent contrast to Pycelle, too, which is relevant for AFFC. Then watch him stand out in sharp relief to the other members of the Smallest Council, and imagine the steel diction as he relates the spy reports.
Dot Jones is unquestioably able to handle the acting for Brienne, but she is thirty years too old. You have to be mindful of how she pines for Renly; if anything, she should be younger than Renly. The actress should be 18 or so, as young as possible.
Likewise, Ygritte needs to be Jon Snow’s age. It would be a big mistake to make that relationship seem like older woman/younger man. That could work for Melissandre, but bear in mind that she will also need to seem like a match for Jon Snow, someone who could bewitch, bother, and bewilder him. We need an actress in her twenties.
Pia seems a lead-pipe cinch, especially since her romance in AFFC suggests that her role will expand with time. And, yes, once again, you need a teenager here, or someone who can pass for that age. Since she’s one of the few characters GRRM makes a point of calling pretty, she should be drop-dead beautiful.
The elder Allen seems a natural choice for Balon Greyjoy, and I’d be glad to see that role expanded somewhat. A scene with Asha or Damphair would be a nice addition.
While Robert Carlyle would make a fine Davos, I think that he’d bring a lot more to Damphair, who needs an actor who is simultaneously sympathetic and zealous to the approach of fanaticism. Many people seem to love Eccleston as Stannis, and no doubt he could bring power to the role, but for a committment of at least five years it’s not a big enough role for so important an actor who is still on his way up.
Maester TcostQuote Reply
clemintine,
Yes, I am American, and I’m aware of the privilege issues and the inaccuracy with the term. (Many such terms have similar problems.) But as a practical matter, we’ve called ourselves “Americans” since before there was a United States, and there is no confusion as to what someone means when they say “American.” (Nor do I hear a lot of Canadians or Brazilians expressing a serious desire to call themselves “Americans” instead of Canadians or Brazilians… and “North Americans” and “South Americans” works well as a distinguishing term.) And it is, indisputably, what we call ourselves. If you can find a single example of any elected national official using “USian” instead of “American” I will concede the point and embrace it myself, unpronounceable and ugly mess that it is.
Until then — we call ourselves Americans, and as a matter of courtesy, people should be called what they choose to call themselves — even if it isn’t perfect.
LynnQuote Reply
Love Monica Bellucci as Melisandre. I don’t remember an age actually ever being mentioned but I’ve always pictured her as being close to Stannis and Bellucci could easily play that.
Ray Winstone would be good for several roles but best as Craster I think.
aaaaaannnd here is where I’ve been pulling my hair out… Brienne of Tarth is one of my favorite characters but I haven’t seen a single suggestion here that I think would work and as yet am drawing a blank myself.
Chad MurphyQuote Reply
Never gonna happen, but it would be awesome if Daniel Day Lewis played Stannis. He can certainly do the grimness required to play the part, and is an amazing actor.
JohnhoeQuote Reply
Mark Strong could be perfect for Stannis. Although probably a too high profile actor ATM.
Zeljko Ivanek as Roose Bolton would also be just brilliant but again, maybe a bit too small role…maybe in later seasons!
Robert Carlyle is an excellent actor and as someone mentioned before his series just got canceled. Blackfish is IMO a too small role for him, maybe Davos?
Either way he would be a great addition.
My perfect Davos is still Ian McShane. just like with Carlyle he would be awesome in any role. Maybe the old Greyjoy?
or his older brother the pirate in later seasons?
James Callis is also an option! I’d be happy as long as he’s on board!
someone mentioned Felica Day as Ygritte…not a bad choice! the more I think about it, the more I start to like it. a Rachel Hurd-Wood type would be great.
we already have an actor from Skins maybe more? Kaya Scodelario? dont know who she could play doh…
Nicholas Hoult might be good as Rhaegar? maybe a too small role for him, he has the look doh.
another actor I would love in the series would be Ben Foster. but in what role? :p
please dont start with Tamzin Merchant….:( for ANY role!
last but not least, the most unrealistic suggestion but thats how I saw her. Natalie Portman for Margaery :p
Hubert KornalskiQuote Reply
Oh, and after watching Inception, I would love to see Marion Cottilard as Melisandre, as she does crazy really quite well.
JohnhoeQuote Reply
I totally agree. The industry tends to weed out young actresses who aren’t stereotypically pretty, so trying to find one is going to be a challenge. They will probably find an unknown, maybe through drama schools. And I think she will still be prettier than Brienne is described in the books, even with a “make under.”
LynnQuote Reply
Brienne = Gwendoline Christie that’s all I want to say ;)
Merry Xmas everyone!
KarolinaQuote Reply
I could deal with Monica Bellucci for Melissandre, but I’d personally prefer Franka Potente. Don’t judge her on the Bourne Identity alone, I’ve seen her in a couple of great German films, and she can do a wide variety of personalities. I can really see her pull off both the chilling and fiery sides of Mels personality. Also, she looks great in the brightest shade of red hair. (Yes Lola Rent totally inspired my hairdo when I was 18)
Richard Armitage always was my Stannis, ever since I saw him in North and South. Really, he’s great at the whole stiff and doing what must be done and keeping everything inside acting. But alas, he’s playing a dwarf in The Hobbit (why they keep casting these tall actors for dwarfs, it amazes me). I have to admit that I’m actually hoping that The Hobbit gets postponed again so he’s available. My inner fangirls are fighting with each other here.
I always had a hard time picturing how old Roose Bolton was, and in my mind Cillian Murphy always looked the part, because of his slightly crazy eyes. After seeing all the previous suggestions I realize that I pictured Roose a tad too young, so I’ll have to look elsewhere. I’m pretty sure Cillian Murphy could pull off an awesome Jaqen as well though, so he gets my vote there.
For Ygritte I’d like to see Lauren Socha or someone of her type. I find her attractive and unattractive at the same time, it really often depends on the lighting and her make-up. I know she doesn’t really look the part, but I love her portrayal of Kelly in Misfits, where her blend vulnerable under the skin but aggressive on the outside reminded me of Ygritte a couple of times. And I think her Northern English accent would be perfect for a wildling. She’d also be able to kick Kit Harringtons ass :p. Since misfits is only 6 episodes per season, I think it could be possible, but I also think she’s not the kind of actress interested in fantasy.
I always got a Julian Alistair Rhind-Tutt vibe for Edmure, but after reading the suggestions here I think Damian Lewis might be great as well.
Other previous suggestions I liked, Mads Mikkelsen for Roose Bolton, and Keith Allan for Balon Greyjoy.
Somewhere in the thread somebody started an early campagin for Jonathan Rhys-Meyers for The Viper in S3. While that is an inspired choice, I really, really, really want that role to go to Gale Harold, who alas is an American, so probably wont be considered.
I haven’t seen that much suggestion for Qhorin, and he’s a character I really want to go to a great actor, but I’m not sure about.
Sorry for the lengthy post!
Jan OdaQuote Reply
When reading I always pictured Stannis as a shaven headed Dolph Lundgren!…
PaulQuote Reply
Oh and Christopher Lambert as Roose Bolton.
PaulQuote Reply
durandal,
You know, I was trying to remember that actor’s name because I thought he would make a good Craster! Awesome that someone else did. XD
Steve Hugh WestenraQuote Reply
clemintine,
Oh clementine, with apologies to the rest of this threat for going off-topic, and with the caveat that I will continue this debate after this one post, I just have to tell you that your pseudo-intellectual attempt at defending “USian” is a prime example of how a little knowledge is dangerous.
I agree with your basic idea that privilege is also taken for granted, especially in identity politics, let me point out (since you have declared it your business to “point out” Lynn’s privilege) that the term “American” has nothing to do with privilege or identity politics or geopolitics or America’s cultural power.
“American” first came into use by the British themselves, as a way to distinguish those North American colonials from other colonials in their empire. They also chose such demonyms as “Canadian” and “Honduran.”
Americans never “chose” to call themselves “American” because their sense of cultural superiority gave them the self-styled perogative to subvert the standing of the populace of the entire rest of the North and South American continents.
Your analysis is what comic geeks call “retconning” and it’s what Fox News is brilliant at doing: rewriting history to fit their worldview. I have a feeling you’re doing it not from Fox’s far-right-wing perspective, but from an equally haywire far-left-wing perspective that anything, even the direction the sun sets, can be traced back to identity politics and oppressor/oppressed dynamics.
I agree that identity politics and cultural perogative play a role in some Very Bad Things, but they have nothing more to do with why America is called “America” than, oh, why yeast causes bread to rise.
Now I’ll return to our regularly scheduled programming.
David ThomasQuote Reply
David Thomas,
Oops–I meant to say that I will NOT continue this debate after this post… :)
David ThomasQuote Reply
clemintine,
This was exactly part of what I was getting at a looong-ass time ago, when we first started to see pictures of the Dothraki and I was concerned that they were throwing out a lot of the Asian/Mongolian influence that is there in the books, in favour of something that’s more…generic for a Western audience. I would very much like to see authentic and complex Asian cultures represented more in western television, and this would have been a prime place to do so. I mean, yes, they did insert a lot of Asian-inspired styles into Westerosi fashion, etc, but somehow the East itself and the aspects of the books that truly were drawing inspiration from Asian cultures seem to lack a real sense of definition and cohesion. Almost like (and I don’t think the producers/designers would do this intentionally) the Asianness (foreignness) of them makes it automatically fine to just lump everything in together and stir at random. Somehow there’s a disconnect, wherein varying African, Asian and other non-European/North American cultures become interchangeable. I mean, to an extent, yes, it is a fantasy series, and they do want to be drawing from different areas for inspiration, but not, I think, to the extent where those imagined cultures feel jumbled together and empty. I’m definitely not saying it WILL be like that in the final product (in a way I’m talking about tv and cinema in general anyhow), but so far the only part of the show that I’m at all concerned about is the Dothraki. Almost every other concern I have had has been dispelled by new footage, etc, but with each bit of Dothraki footage I get more and more cautious about it, and less and less excited about those parts of the story.
For me, I was hoping they would do something I hadn’t seen before. I have seen random, generic “tribal people” before in televsion. I have not seen a detailed, coherent, Asian-inspired culture.
Steve Hugh WestenraQuote Reply
clemintine,
Yes, USian is extremely offensive, and yes, I am an American from the United States. An American is anyone from America, by which I mean either the entire Western Hemisphere or from the USA. Any term for a citizen of the United States which is not the term American is an affront. If you wish to distinguish between the two meanings, it is not hard to be distinct.
Maester TcostQuote Reply
Christopher Eccleston has been my mental picture for Stannis since I read ACoK for the first time. Not only is he a great actor who does grim and brooding very well, but he also is well within HBO’s price range.
Robert Carlyle has always been Roose Bolton for me however the suggestion of him as Davos does have some merit to it.
GrimtuesdayQuote Reply
Here is a compilation of the sugestions i liked and one of my own
Claire Foy – Gilly (really liked this sugestion
Sarah Bolger – Margaery
Damian Lewis – Edmure Tully
Mackenzie Crook – Vargo Hoat
Mark Strong – Stannis Baratheon
Tommy Flanagan – Davos
Jeremy Irons – Blackfish
Léa Seydoux – Ygritte (i could bet she was saying: “You know nothing Jon Snow!” in this pic)
Rami Malek – Ramsay
Joe Campo – Dolorous Edd
Thomas Sangster – Jogen
Noomi Rapace – Asha
Gwendoline Christie or Michelle Ryan (in her case, what bought me were her eyes) – Brienne
Christina Hendricks – Melissandre
and last but pretty important:
Julian Richings – Roose Bolton (or any character really juicy, the guy is just so freaking amazing! he HAS to be on this show)
Jéssica de F. MacielQuote Reply
So back on topic, this one’s for winter Rorge and Biter :)
dizzy_34Quote Reply
clemintine,
Attitude like this is one of the reasons I hate the British. Don’t call us USians, that’s disrespectful. And if us “Usians” are so bad then I would like for you to explain Viggo Mortensen, Elijah Wood and Sean Bean.
Kev DQuote Reply
dizzy_34,
Love it!
David ThomasQuote Reply
Kev D,
Sean Bean is British.
Also, I know he’s probably way too busy and way too expensive, but I think Christian Bale would be an amazing Stannis.
A Man GrownQuote Reply
I’m from the US and don’t feel remotely offended by the term “USian”, which just seems like yet another text messaging abbreviation. Is this term truly an insult?!
Leigh-AnnQuote Reply
Andrea Burgos Prieto,
I loved this Idea! and the guy act great,,, but… how is his english? well, maybe in rockdraggon they have an accent more close to spanish ;)
DashQuote Reply
Leigh-Ann,
lol. In many parts of the world being called an American is an insult.
FanboiQuote Reply
Caedes,
I’ve been thinking Peter Mullan for Davos for so long. He’d be unbelievably perfect! Fantastic actor.
Stannis – Mark Strong or David Morrissey?
Roose Bolton – Richard Leaf. He has the right eyes.
daveBQuote Reply
Bilbo,
Yessssssss pleeaaazzzz!!!
Blue BirdQuote Reply
Shinyteapot,
Another YESSSSS PLEAZZZZZ, except I see Christopher Eccleston more as a Davos or a Blackfish, the sort of “rugged” type.
Blue BirdQuote Reply
What an odd comment. Anderson was born in England and now lives there, her accent is real. It’s just probably a bit mixed with the American accent she picked up while living in the States.
That said, I think she’s a pretty bad fit for Melisandre, hair aside.
Lady_BQuote Reply
BRAD DOURIF for CRASTER!!!
LexQuote Reply
My dream casting is James Nesbitt as Davos, but he can play a number of characters, like Jaqen H’ghar for example.
Amir MishaliQuote Reply
Love the fact that many people share my love for Peter Mullan for Davos. He’d be all kinds of perfect for this role.
The movie that’s playing in my head as I read always had Tobias Menzies playing Stannis. He plays the implacable type really well, and NOBODY does that “jaw-clench” thing to express displeasure better! :-D
WyglaafQuote Reply
Amir Mishali,
Oh, James Nesbitt! Talk about another outstanding actor!
He’d actually be another one on my list for Stannis. He’s only one year younger than Mark Addy, but I’d let that slide.
paulgudeQuote Reply
Yeah, this is my choice. She’s got exactly the right kind of personality and a great look for the role. Definitely “kissed by fire,” that one is!
Craster – Shane MacGowan – I have no idea if he can act, but if he can, yeah, that’s about how I imagine the guy. Unfortunately, he’s apparently got himself a new set of choppers, but lets just hope they are just dentures and they can make a really nasty new set of fake teeth for him – just like old times.
BrudeQuote Reply
Leigh-Ann,
First I’ve head of it as well. Doesn’t sound offensive to me, just a bit weird. Kind of like when they say “cremains” in stead of “remains” for a cremated body. I get the construction of it, and it’s technically correct, just sounds a little forced.
I think part of it is that a lot of other countries use the generic term “American” for folks from the United States, Américain in French, Amerikajin in Japanese, etc.
That said, I tend to use “folks from the States,” or “US Citizens,” when I can help it because when I lived in Canada it was a bit of a sticking point that “American” can describe people from there as well.
paulgudeQuote Reply
Brude,
Hmm, the quote thing didn’t seem to work right…I was responding to the post saying Karen Gillan would be a great Ygritte. I love Amy Pond.
BrudeQuote Reply
James Nesbitt will be busy playing in 2011, playing the dwarf Bofur in The Hobbit.
LexQuote Reply
Wyglaaf,
I still like Peter Mullan, too. I honestly think a lot of these actors we’ve suggested could fit for several of the roles. That’s a very good thing, in my opinion.
paulgudeQuote Reply
Lex,
Good for him! Still plenty of excellent suggestions to go around…
paulgudeQuote Reply
I don’t know what part of Canada you’ve lived in, but speaking as one, Canadians loathe being called American.
spacechampionQuote Reply
David Thomas,
No dude, you can’t help it if you have bad taste. I forgive you
Rhiannon JungQuote Reply
David T,
Yay! Noomi Rapace!!!
Rhiannon JungQuote Reply
spacechampion,
I was in Calgary for five months, mostly hanging out with hippie-types. The folks didn’t want to be called Americans, they just kept remarking that folks from the US aren’t the only “Americans” whenever I would use the term for myself.
paulgudeQuote Reply
David Thomas,
“pseudo-intellectual” “haywire far-left-wing”, so now you’re attacking my perspective with name-calling? Very mature of you. I was not saying it was done purposely, and to shut out all the other peoples of the Americas was their intention.
That’s what privileged is. You can do whatever you want without caring for the consequences.
You don’t see South Africans referring to their nationality as “African”. Do you not see how really awkward that would be? They call themselves “South African”, so that the word “African” refers to all people on their continent without ambiguity of offence.
Maester Tcost,
Do you see the contradiction in your argument? So you’re saying that American can mean a person from US *and* anyone from the western hemisphere? And yes, actually the distinction in conversation has been a very difficult and offensive issue encountered by me and many friends quite frequently, but being from the US you’ve probably never noticed this and don’t care. That’s privilege.
Kev D,
Why are you assuming I’m British? And then you go on with an very real insult by saying you “hate the British”. I do not hate USians, and have never expressed this. Almost all the ones I know are very nice people, and the nation has done many great things (well, ok also bad things, but what nation hasn’t been a mix of good and bad?) It is USian privilege I dislike. I am arguing against cultural attitudes, not people. You take this as an opportunity to express hatred towards an entire country and that is unacceptable, and a really low blow. Anyways, what my nationality is or isn’t has nothing to do with the words I’m saying. I am not attacking your people. I was simply using accurate language that is starting to become increasingly acceptable without realizing that’d I’d ruffle any feathers here. And yes, I disliked the use of USian actors in LotR, and as for Sean Bean, well, to quote one of your people, “Stephen Hawking wouldn’t be alive today if he was British.”
Privilege is being able to outnumber and jump on the one person with the patience to take her valuable time to educate you from a perspective outside of your own entrenched views. Maybe instead of typing off and dismissing it out of hand, take time to reflect next time someone calls you out on your privilege before you rush to your keyboard.
Now can we please stop get back to casting.
clemintineQuote Reply
spacechampion,
I don’t think that was a contradiction, either. I think that on one hand they disliked the fact that the term “American” had been co-opted by the United States. On the other, they disliked being mistaken for residents of the United States, which is normally what’s happened when someone calls them “American.”
Both arguments made sense to me, which is why I try to be a little bit more choosy with my own terms, though I still slip on occasion.
paulgudeQuote Reply
Felicia Day sucks, sucks baaaaad. This series is for QUALITY actors, not pseudo-geek girls that are essentially one-note. Mellisandre is a meaty, intense role meant for a woman that has acting chops.( She manages to seduce a man that is widely considered frigid. Felicia Day couldn’t seduce my cat.) Monica Belluci, Noomi Rapace, women like that are what this role needs, not some bland little girl. However, if Lohan was clean and sober and reliable (and British) I think she could just possibly pull it off. As for anyone from the cast of “Glee” coming near this show, puh-leese. Try to think outside of your tiny little (american) TV box.
Stannis: Christopher Eccleston
Mellisandre; Monica Bellucci
Asha Greyjoy: Noomi Rapace
Davos Seaworth: Rufus Sewell
I’m still thinking of the rest. I know Bellucci and Rapace are long-shots, but over-all, I think they fit the aesthetic.
Rhiannon JungQuote Reply
Steve Hugh Westenra,
Exactly! I pictured the Dorthaki as this super-efficient, elite and fearsome group of nomadic warriors, very similar to the Mongols. What I’ve seem so far is a rag-tag bunch where the warriors wear randomly sewn geometric leather things. Even though they use some non-European influences in Westros, it is still very firmly grounded in Europe. Whereas the Dorthaki come out being a mumble-jumble. They talk about how GoT hasn’t been seen before in television and film fantasy, and it hasn’t and I’m very much looking forwards to it. But they could have gone farther with the “we haven’t seen before” trend, and given non-European-based peoples and cultures as much respect and care as they take with European fantasy, which is certainly something I haven’t seen in Western media!
Using the Asian influence in Westros, without strong Asian casting in “Eastros”reminds me of the Firefly syndrome. Asian stuff = cool. Asian people = Nah.
clemintineQuote Reply
Rhiannon Jung,
Plus, suitability for the roles aside, there’s another good reason to stay away from casting US actors. While it *is* possible to apply for visas, etc., to get someone from the US to work on this production, it’s much less of a headache to cast someone local and there are plenty of folks from the UK who could handle these roles. Of course, this might affect Bellucci and Rapace as well, but I think they’d be worth an exception.
There’s also a possibility that they’ll be pulling local folks that most of us haven’t thought of for quite a few of these roles. I’m not saying that they’ll be complete unknowns, but as with earlier casting threads we’re aiming pretty high.
It’s possible that the reality will be closer to our expectations with more name actors being interested in a show that’s making a name for itself, but the budget may not be there to cast actors who would normally carry an entire show themselves in every single role.
Not that I’m saying we should shy away from dreaming in a casting thread, of course.
paulgudeQuote Reply
Tim Roth!
Winston WolfQuote Reply
Let me elaborate. He made me hate him in Rob Roy. Made me love him in Four Rooms. Would love to see him in GOT. Davros would perfect.
Winston WolfQuote Reply
Winston Wolf,
Ooops! Davos!
Winston WolfQuote Reply
Winston Wolf,
And, “Lie to Me” just got axed:
http://www.tvguide.com/News/Fox-Lie-Me-1026501.aspx?rss=news&partnerid=spi&profileid=05
paulgudeQuote Reply
Billy Connolly for Sallador Saan! I dare you all to find a better choice! =D
Ser LurkalotQuote Reply
If the make-up department can shave a decade or so looks-wise, then Alan Moore would be perfect Damphair.
FazilQuote Reply
Sorry, not “axed.” They declined to order more episodes and will make a decision in the Spring.
That said, these situations normally end in cancellation.
paulgudeQuote Reply
paulgude,
Very true. I have a strong inkling that HBO will be looking for another “name” actor to fill in season two. Eccleston could be that name, I really believe that. I have never pictured anyone other than him playing Stannis, and he is beyond perfect for it.
I understand the “dream cast” thing, I do. I just don’t understand why in a dream cast one would aim so low as to think Felicia Day was capable of Melissandre? I’m truly boggled by it. As for Bellucci and Rapace, well, they just happen to be actresses that I respect, and I really enjoy their work. I did read above that someone mentioned Franke Potente, and I really like her as well. Any of these three are more than capable of honoring the spirit of ACOK.
Rhiannon JungQuote Reply
Glad there are people that agree with Monica Bellucci for Melisandre, I was starting to think I was the only one, the role needs a sultry, voluptuous ‘woman’… not someone who looks like a 12 year old girl. I imagined Monica Bellucci whilst reading and got the impression Melisandre was over 30 but a stunner.
My initial opinion for Christopher Eccleston as Stannis is that he’s too skinny… did I read the description wrong? Its been years since I have read the books. On that note just wondering if people a re-reading Game of Thrones in preparation for the start of the show?
I always thought Brienne whould be the hardest part to cast, I have no idea who looks like her which leads me to believe the role will be toned down a little for TV.
oenoneQuote Reply
First, let me apologize to everyone for getting so upset about this. I will make an effort to write less fiercely this time. I will also try to be less brief, and so, hopefully, more clear.
***
Maester Tcost writing here:
Yes, I see the contradiction, or at least the ambiguity. That’s part of what I was attempting to say, though I did so at too short a length and must have left it too vague, since you needed to ask me if I did understand this. I did.
I see the dual meaning as essential because I refuse to accept the alternative, which would be to insist that “American’ means only someone from the United States, and denying the use of that term to people from the rest of the hemisphere. Not only is there no way that you or I or anyone else is going to get my countrymen and countrywomen to call ourselves anything else, there are complicate historical reasons why we have fought and bled to be Americans, as opposed to Virginians or New Englanders or what have you. You are correct that this is not the forum to elaborate on this too much further, and I would be happy to discuss it by e-mail or on FaceBook if you wish.
The closest alternative to ‘American’ for someone from the USA would be Yankee, but many Americans from the USA would be highly offended to be called a Yankee. Someone from Montana or California might merely be confused, but someone from Georgia or Texas might find them fightin’ words.
Do you see how the assumption on your part that I wouldn’t care about the usage of American as someone from another part of the hemisphere, that I wouldn’t respect the proper claim on the term by people not from the United States out of a parochial sense of entitlement, is likewise offensive? Not all Americans, of whatever stripe, are Ugly Americans; there is more to us than that.
***
Maester Tcost again:
There is an insularity to American thinking, and to the American educational system and the worldview it imparts, which is at best foolish and at worst dangerous. There are those of us who have resisted this way of thought for all of our lives and continue to work for a broader mindfulness, at the risk of being looked upon as disloyally internationalist one-worlders. That’s a better alternative than burying your head in the sand and disregarding the rest of the world.
Notice that north of Dorne, at least, the folk of Westeros mostly disregard the rest of the world. The main exceptions here are Robert and his worry about Viserys and Dany, and Littlefinger and his reliance upon intercontinental finance. Both Starks and Lannisters share this myopia; maybe Sansa will come out better because of Petyr’s influence, but I’ve seen no evidence of that yet.
Also, many of the most Dickensian of Martin’s themes in ASOIAF depict life and suffering in reaction to the depradations of the nobility over the common folk, which is very much in contradiction to the idea of The American Way, and in particular pluralism. Some critics have called GRRM ‘the American Tolkien,’ and while I’m not at all sure that I like that term, to the extent to which it has merit, it lies in the Americaness in the way that Martin approaches the material.
Maester TcostQuote Reply
I was afraid that I wasn’t going to get the block quotes right in there. If one of the admins with a better understanding of the code could correct my last post, I would appreciate it.
Maester TcostQuote Reply
Rhiannon Jung,
I think we instinctively try to duplicate what we’re already comfortable with when imagining people. I think it’s why we keep seeing Katee Sackhoff suggested for Brienne. Ygritte has red hair, Felicia Day is a fan of the books. I think that’s enough for some folks to go: “She’d be perfect!”
I’m not saying this to call anyone out, but I think people get hung up on the minor physical traits of the actors, or the types of characters they’ve played. I keep thinking about the people who suggested Brian Blessed for King Robert and said Mark Addy was a horrible choice *until they saw him with a beard.*
I’m guilty of it too, but a lot of the physical aspects of the characters are unimportant. Ygritte’s hair can be dyed, Damphair can get a wig and fake beard, etc. We know this to be true, as they’ve already done it.
As far as Eccleston goes, I think he’s worth thinking of because he did take a relatively small part in the NBC show Heroes. If he’s down for *that* then a higher profile role in an HBO show may be possible. Still, would he lock himself into a contract that long?
I keep thinking of Tim Roth and Robert Carlye because they were both willing to sign up for a TV series as well. Not a bad thing.
Oh, and speaking of Bellucci, I had floated Vincent Cassel’s name in the past for various roles. Now with “Black Swan,” I’m not sure the show could afford him.
paulgudeQuote Reply
Rhiannon Jung,
Yay more love for Frakna Potente.
The thing I have with Monica Belluci is that while I think she has the perfect look for the part, I don’t really like her acting style for the role. She’s just always been more of a seducer with her looks, and while I imagined Melissandre as smoking hot, I also think she’s somebody who seduces with her mind first. I think Belucci’s classic beauty would turn Melissandre in a classic seductrice, which she is not in my eyes.
If I look at my suggestions from last night, I think that I’ve been mostly inspired by acting style/voice than by the looks matching those of the characters, so my choices don’t really match those of others.
Jan OdaQuote Reply
Jan Oda,
I just re-read your suggestions. I actually think Mads Mikkelsen as Roose wouldn’t be bad at all. Of course, after watching him in Valhalla Rising I wouldn’t mind seeing him take on The Mountain as The Viper.
paulgudeQuote Reply
Yes, Franka Potente is great! (She was in House MD lately)
m4st4Quote Reply
paulgude,
Oooh. That could work well indeed. I always picture him more as the swordtyping kind of guy, but he could pull off both the sassyness and the venom that is the Viper.
Also just found out that Cillian Murphy has the Nina Gold connection, so bring it on. I’m starting to develop a list of actors I’d just like to play a role and be part of it.
Anyone feel inspired for Sam’s father? I really want that to be some one I can despise with glee.
Jan OdaQuote Reply
I would love to see Eva Green as Melisandre, she is perfect for that role, but she is a superstar, too expensive.
My other choice for Melisandre, Bridget Regan , even her natural hair is red…
IkertzekeQuote Reply
Jan Oda,
I don’t know what swordtyping is, but I’m pretty sure Mads won’t be good at it.
I meant swordfighting obviously. Sigh. It’s early!
Jan OdaQuote Reply
Brienne is one of my favorite characters in ASOIF. I can not wait to watch her story unfold. I think that way too many folks are getting caught up, looking for a particular type. Anyone who saw Charlize Theron in Monster knows that it is possible to turn gorgeous into ugly. I want someone who has the acting chops to pull off “naive, bad-ass, insecure, and driven” all at the same time. I want someone that I can believe.
TriciaQuote Reply
Dash,
He has appeared in some hollywood movies and I can tell that, for being Spanish, his accent is really neutral!! Plus he can act!!
Andrea Burgos PrietoQuote Reply
Lex,
Awesome!! He is just so creepy!
Andrea Burgos PrietoQuote Reply
Jan Oda,
I like Sean Pertwee for Randyll Tarly:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0675730/
He’s got the capacity to be a bastard.
Not to get too ahead of myself, if they *were* casting solely on looks, Jon Campling for Damphair:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1376997/
Again, though, wardrobe and makeup could turn another actor into the equivalent.
paulgudeQuote Reply
Jan Oda,
Another idea for Randyll Tarly, Sean Gilder:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0318409/
paulgudeQuote Reply
paulgude,
Ooh I love Sean Gilder, but I think he might be more convincing as a sea person, because he has that leathered kind of skin type. Definitely a great actor though.
Jan OdaQuote Reply
clemintine,
I am an American (from the U.S.). I don’t take offense to your made up demonym, but I do think it is patently ridiculous. You are actually suggesting that the U.S. has used its cultural and political power to monopolize the term “American.” The U.S. stiled itself as the United States of America in the Declaration of Indepedence in 1776. At that time the U.S. HAD NO cultural or political power. The U.S. did not become a world power until after WWI. In the meantime, the term “American” became the accepted demonym to refer to U.S. citizens not because of any “privilege” of the U.S., but because it makes PRACTICAL SENSE!! The demonym comes from the name of the country!! Its as simple as that!! The U.S. is the only country that actually has the word America in its official name. Do you really think it is more practical to refer to us as “USians”?? The term is nonsensical!! Should people from the U.K. refer to themselves as “UKians”? If someone wants to refer to themselves by continent, the appropriate term is North American or South American. I understand that you have a beef with the U.S., and you are trying to make a point, but attacking our use of the term “American” is just petty. You are letting your political/ideological views get in the way of your common sense. And thats all I have to say about that.
On topic, I have been in love with Monica Bellucci for about 10 years now, and from the beginning she is the only person I could imagine as Melissandre. For those of you wondering is she can really act, I would say def yes. I’ve seen most of her movies and she really is good. The rape scene in “Irreversible” was so powerful it still upsets me to think about it. And she has sultry beauty and mystery aplenty.
Private RyanQuote Reply
Just as an aside.
I think they will go for a meaty actor for at least 1 role – probably a slightly more minor character.
They have used a couple of well-known actors for S1 (Addy, Bean and Dance – if there is indeed an appearance in S1).. as we all know 2 of those will not be making it to S2 So I feel they will need at least another 1 ‘anchor’ actor in there in addition to Dance to provide the gravitas amongst what is generally fresh-faced talent elsewhere in the cast.
Just a thought – but Ian McShane for Craster (even Stannis maybe) ?
Ecclestone doesn’t quite cut it for me for Stannis – needs someone capable of a more dour demeanor, and I think he will look too different from Gethin+Addy.
I could see Nesbitt in there somewhere – he is after all a local boy, providing there is a fit around his filming schedule. He is a real workaholic, and I’m sure he would be up for such a marquee project in NI.
David Thewlis and Damien Lewis would also be pretty good.
Davos, I always saw as someone more cavalier like – more Errol Flynn than Robert Carlyle. I could see them going with a younger actor, someone Like Tom Ellis who recently appeared in Merlin.
Martin
MartinQuote Reply
Jan Oda,
I’ll take Mads Mikkelsen in ANYTHING! (lol)And then you add Eccleston to the mix, and I just might faint on a weekly basis.
Rhiannon JungQuote Reply
paulgude,
I think Eccleston might be possible because he did do one season of Dr. Who. I know that Stannis is more than one season, but the man does not mind working on television. In fact, some of his best work has been done on BBC and Grenada. I think he’d definitely be open to it, and I have a hunch that he’s already on the short-list judging from the amount of people mentioning him. We’ll definitely be hearing things about his association in the future.
As for the looks association, I totally agree. Looks are so easy to change; actors do it for a living. I just get frustrated when I read ludicrous suggestions that are OBVIOUSLY ludicrous, yet the person thinks it is the greatest idea in the world. It tells me that this person doesn’t really grasp the character, and really has no understanding beyond red hair=Ygritte. I mean, were Felicia Day and people from “Glee” and nobodies from “24″ cast, it would be a farce, a total joke. Who in their right mind would co-sign that?
Rhiannon JungQuote Reply
Ian McShane for whatever he wants to, even for Melisandre…ha ha
Damien Lewis for Edmure is near perfection, I like his work since Band of Brothers days.
Robert Carlyle as Davos comes at the right moment, with Stargate Universe recently cancelled.
The only problem I can see with the exceptional names that we are giving is that they have a limited budget, there are a lot of key characters, and we can´t choose superstars, at least not more than one, we´d love to, but there is not enough money in the world…
IkertzekeQuote Reply
Ikertzeke,
Hey, Ian McShane for Mel is almost as strange as my campaign for Joe for Gilly. I would say those two actors were born to play those roles.
GrimtuesdayQuote Reply
Which is why I can perhaps see them being cast in more minor roles.
2 of the biggest 3 names cast thus far will only be in series 1, I think they needed them to add some gravitas to the production too for the first series to snag viewers. For S2 I think they will shy away from a major name in a major role, I think it could detract from some of the intertwining POVs/ plots if 1 particular strand has a star name in it.
Having said that, star names here in the UK (Ecclestone, Thewlis etc.) are not really star names elsewhere, so that may work.
Just thought of another one for Melisandre: Anna Friel.
Martin
MartinQuote Reply
Hear hear :) and the rest as well, pretty much.
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
Randyll Tarly: Robert Carlyle http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1448450048/nm0001015
Davos Seaworth: Gary Oldman (please!!!!!) http://extracine.com/files/2010/05/gary-oldman.jpg
Edmure Tully: Simon Woods http://www.imdb.com/media/rm562010880/nm1373034
ieiazelQuote Reply
Three of these are the worst casting suggestions I’ve ever seen. I can’t comment on the rest because I haven’t looked at them yet – and I don’t want to pick on you, but wow. Felicia Day? Cause she dyes her hair red and reads the books? Ugh. She is a terrible actress. Lindsay Lohan? LOL and Dot is like, a thousand years older than Brienne. If you hadn’t defended these choices I would almost think you were trolling. But they are American anyway :)
Sorry if that came across as mean-spirited, but I was actually laughing more than anything :)
I think a lot of people get caught up in details in the books that can readily be fixed for the screen. Hair color, eye color, height, all of these things are easily changeable. Age to a certain extent can be played with – aged up a few years in most cases (and in the case of Osha, down). But obviously based on who they’ve chosen so far, we know that casting is going to not stick to strict height, hair, or eye descriptions – and that’s a good thing. I’d rather have a supremely talented and fitting actress that was cast for capturing the role rather than having the right hair color.
Anyway, as far as Brienne, I may be in the minority but I don’t think she needs to be this monstrously tall, muscular or hideous actress. Someone that can occupy a suit of armor and not look foolish is what is key – and I think there are shorter actresses (not 6’4″ in other words) that can fit the bill. Someone like Daniela Sea is a good choice (although she’s American so not likely). She even has striking blue eyes (just a bonus, really). She may be a bit too old, but that’s someone that I see that could be acceptable. I like Zoe Bell, too. Gwendolyn Christie seems to be a favorite – but from the pictures I’ve seen she looks more like a model than someone swinging a sword. Tall, sure. But that and her British residency are the only two things that I see as a bonus for her. BUT if she was found to be a good actress that could embody the role, then I’m all for it.
SmegmaQuote Reply
Nowhere is Ygritte referred to as ugly. She has an upturned nose and crooked teeth, but even Jon Snow thinks that she is beautiful despite these characteristics. Never once did someone say she is homely.
Anyway, I was watching Robin Hood and I thought of Lea Seydoux as a possible choice, but looks wise I think Alice Henley is *perfect*.
SmegmaQuote Reply
For me it will be perfect if we could have:
Peter Krause as Davos
Michelle Forbes as Melisandre
Mia Wasikowska or Rachel Hurd-Wood as Ygritte
SephQuote Reply
I made a Facebook group just for talking about possible casting few weeks ago. Join and share ideas! http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/HBO-Game-of-Thrones-Voice-of-Fans/115080105227072
MacejkoQuote Reply
Macejko,
MacejkoQuote Reply
After weighing various suggestions and walking around in circles muttering to myself for a few hours, here are my inspired choices:
Stannis: Rufus Sewell (It’s him or Mark Strong, and Strong is just too busy of a dude these days.)
Melisandre: Tricia Helfer (Smart, sexy, brings fan cred and sci-fi geek cred.)
Davos: Robert Carlyle (Because awesome.)
Edmure: Steven Waddington (Always thought he reminded me of Edmure when I saw him on The Tudors.)
Brienne: Gwendoline Christie (Because … well, she’s perfect. If she can act. I’m hoping she can act.)
Jaqen: Paul Bettany (Sure it’s a reach. Bettany would cost a pretty pence. He’d have to go Special Guest Star status.)
Roose: Zeljko Ivanek (Does anyone know if The Event is still going strong? Ivanek might not be available.)
Vargo: Michael Wincott (I’d personally love this.)
Balon: Keith Allen (Because that would be both funny and cool. Poor Alfie though, eh?)
Dolorous Edd: Joseph Campo (Because Joe must get on the show.)
Craster: Brian Blessed (Mostly because I’d love to see Blessed and James Cosmo chew a scene together.)
Ygritte: Alice Henley (Because she looks the part and can act her ass off. Henley would be Ygritte!)
NOTE: The following actors are BUSY in 2011: Jeremy Irons (The Borgias), Richard Armitage (The Hobbit), David Tennant (The Hobbit), Kevin McKidd (Grey’s Anatomy), Sarah Bolger (Starlight and Connemara Days), Michael Pitt (Boardwalk Empire), Eva Green (Camelot), Imogen Poots (Trap For Cinderella and Hello Darkness), Noomi Rapace (Sherlock Holmes II), Felicia Day (Eureka and The Guild), Carey Mulligan (…is an A-List actress now doing movies), Mark Strong (same), Lindsay Lohan (prison).
Fire And BloodQuote Reply
I am hugely annoyed by suggestions that are determined entirely by the hair color of the actress. You don’t need an actual redhead to play Ygritte or Melisandre. Felicia Day isn’t a bad actress, but she is completely wrong either of those roles, character-wise and yeah, she can’t do accents. And she’s American. Not that I have a problem with Americans, being one, but they will not be casting Americans so why bother throwing their names in the hat? The only exceptions made so far to that rule have been about a size issue (really large actors or really small) with the ethnicity angle. I suspect NCW’s casting was a mix of them looking for a “twin” and casting a wider net, and he starred on an American show not long ago, so he’s famous enough.
That said, I like the Carlyle and Mullan suggestions. I don’t know that Mullan is exactly Davos as written, but I like him as an actor. He has an interesting face, and I don’t want a pretty boy for Davos.
Forget about Fassbender. Never going to happen. He’s playing Magneto in the new X-Men movie, which is a huge deal.
Steve the PirateQuote Reply
As a big fan of Ivanek I don’t think he particularly fit the part of Roose Bolton.
My dream was Ivanek (with make-up) as Walder Frey but it’s not possible anymore.
For Roose Bolton I would really like to see Kyle MacLachlan (even if he doesn’t really fit the part as well it’s one another one of my dreams seeing him acting as a bad guy). MacLachlan can be as well a good Brynden.
And I know he’s not in season 2 but I ABSOLUTELY want Jeffrey Wright as Daario Naharis.
SephQuote Reply
Bolton = Jason Isaacs
TastesLikeTheSeaQuote Reply
Melisandre – Michelle Forbes
Davos Seaworth – Peter Krause
Edmure Tully – Nicholas Brendon
Brynden “Blackfish” Tully – Anthony Stewart Head (Brynden or Qhorin Halfhand)
Roose Bolton- Zeljko Ivanek
Mandon Moore – Garret Dillahunt
Aeron Greyjoy – Ian McShane (a small part now and a greater role in the next seasons)
Asha Greyjoy – Katie Sackhoff
Balon Greyjoy – McShane can be good for this role too
Strong Belwas – Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Mr. fuckin’ Eko from Lost)
Dolorous Edd Tollett- Danny Strong
Qhorin Halfhand – Anthony Stewart Head
Craster – Edward James Olmos (I’d like him as a Greyjoy too, maybe Balon)
Ygritte – Felicia Day
Some probably won’t be available though :( (Krause is a regular in Parenthood, Forbes in The Killing, Head in Merlin >_> and Dillahunt in Raising Hope)
BobbullaQuote Reply
Davos – Robert Carlyle
Stannis – Christopher Eccleston
Craster – Brian Blessed
Edmure – Toby Stephens
Mike SmitheeQuote Reply
Dina Meyer as Melisandre, please.
I always saw her as Cersei, but Melisandre would be perfect too.
BalerionQuote Reply
Albertan hippies… sounds like an oxymoron. Weird. It doesn’t sound like you should consider anything you learned from them as typical of all Canadians.
spacechampionQuote Reply
ME as Stannis!!! :)
jwsnasaQuote Reply
Look at this pic of Monica Bellucci. Imagine her with dark red hair. And tell me she is not Melissandre.
http://loyalkng.com/2009/04/30/monica-bellucci-tickles-elmo-tickles-kids-thought-girl-dream/monica-bellucci-picture-2/
Private RyanQuote Reply
FaB,
fan cred and sci-fi geek cred are not going to be factors, okay?
spacechampionQuote Reply
100% agree. The cred that should matter is acting.
dizzy_34Quote Reply
One problem: she can’t act.
SephQuote Reply
Oh, boy you’re asking for a flame war…but I happen to agree with ya.
dizzy_34Quote Reply
Let me know if I am quite over the rainbow with this one.
Bridget Reagan for Melisandre.
IkertzekeQuote Reply
Sorry Erlend, Nighy is AWESOME (loved him in Radio Rock – The Boat That Rocked) but he doesn’t look like a warrior at all to me. But if you see him as the Blackfish, more power to you – I love the diversity of this crowd :D
You all have made some terrific suggestions. Many of the actors are stranger to me, alas. I’ll stick to my ‘fishies:
(I’ve linked to pics that can resemble the character)
Edmure Tully:
Damian Lewis – love him
Richard Coyle – made Lorna Doone with a certain Aidan Gillen
James MacAvoy – too busy?
Michael Fassbender – he was great in Inglorious Basterds, just don’t make him order 3 of anything.
Hoster Tully:
John Hurt is a brilliant idea, it hadn’t occurred to me. Christopher Plummer is Canadian but he’d be a smash. The other veterans mentioned would be perfect too.
Brynden “Blackfish” Tully:
Jeremy Irons – popular vote
Liam Neeson – impossible but WOW
Peter Mullan – bit short of stature, but otherwise exceptional
Gabriel Byrne – Irish and solid
Philip Glenister – bit young but charismatic
Christopher Eccleston – why not?
David Thewlis - same age as Glenister, but he’s Remus Freaking Lupin.
OT – could we please refrain from political and personal slurs, please? I get them every day everywhere… I love this site because it’s so very professional and I know I’ll only be exposed to the politics and bickerings of Westeros.
Blackfish BluesQuote Reply
Although I think Monica Bellucci is amazingly beautiful and sensual, and LOOKS wise very good – I fear that she isn’t the RIGHT actress for the role. The reason is that although Melisandre is a beautiful and sensual woman – I think if it’s done by an actress that isn’t really good it can just come across as cheesy and comical. I think Monica can be great in roles, but I think with this particular one she may just lay it on too thick. However, I certainly wouldn’t protest if she did get chosen because I have seen enough of HBO shows to know that if she is in the role, it’s cause she probably nailed an audition or Nina and the producers saw something there. Not likely though, just my opinion.
SmegmaQuote Reply
Just to add on, I think Marion Cottilard would be perfect – looks and acting wise. When I saw her in Inception I thought about it, and someone posted on the ASOIAF boards and reminded me of it. I just think she’s riding a wave off of her Oscar and Inception to be too big for the show – so someone just like that!
SmegmaQuote Reply
Yeah, although I can’t attest to her acting because I haven’t seen anything she’s in really (except a few minutes of V) Morena Baccarin is another excellent look. And before anyone says anything, yes I am eventually going to watch Firefly. Just started on BSG :P
Oh, and watching BSG I can see why people suggested Katee Sackoff. Although I don’t think she’s a likely choice, at least in the first few episodes I immediately thought of Brienne (although size doesn’t matter TOO much, I think, she may be entirely too tiny – but again, I’d rather have the spirit of the character there than a crap actress just cause she’s tall) – and she’s not British. Although neither is Tricia Helfner and she DID audition for Cersei (but lost to what I think is a far more fitting actress for the role in Lena Headley).
SmegmaQuote Reply
Yes to Christopher Eccleston as Stannis, I think he’s perfect
I can’t believe nobody has suggest Tony Head (Giles from Buffy/Uther from Merlin) as Roose Bolton. He’s a fantastic actor and brings automatic likeability to Roose yet can pull off just ever so slightly creepy in the best possible way. He might be busy with another series of Merlin next year but Roose isn’t a big role so he should be able to fit it in.
And I know Keith Allen is Alfie’s dad but seriously, no. He’s just terrible.
MonkeyQuote Reply
Blackfish Blues,
Sigh, I’m in moderation once again. Is it because my post are too long? (typical). I’ll seize the chance to pimp once again my Blackfish Casting page – made just for fun, but mainly to give an idea of how Brynden might look in a general way.
Blackfish BluesQuote Reply
If Bellucci “can’t act” you might as well say that of 90% of the suggestions made in this thread.
BloodQuote Reply
Smegma,
When Jon Snow first starts hanging out with Ygritte, he doesn’t find her pretty but common. Ygritte is seen as beautiful by her people because of her “kissed by fire” hair. I thought it was very sweet on Jon’s part that as he grew to love Ygritte he started to see her as beautiful. Just my 2 cents worth……..
winterqueenQuote Reply
Too many UK actresses being placed forward as Mel, for me Melisandre should be mysterious, exotic, foreign, sensual, beautiful and dangerous (when she walks by men tremble with desire and fear, and this is from the books). The actress needs to express all the above and the only two foreign actresses that to me meet the criteria are Gong Li and Monica Bellucci, both are very talented actresses and they are non-UK (which Mel needs to be) afterall she is from Ashai a mysterious and foreign realm on the far side of the world next to the Jade Sea. Bridget Reagan, Michelle Forbes, Polly Walker are too British and therefore too Westerosean. For the Monica naysayers who say she can’t act, I think all you have watched are the few American popcorn flicks she starred in, if you watch her foreign performances you would realize she can act and much better than Bridget, Michelle or even Polly.
So please stop putting forward the names of UK and Westerosean type actresses as they do not fit Mel’s profile, concentrate on foreign, exotic, sensual, beautiful, dangerous and talented of course.
TysnowQuote Reply
Blood,
Here, here, Monica could act the panties off most of the actresses whose names have been put forward on this post.
TysnowQuote Reply
Davos Seaworth – Terry O´Quinn
Brynden Tully – Sam Elliott
Melisandre – Erin Cummings
Jaqen H’ghar – Crispin Glover
Asha Greyjoy – Indira Varma
Qhorin Halfhand – Keith Carradine
Stannis Baratheon – Mark Strong (wish) or Kevin McKidd
Also want to remind you Facebook page, where you can talk about your casting ideas
MacejkoQuote Reply
I apologize as I forgot that there is actually a third foreign actress that might meet Mel’s criteria depending on whether her auditions impressed D&D and that is none other than Elena Satine
TysnowQuote Reply
Macejko,
MacejkoQuote Reply
99.99% of people who say this or that actor/actress cannot act have no qualifications to make such claims.
spacechampionQuote Reply
One thing which may factor into the choice of actors for the Greyjoys is that we know they have Alfie Allen doing SOME kind of accent, which most people seem to believe will be an Irish accent. Not that it excludes non-[insert nationality of accent here] from being cast as a Greyjoy, but it may make it easier for them to cast from within whatever that pool is, especially if they are going with the Irish thing, since they are there anyway.
Steve Hugh WestenraQuote Reply
Forgot to add Julian Sands as Flashback Arthur Dayne. :D
Blackfish BluesQuote Reply
Private Ryan,
She IS Melisandre, if Monica Bellucci was cast it would be a coup on the same level of Dinklage, if not more so.
oenoneQuote Reply
Monkey,
I also agree that Anthony Stewart Head would be a great addition to the series, and seems to fit most of the criteria that would factor into generalized casting (e.g. He’s pretty famous but does a lot of television, he’s a strong actor who can play all sort of different characters, he’s British, etc). You might have something with the Roose Bolton idea…. Besides that, I could actually see him transforming quite well into a Greyjoy or any number of other roles.
Steve Hugh WestenraQuote Reply
What is wrong with the links? Once again - HBO Game of Thrones – Voice of Fans – the page dedicated to sharing ideas about casting. http://www.facebook.com/pages/HBO-Game-of-Thrones-Voice-of-Fans/115080105227072
MacejkoQuote Reply
Steve Hugh Westenra</a,
oh heck, he’s Giles from Buffy!!!
Never watched Buffy, but all my friends do, and if I had to name a favourite character it would be him.
Anthony Stewart Head for the Blackfish or anybody else!
Blackfish BluesQuote Reply
Honestly, I can understand that comment for most Hollywood actresses but Monica Bellucci? She’s one of the few beautiful actresses out there who CAN act, does risky roles too.
oenoneQuote Reply
Just read through every comment. There were two roles I think were nailed:
Damian Lewis as Edmure Tully – Perfect look, good enough actor, HBO experience. Sold.
Léa Seydoux as Ygritte – Watch the first 5 minutes of Inglourious Basterds, she’s Charlotte LaPadite. Thank you to whoever suggested this!
As for the other suggestions, I dig Mark Strong as Stannis, but I don’t see it happening. Eccleston, maybe, but he comes off more conniving and less physically intimidating than I read Stannis.
Haven’t been a fan of any other suggestions.
I think you have to go with an unknown for Brienne, even though it’s a fairly big part. Dot Jones is a ridiculous suggestion. C’mon.
I always pictured Roose Bolton as a bit norse. I’m gonna throw out Vladimir Kulich, aka the guy who played the Beowulf-type character in The 13th Warrior.
StevonQuote Reply
I agree with everything you’ve said here, nice one on your recommendation of Gong Li, her and Monica are ‘exactly’ right for the role.
oenoneQuote Reply
I would LOVE to see:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0571727/ as Stannis, but I’m concerned that he is too busy filming Grey’s Anatomy
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2125623/ as Asha Greyjoy
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0397171/ as Melisandre (I think she could nail the accent)
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000460/ as the Blackfish
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0829032/ as Davos (he was born in Ireland so I would think he could also handle the accent)
IcegoddessQuote Reply
Icegoddess,
Guess, I couldn’t figure out the linking….it’s
Kevin McKidd as Stannis
Bridget Readen as Asha
Bryce Dallas Howard as Melisandre
Jeremy Irons as the Blackfish
Ray Stevenson as Davos
IcegoddessQuote Reply
Is it just me or am I the only one who pictured John Malkovich as Stannis Baratheon? Yes, he’s a big movie star and the odds of landing him would be slim. Stannis is a big stud in season 2 however, and it might just be possible we see a big fish land the role.
DrfunkQuote Reply
I Still say:
Melisandre = Anna Friel
Bathory 1
Bathory 2
Bathory 3 NSFW
Great actress, could certainly carry off the slightly unhinged nature of the character – and she can certainly do exotic (if not in the ‘foreign’ sense) She was excellent as Bathory (in what was a pretty average film) which would be a good grounding for Melisandre
MartinQuote Reply
I am in agreement with oenone and tysnow on Melisandre. I think those who question Monica’s acting ability have to be judging solely from her role in the matrix movies. IMO her character in that movie was very poorly written and served no purpose other than a blatant attempt to inject some sex appeal into an otherwise totally unsexy franchise. (Unless you found the Trinity character sexy, which I did not). I think its obvious that she is a good actress if you look at some of her other work. Also in agreement about Gong Li. She never crossed my mind for this role before, but I gotta say she would be great also. The bottom line for me is that both of these women have a look and aura about them thats so beautiful and mysterious that its intimidating. And that is exactly what Melisandre should be.
Private RyanQuote Reply
Whoever was the first to suggest Jeff Bridges as the Blackfish, thanks. Now nothing will replace that image in my head.
Ryan CordesQuote Reply
durandal,
Mads Mikkelson as Roose Bolton sounds pretty perfect.
ChrisQuote Reply
Patrick Stewart as Stannis
BlueknightQuote Reply
clemintine,
“Now can we please stop get back to casting”.
That’s rich, coming from the troll who started this diversion. Personally, I don’t care what you call Americans. The opinion of one left wing fanatic makes no difference at all to Americans or our influence on the world. I just find the evident animosity amusing. Wasn’t the Advent of Obama supposed to usher in a new era of peace, harmony, lower oceans and a healing planet? Go back to reading Edward Said, and Americans will go back to keeping the world safe for your dissent. Merry Christmas.
KurtQuote Reply
I don’t want to take credit at random, but Jeff Bridges is among my main choices of American (alas) actors I’d like to see in the Blackfish role. :D
Blackfish BluesQuote Reply
Ok, if Jason Isaacs is Roose Bolton,
then maybe
Peter Serafinowicz could be Ramsay Snow, the Bastard of Bolton.
McKeeQuote Reply
Too bad Michael Jeter died. He would have made a perfect Ser Dontos.
Brad VillaneQuote Reply
Please NOT Monica Bellucci as Melisandre. I’m Italian and know well her acting skills: she’s a terrible and unexpressive actress, so leave her out of the show!
As for long shots, I’d rather give a chance to Lindsay Lohan but Morena Baccarin would be good as well…and cheaper
DenisQuote Reply
Actually, for those that think I haven’t seen Monica Bellucci in anything other than the Matrix you are wrong. I’ve seen many of the foreign films she has been in – and she’s good. The problem comes when it’s an English speaking film. She comes across as over the top (which would be my complaint about her in the role). It’s not her FAULT really – but when you combine her looks with her accent in English – it’s almost cheesy. Even in the Brothers Grimm I thought she was over the top. Again, I don’t think she’d be BAD in the role, I just haven’t seen her perform well in an English speaking role, at least not to the level that I would hope for in this show. I would be afraid she would just come across as cheese. Like I said, if the producers felt she was going to be able to do the role, I would have no doubt either. But right now I have my reservations.
SmegmaQuote Reply
Thanks to a new hi-res pic at MGoT, I finally have a headshot of ALL the Starks in my cast gallery including Rickon!
LexQuote Reply
clemintine,
It’s a well known fact that the indigenous peoples of North and South America migrated from Asia about 12,000 years ago. No offense was intended… merely pointing out that from an anthropological perspective Native Americans share their heritage with the Asian continent.
If you’re casting someone for a character influenced by Asian nomadic hordes, getting a guy with at least some Asian heritage like Momoa is a safe bet. Yes, he has Irish ancestry as well, and of course there is a double standard in Hollywood when it comes to casting minorities. I merely saying that Momoa, given his ancestry, is at least in the conceivable ballpark for what a Dothraki should look like.
williamhperkinsQuote Reply
As someone from Canada I find it offensive when people call me American. I’m Canadian, not American. Should the American’s have taken the continent name to describe themselves? Maybe not, but it’s done at this point and for you to call them USian is rather offensive. It’s offending me and I’m not even from that country. Though maybe that’s just because of your general attitude.
matQuote Reply
I think Monica is super smoking, however…she is 46 years old!
LeahQuote Reply
clemintine,
I’m not from the United States. You don’t call people from the United Kindgom, UKsians, or UKers. You call them Britons, or English, Scottish, Welsh or Irish. If you’re that stuck up on regional terminology you could call them Yankees or Dixies… or even people from the United States.
Yes the continents are called North America and South America, but no other country on those continents includes the word “America” in its name. The only one that does is the United States of America… therefore calling them Americans will suffice.
williamhperkinsQuote Reply
I’ve never heard USians. It’s not offensive, but it is stupid. Americans were “assigned” that term, they didn’t take it because of privilege. Everyone knows what an American is. It’s someone from the United States of America. We aren’t oppressing people that want to be referred to as Americans that live in Brazil. They want to be Brazillians.
It seems to me to be a point of contention just to be controversial, without any merit whatsoever. I don’t deny that America has a sense of privilege, but this isn’t translated into the term American. There are plenty of other areas of our culture and government that are more worthy of comment – the term American is just not a valuable commodity to fight over. Unless you want to look like a fool.
SmegmaQuote Reply
Yeah, that’s what I figured was key – Momoa has both Native American ancestry and Hawaiian/Polynesian. I actually like that they went with a diverse group of ethnic groups to represent the Dothraki. It adds to their nomadic feel and frankly, gives opportunites for many different minorities to have roles in the series. If the person was offended because they are “blanket minority” then they could opt not to take the job. As it stands, I realize the difference between a Korean and a Chinese person, and likewise someone from Sudan versus Egypt or Pakistan versus India.
Anyway, it probably came down to the availability of minority actors in the area that could ride horses. Nothing more nefarious than that.
SmegmaQuote Reply
I’d like to nominate my friend Dave as Dolorous Edd. It’s terrible and amusing how I picture them exactly alike.
KGQuote Reply
Someone suggested Imogen Poots would too be busy, which is a shame. She’s pretty enough to play Margaery, could easily pass for Finn Jones’ sister, and from what I’ve seen is a decent actress. Sarah Bolger – fantastic in every scene I’ve seen, does funny things to me – is also probably going to be busy. Bugger.
Karen Gillan would be a brilliant choice for Ygritte, but someone mentioned Rachel Hurd-Wood, who I hadn’t considered. She fits my mental image perfectly.
And how about Philip Glenister as Mace Tyrell? Aye, he’d need to eat more than his share of pies, but he’s bloody awesome, looks quite alot like Jones, and has more than enough talent to play the pompous and ambitious Mace.
MongreloidQuote Reply
http://www.filmclub.es/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/luis-tosar.jpg
this is Luis Tosar.
What about a hard Stannis?
guildorQuote Reply
Leah,
Yea, but she easily passes for a woman in her early-mid thirties.
TysnowQuote Reply
To whomever suggested Jason Isaacs for Roose Bolton: Mad props, +2 Internets and so forth.
SlyntQuote Reply
Martin,
She appears to be a good choice for Mel, really like her look. I am glad another is thinking along the same lines for Mel.
TysnowQuote Reply
Rhiannon Jung,
Did you ever see Revengers Tragedy? Honestly, I’d watch Eccleston as anyone. I’m like that with a lot of suggestions flying around from the UK actor pool.
paulgudeQuote Reply
Xaro Xoan Daxos- Chiwetel Ejiofor
However, a young Keith David would have been perfect.
Ryan24Quote Reply
Smegma,
Gwendoline Christie’s name got floated not just because’s she’s tall, but because of her stage work.
paulgudeQuote Reply
spacechampion,
I’m not sure how anyone whose met them would consider them typical of anything. Calgary seemed to be a town they were all leaving, most for Vancouver or Victoria.
paulgudeQuote Reply
I tend to be very picky about casting. I cast people based on whether they would take the role and based on their acting skill, not what they look like. I hate casting suggestions like one I saw on another site where they name Michael Hogan as Tywin. I was thinking “Why on earth would they think he can play Tywin? Because he’s bald? So’s Ron Howard.”
But anyway, here they are: My casting choices for Season Two. If they’re left empty, that means I have no clue who could do it, and haven’t seen a viable suggestion.
Jason Isaacs as Stannis Baratheon
Elena Satine as Melisandre
Liam Cunningham as Davos Seaworth
Hoster Tully
Joel Edgerton as Edmure Tully
Billy Connolly as Brynden “Blackfish” Tully
Rachel Hurd-Wood as Margaery Tyrell
Gwendolyn Christie as Brienne
Philip Glenister as Mace Tyrell
Randyll Tarly
Hans Matheson as Jaqen H’ghar
Ewan Stewart as Roose Bolton
Julian Richings as Vargo Hoat
Simon Russell Beale as Dontos Hollard
Mandon Moore
Ed Sanders as Podrick Payne
Joseph Campo as Ramsay Snow
Jojen Reed
Meera Reed
Christopher Eccleston as Aeron Greyjoy
Nora-Jane Noone as Asha Greyjoy
Ian McShane as Balon Greyjoy
Rhaegar Targaryen
Elia Martell
Dante Nero as Strong Belwas
Sean Brosnan as Dolorous Edd Tollett (not Pierce’s son, this guy)
Vladimir Kulich as Qhorin Halfhand
Craster
Gilly
Ygritte
Josh ParkerQuote Reply
great film. and it has Eddie Izzard who would be an awesome addition to AGoT.
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?Quote Reply
McKee,
Serafinowicz as Bolton’s bastard is a great idea, too. The man is excellent and is taking bit parts right now in US sitcoms. He should be used for this production.
paulgudeQuote Reply
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?,
Eddie Izzard is another name I’d be open to for sure. This is the main reason why I don’t think they’ll have to look outside of the UK for any role. There’s such a large local talent pool already.
paulgudeQuote Reply
Jason Isaacs would make a fantastic Stannis. Ideally though, he would play somebody with a little bit more cunning, like Bolton or even Euron way down the road.
Ryan24Quote Reply
i’ve been thinking about it. he is a cross dresser so maybe he could be Brienne? he would make an ugly “woman” … he is a pretty big and powerfully built “guy” … now that would be a totally outside the box idea wouldn’t it?
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?Quote Reply
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?,
He’s way to old now. ;)
It’s weird, but some people have suggested men for Brienne *seriously*, which I think is kind of absurd. It’s not that there aren’t mannish women out there who can act, it’s that most of us don’t believe HBO will go that far to cast one.
With casting threads like this, one of the reasons famous/expensive names get floated so much is because they’re the actors with whom we’re the most familiar.
HBO is rightly ahead of us on this. Using Katee Sackhoff as an example, if the SyFy Channel had announced that they were casting a female Starbuck, how many folks would have gone, “You know who’d be perfect? That girl who played Jen in ‘Halloween Resurrection!’”
I’m really expecting that one or two of our suggestions will come true, and the rest will be filled by people we haven’t seen before. There’s a good chance that just like Season One, Season Two will *make* careers, rather than extend them.
That said, it’s more fun to play this with people we know.
paulgudeQuote Reply
If Hayley Atwell shows up anywhere in GoT, I’ll be a happy man. I absolutely loved her in Pillars of the World!
LinayusQuote Reply
Yes she has the perfect smile for Melisandre
Jordan HealeyQuote Reply
He looks more like the Stannis I imagined when reading the books – although maybe with a slightly shorter beard. Has the intensity and could carry off the lack of humour and dourness required.
Another pic
Gets my vote.
MartinQuote Reply
Looking at the current cast list and imagining them following the same casting trend, I’m guessing we’re looking at the addition of one or two well-known names, and the rest filled out with strong actors with solid work but no universal recognition.
While I do like the idea of them front-loading season two with a lot of stars, I think they’ll be treating returning characters as the stars for the most part. Retention of actors is key in something like this, and I suspect if it takes off some will try to renegotiate their contracts. So, they may not have a lot of extra money to throw around.
It would mean, for example, that Theon may be considered the draw for the Iron Islands segments, and they would cast unknowns against him.
However, the Dragonstone segments are missing returning characters. With this in mind, I’m thinking a well-enough-known actor for Davos, possibly someone who’s carried a TV series and/or played a featured supporting role in a film. He’s so connected with the action of Dragonstone, and even though they’re not following the POV convention per se, I think we’ll see most of the action through his eyes.
There’s an obvious parallel between Davos/Stannis and Ned/Robert to me, and as such I think the actor they cast as Davos will be more famous than the one they cast as Stannis.
However, there is the possibility that Stannis will be rewritten so that he’ll have more to do, in which case a bigger name in relation to the actor playing Davos than Mark Addy to Sean Bean. Melisandre may likewise be a larger name, but her character is interesting enough that she’ll generate interest no matter who her actress is. Davos, to me, can come off as a bit dry. A strong actor can counteract that.
Obviously this is a huge speculation, and as I often mention, I love to be wrong. However, if I had to guess now I’d say that Davos is going to be the biggest name cast.
paulgudeQuote Reply
MyriL,
Richard Armitage for Stannis…would be prefect…watch him in Robin Hood (BBC) ….was thinking the same thing last night
smita khalidQuote Reply
Richard Armitage for Stannis…would be prefect…watch him in Robin Hood (BBC) ….was thinking the same thing last night
lotuzQuote Reply
ok, i’m not terribly well versed when it comes to british actors, but from browsing this thread, it seems the only real standout fan favorite is christopher eccleston for stannis.
my only real dream cast would be vincent cassel for the red viper (anyone seen brotherhood of the wolf?), but it ain’t gonna happen.
izakmoQuote Reply
izakmo,
I had this exact thought during casting talks last year. He’d be perfect. I’m afraid Black Swan will put him out of the price range.
I think Robert Carlyle for Davos has been mentioned by a lot of folks as well.
To tell you the truth I’m liking the idea of a Carlyle/Eccleston Davos/Stannis. I think they could afford both.
Props to Katja for being (I think) the first in this thread with that particular pairing.
paulgudeQuote Reply
Once again, he’s busy with a major role in the Hobbit in 2011. I’d say it’s extremely unlikely that Armitage is even available for GOT.
LexQuote Reply
There’s the fact that he’s likely busy, plus… IMO he couldn’t act his way out of a wet tissue bag. Maybe they could cast him in the Godswood or somewhere that could use his wooden skills.
Having said that, my other half goes bonkers for Armitage.
MartinQuote Reply
Ray Stevenson as Davos? No way, Davos is much older than him. I think Terry O´Quinn would be great Davos (and Sam Elliott IS Blackfish).
MacejkoQuote Reply
Melisandre- Monica Bellucci of course.
Real- Carice van Houten (Langiva From Black Death). She is not so beautuful as Monica, but she more real and she can be fascinating and frightening. As Mel must be. In BD her eyes just like Mel
Lady of payneQuote Reply
Ciarán Hinds as Stannis. He is britain and played in Rome.
Lady of payneQuote Reply
Gary Oldman was born for Davos.
Henry Ian Cusick is realistic choice. He Played in Dead Like Me: Life After Death- Cameron Kane and in Lost- Desmond Hume .
Lady of payneQuote Reply
Somehow I imagined Brienne the way Charlize Theron looked in the movie “Monster”, though still more musculin and with shorter hair.
And I don’t know, but I would like to see Natalie Portman in GoT. Maybe as Margaery Tyrell or rather as Meera Reed.
sawyerQuote Reply
Polly Walker for Mel- Attia from Rome.
Lady of payneQuote Reply
Brilliant!
I was thinking the exact same thing the other day, remembering “The Big Lebowsky” :D I could even stand the trademark moustache.
True, he’s American, and maybe too famous. I’d rather like a lesser known actor as Brynden in several episodes, than a well-known star for a mere walk-on appearance.
Blackfish BluesQuote Reply
And I just remembered that I will never stop suggesting Dominic Monaghan. Shame that Littlefinger is gone but he’d be interesting being cast against-type as Ramsay Bolton.
MonkeyQuote Reply
Lots be honest here, how old does she actually look? 30 something?
oenoneQuote Reply
As much as I like Bridget Reagan, she is an American, born right here in San Diego County. That might account for the fact that despite her acting ability, she doesn’t seem to me to be anywhere near exotic enough to portray Melisandre. At 28, she’s too old to play Ygritte, Meera, Gilly, or Brienne, but I think she would be a pretty good choice for Asha Greyjoy. Imagine Bridget in that role at the moot in AFfC.
Maester TcostQuote Reply
The only North Americans I’ll accept in this production are those who have proven themselves skilled in classic theatre or can do a convincing British accent, like Daniel Davis. Bet you didn’t know he was from Arkansas! Or how about Alan Tudyk?
There are a few Canadian actors everybody thinks are British, like Christopher Plummer or Henry Czerny. They’d be fine.
But aside from them, I say let’s keep this all British.
Josh ParkerQuote Reply
guildor,
Martin,
I like this a lot. Fits my imagined Stannis. And he fits agewise between Robert and Renly too, by his looks.
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
Bilbo,
For the scene in the House of the undying in Daenerys plot. In any case I think that could be Harry Lloyd itself. Although I always figured Raegar as a young Brad Pitt….
jaybeQuote Reply
I agree, he looks just right! Exactly how i pictured him:
Andrea Burgos thanks for suggesting him!
M.MartellQuote Reply
Polly Walker as Melisandre. You remember her as Atia of the Julii in Rome. She’s literally the only person I picture in my head as Melisandre.
Also, Stannis has always been a Patrick Stewart to me. I realize that he needs to be younger than Mark Addy so that’s pretty unlikely, but still.
SimBenQuote Reply
SimBen,
Or reading back, YES, Ciaran Hinds would make an amazing Stannis.
SimBenQuote Reply
Brienne is a tough role to cast, as many others have noted. If this girl can act, she wouldn’t be a bad choice, having the requisite height and some of the bulk:
“Isis the Amazon”, former WWE performer, aka 23-year-old Lindsay Hayward, who is 6’9″ (206 cm) tall and weighs 240 lbs (109 kg).
http://acidcow.com/pics/14105-isis-the-amazon-lindsay-hayward-22-pics-video.html
LuanaQuote Reply
Zeljko Ivanek for Bolton would be perfect. A bit of a type-cast for HBO (ooh, another creepy, mysterious and powerful secondary character – haven’t seen him do that in OZ or True Blood or Big Love…) but he’d still be perfect. And, is it really HBO without him playing that kind of role?
JQuote Reply
spacechampion,
Hey, I AM an Albertan, and I think I’ve just been insulted! I’d ask what part of Canada you’re from, but I think I can guess. (See, I can apply offensive regional stereotypes just as well as you can! So there, etc.) Anway…back to the digression at hand.
I agree with clementine. What’s wrong with the term USians? Seems accurate rather than offensive to me. If you want to get into semantics, like Private Ryan, note that the name is “the United States of America”, i.e., a group of united states within the boundaries of America. The original founders were trying to distinguish themselves as a separate and independent political entity within the Americas, not as the whole of the Americas. So how did “United States citizens” end up changing into “Americans”? I think clementine explained that quite well.
I suspect that most Canadians (Albertan hippies or not) who stop long enough to think about it are uncomfortable with the fact that people from the U.S. have co-opted the term “American” for their own use, even though there are many other countries in the Americas. And most people from the U.S. who stop long enough to think about it, like paulgude, can understand why.
LuanaQuote Reply
Luana,
I think part of the issue is that Canadians already have a name for their country separate from the name of the continent, whereas if you tell someone from the US not to use the term “American” they’re left with “United States of” to work with, which doesn’t lend itself well to a national identity. Honestly, though, I think this may have been due to the fact that at the time the USA was founded, the individuality of the States was very important, moreso than a national identity.
This feeds into a sentiment that has been expressed by others, which is that when the USA was founded it wasn’t really in a huge position to order people what to call it. The term “American” was solidified with cooperation from many other countries before the USA was anything of a world power. Now that it’s in the position of being derided as an empire by other countries, is there a term to use that separates it from the continent?
“US Citizen” is clunky. “Yank” is fun, but doesn’t play well in the South. “USian,” looks and sounds weird, so I’m not sure if it’d ever be adopted. So, while I try to avoid it on a case-by-case basis, I don’t think the wide-spread use of “American” is going anywhere any time soon, either by folks from the USA or many other countries.
Still, you can’t choose your own nickname so maybe USian will become the new norm.
Which begs the question: How do you say it out loud?
paulgudeQuote Reply
Polly Walker was great in Rome but have any of you seen her in Caprica, bloody awful… i’m not sure she has the range of acting skills to be Melisandre, also I don’t think she is beautiful enough.
oenoneQuote Reply
Fire And Blood,
Is David Tennant confimed for The Hobbit? IMDB says rumored…
KatjaQuote Reply
Katja,
Still a rumor as far as I know, but a pretty strong one. Simon Pegg tweeted “Looks like David Tennant will be going to Middle Earth,” and then deleted it …
… so that either means he was told to shut his trap on the exclusive, or he was immediately told it was untrue. And one would hope if he found out it was untrue he’d just come out and amend it rather than deleting the tweet.
So who knows? I say if you really want him for a role here–hey, let’s put his name forth. He would make an interesting (if young) Davos.
Fire And BloodQuote Reply
And weighing in on something I generally don’t even touch, which is name-calling, this whole “USians” thing, and what words are an insult to who…
I was bullied pretty bad in grade school (much less so in high school after I finally grew a few inches), and was called a number of unkind things throughout my formative years. It’s not the words that ever got to me; the fists and feet are what left me bloody. No word ever caused pain.
“Call me what you want, John, just don’t come at me with that freaking cowboy belt again. That 3-pound buckle is a bitch.”
So maybe that’s part of why I don’t get—at all—why any person, group, nation, anything can be hurt by a word. When someone says they are “offended” by something said, my initial jerk reaction is to think them weak in some way. Not to be offensive–that’s just how I’m wired.
I just don’t get it. “Nerd,” “Geek,” “Dweeb,” those words don’t do any damage. Nicknames can be hurtful, especially if they’re personal and hit close to home, but if they cause you anguish then they are probably true in some way. Else it’s just stupid.
The funniest ones are the racial ones. Especially for me. “Cracker,” “Whitey,” “Honky.”
(Seriously, Honky?)
If you let a word bother you, then that’s on you. It’s a chink in your armor. Prepare to have it exploited some day, some how, some way.
To the term “USian” … Well, “American,” is derived from “The United States of America,” not the continent itself. And as a general rule, people from a given country determine what they call themselves rather than waiting for someone else to coin a catchy word. I don’t think “USian” is going to stick, mostly because it sounds retarded.
Whoops, I mean learning-disabled. I don’t want to insult (or offend or whatever other word you choose) the retarded people out there.
Political correctness irks me. Weepy-eyed sensates make my eyes cross.
Anyway. Merry Christmas, and a Happy Festivus too!
Fire And BloodQuote Reply
Fire And Blood,
i agree. sticks and stones and all that.
i mean if only there were a book that most of us could read that could illustrate such sage advice. maybe one where there was, say …. a bastard son who learned to embrace the term bastard and in doing so negate the effects of those who call him that in anger. or better yet a book where one of the characters was an ugly mishapen but brillian dwarf, who everybody even his own family reviles and calls Imp but who isn’t at all bothered by it because he has long since come to terms with the slings and arrows of others and taken the term Imp as a badge of honor?
if only there was a book like that we could all read and learn this important lesson ….
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?Quote Reply
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?,
Hrmph. If there *were* such a book, I suspect it’d be possible for someone to read it several times and never glean anything from the lesson.
paulgudeQuote Reply
Martin,
Peter Jackson(LOTR) recently extoled Richard Armitage’s superb acting abilities and range. He’s a major director with box office blockbusters to his credit. I’d give him credit for knowing of which he speaks.
RAbloggerQuote Reply
As far as Eccleston goes, it seems like this is his last project, and it seems like it’s only six episodes:
http://chrisecclestonbulletin.blogspot.com/2010/07/shadow-line.html
Does that leave him without conflicts? Fingers crossed.
paulgudeQuote Reply
paulgude,
This made me ponder on the greenlight and filming shedule. If GoT airs in April, and we get an early greenlight after one or two episodes, that means casting starts somewhere middle April, and we can expect the first results around May? And filming will start quite soon after that. Won’t most of the bigger actors we’ve mentioned here already have some prior commitment by then?
And will the script be written prior to that? Or will we have to wait for that first before they start casting?
I just can’t really imagine Eccleston or Carlyle still being free by than.
Jan OdaQuote Reply
He obviously hasn’t sat through 3 series of Robin Hood, Strike Back, or 2 series of Spooks. The guy doesn’t act, he just plays the same character constantly – you’d be hard pushed to find a trace of emotion on his face. IMO he has the gravitas and acting chops of a lump of Balsa Wood. It’s not just me, the media here has had a bit of a running joke in the various reviews of the shows hes been in.
MartinQuote Reply
Fire And Blood,
Nah, I suggested him for Edmure. He’s bring some humour to the role. But I like him enough that I’d rather see him in The Hobbit. He deserves the exposure. :)
KatjaQuote Reply
Martin,
Isn’t that more a case of typecasting though? I thought he was quite the different man in the Vicar of Dibley…
I’ve only seen him in North and South, Robin Hood and the Vicar, but I thought those were very different portrayals. I have to admit though that it is possible that my female hormones are shrouding my judgement slightly.
Which makes me realize that he just might be too attractive to play Stannis.
Jan OdaQuote Reply
Jan Oda,
LOL – well, my other half agrees with you, but I put that down 100% to the phwoar factor :)
MartinQuote Reply
Jordan Healey,
I suggested her earlier, even though she was in the cheesy “Legend of the Seeker”, she is beautiful and not a bad actress either. She is good as playing the good girl, but can also play a “dark side” as well, she’d make a great Melisandre!
IcegoddessQuote Reply
Icegoddess,
Even though, I think she’d be better as Asha Greyjoy ;)
IcegoddessQuote Reply
What about Rachel Hurd Wood as Ygritte?
IcegoddessQuote Reply
Maybe for Balon Grayjoy, we can check in on what David Gant’s up to?
Nate FrancisQuote Reply
Jan Oda,
According to this interview with Natalia Tena, “Series Two” (Season Two in UK speak) will start filming in the Spring:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gooFgkyNzGs
Eccleston completed “The Shadow Line” in September:
http://www.gov.im/ded/iomfilm/PastProductions/2010/theshadowline.xml
So they *would* both be free, providing they don’t get signed to other projects.
The only credit for Carlyle is SGU, and that’s cancelled. It’s going to air this spring, which means that they’ll definitely be done filming by then:
http://www.fusedfilm.com/2010/12/stargate-universe-cancelled-season-2-will-end-franchise-run-on-network/
It’s around minute 8:55.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gooFgkyNzGs
paulgudeQuote Reply
Mark Strong = Stannis
Robert Carlyle = Davos
Monica Bellucci = Melisandre
Claire Foy = Gilly
Karen Gillan = Ygritte
Joseph Campo = Dolorous Edd Tysnow
Jean ShaferQuote Reply
So many posts! And so many characters, I can think of some that spring to mind instantly. I’ve tried to be as realistic as possible, but some will have no doubt strayed into the realms of wishful thinking (Mark Strong as Stannis for example, no matter how perfect a fit he is, he’s too high profile now, meaning too expensive, we missed out by 18 months I think.)
Sorry it’s a long post, but I’ve tried to justify all these actors as they’re very likely attainable and anyone outside the UK has probably never heard of them, or you’ve actually seen them but don’t know there names.
I’m also praying to god all the hyperlinks are working or this post is going to be a mess!
DAVID GANT FOR ROOSE BOLTON , Picture Here
I never really knew how old Bolton was, somewhere between 40-60 age range, but he’s always been my Bolton. A big name in the theatre world with the usual route to the top; RADA, Royal Shakespeare Company etc. You’ve most likely seen him in Braveheart as William Wallace’s judge and executioner at the end, for such a small role, he makes an impact. I truly believe he can really nail Bolton, they could miscast everyone else for season two and I wouldn’t care if they got Gant on board as Bolton.
LILY COLE FOR YGRITTE
The next big supermodel (if she isn’t already), but for a model turned actress, she’s not a bad actress. I’ve found most people say “but she’s too pretty”, in the nicest possible way, I think she’s sort of weirdly attractive, I don’t find her attractive myself, but I can see why others do if that makes sense. Which is how Ygritte is described and envisioned by me, she’s also a red head which never hurts, maybe a possible Melisandre?
For Davos, he can be portrayed in so many ways by so many actors it’s going to be interesting to see who plays him. Gabriel Byrne would be intriguing, but I doubt he would be available, Robert Carlyle another possible choice, I don’t see it, but he’s a good enough actor to pull it off.
I think CLIVE RUSSELL or PETER MULLAN look the part (haggard but honest faces) and are both very seasoned and brilliant Scottish character actors. You’ve seen them in dozens of films but have never known their names; they’re those types of actors.
BRENDEN GLEESON FOR CRASTER would be perfect, again, quite high profile these days and a pretty small role, not out of the realms though as he’s from Dublin.
CHRISTOPHER LEE FOR TULLY as a cameo, probably wishful thinking but I’m dertermined to shoe horn him in somewhere. 20-25 years younger and he would have been perfect for Barristan.
IAN McSHANE FOR THE BLACKFISH (and win!), highly unlikely, too high profile now, but I’d squeal like a little girl anyways. I can’t get anyone else out of my mind but him so I have no idea to be honest.
BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH FOR RAMSEY SNOW/BOLTON, admittedly, CILLIAN MURPHY would be first choice, but again, too high profile these days. Cumberbatch can do a snidely neer-do-well/borderline evil character very well (Atonement, maybe Starter for Ten as well?), and has the high cheekbone/aristocratic features and evil glint in the eye look that makes Cillian Murphy such a popular bad guy as well.
Finally, we head off to British Soap Emmerdale for Melisandre, for some reason, I just think it’s going to be one of AMY NUTTALL or KIM THOMSON.
Why I don’t know, just a feeling for some reason, the two above just depend if you like your Melisandre young or more middle aged I suppose.
FINAL BREAKDOWN
Roose Bolton- David Gant
Ygritte – Lily Cole
Davos – Peter Mullan or Clive Russell
Craster- Brendon Gleeson
Hostor Tully – Christopher Lee
The Blackfish – Ian McShane (not going to happen, but my dream candidate)
Ramsey Snow/Bolton – Benedict Cumberbatch
Melisandre – Amy Nuttall or Kim Thomson
Jaqen H’Gar- Damien Lewis (right charisma, good Chameleon like actor to pull off all the faces)
Everyone else, I have no idea, but they’ve got the casting 90% spot on so far, which is much, much better than we were all hoping, I think we can agree.
Last, point, I CANNOT STRESS DAVID GANT ENOUGH, OR PETER MULLAN AND CLIVE RUSSELL FOR THAT MATTER!
JodanQuote Reply
Not that I particularly want Polly Walker in the role but it seems a bit odd that you state she is way way way etc etc too old for the role and then go on to suggest Shirley Manson who is the same age.
MormegilQuote Reply
Martin,
Media and audience members are not more qualified than LOTR’s director Peter Jackson, when it comes to discerning who is a capable actor and who is not. Displaying too much emotion is called over acting–the best use more subtle reactions. See the actor in Sparkhouse as a shy, introverted farmhand, and you’ll understand why Jackson praised Richard Armitage’s acting range.
RAbloggerQuote Reply
Jan Oda,
I picture Stannis as attractive albeit partially bald. Of course, the two are not exclusive. There are many handsome men without full heads of hair.
Armitage has stated in the past he’d enjoy playing as unattractive a character as possible. He hates being stereotyped as a heart throb..fights it tooth and nail. He’s one of the hardest working actors as well – a perfectionist about his work.
Believe it’s a common reaction for some members of the media and public to assume looking good negates the person having any acting gravitas. Now and then an entertainer comes along who can act circles around many others, while looking great doing so.
Just a few – Yesterday: Paul Newman, Robert Redford. Today: Clive Owen, Armitage.
RAbloggerQuote Reply
I’m on board with all of those except Melisandre. Belucci doesn’t fit my mental image, though Mel is one of the harder characters to get a handle on. But I’ve generally pictured her as Asian for the references to Asshai being a port city on the Jade Sea…
Gillen with curly hair would make an adorable Ygritte. Mark Strong and Robert Carlyle are particularly great picks, too. I think both could hit those characters out of the park.
ZackQuote Reply
Zack,
My dream casting for Mel has been Gong Li, I sooooo wish HBO would try hard to get her w/o breaking the bank. I just believe Monica could be acquired for less and bring the power of her presence. I can just picture Stannis’s men just quivering with desire and fear as she walks by them.
Can anyone think of another Asian actress that is the quality of Gong Li and has that presence of power and desire she eminates.
TysnowQuote Reply
RAblogger,
I’m still firmly on the Armitage for Stannis bandwagon, so no need to convince me about his gravitas abilities.
I always thought Stannis was unattractive though, and since I’m pretty sure I’d find Armitage still attractive, hair or no hair, I thought that maybe he would attract too many fans for the wrong reason (aka the handsome hero who’s going to save the kingdom… ha!).
Do I think Armitage can pull off Stannis? Absolutely. But I also think fangirls will be fangirls. (And I have to confess, as much as I want GoT to be a huge success, I also slightly dread the day that fangirl teams will arrive to the discussion).
Jan OdaQuote Reply
The casting of Brienne has been led to much debate on this forum, but I think most of it was pointless since finding an actress to match the book’s description is practically impossible. I think HBO’s Brienne will need to be different.
I don’t think anyone will be offended if I note that large, muscular women are rare. Adding the requirements of acting ability, age (20s), nationality and accent, and availability likely makes the casting pool empty. To match the books they need to cast a woman with bigger shoulders than Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, someone who looks strong enough that the comparison to Rory McCann won’t look out of place. Most suggestions are of tall thin actresses (such as Gwendoline Christie) and they simply don’t fit.
The producers may choose to go with that look, but my guess is that in this adaptation Brienne will be very skilled at fighting but not match the size or brawn of the original character.
LiorQuote Reply
With both Robert (“looked like a god” in his youth) and Renly are notable for their good looks, there’s no reason to suppose that Stannis didn’t also inherit this family trait. However, Stannis is a hard man and would have a hard face; he isn’t actually attractive to look at.
LiorQuote Reply
Jan Oda,
Those fangirls are gonna ‘squee’ all over my pants… (you’ll know the tweens have hit WiC when you get several “FIRST/frist/1st!” posts in the comments, followed by a dozen pointless “oops SECOND/secund/2nd!” comments, etc etc. Spelling and grammar laxity are anudder sure sign) Get off my lawn ya damn kids!
Gotta go take my Metamucil now…
reedgirlQuote Reply
Found the perfect Melisandre.
She’s practically created for it.
Melisandre
Melisandre 2
The DarkStarQuote Reply
Lior,
The basic problem with the Brienne debate is that right now there’s very little to go on regarding which what HBO is going to swing.
My hope is still that they keep her age in her early twenties and get someone just out of school, like they did with John Bradley-West. No one could name a good choice for him either, and the same arguments of there being few professional actors of that particular body type were going around.
That said, I’ve pretty much abandoned talking about this possibility here because the discussions always devolved into, “They’d never do that.” Once people start speaking for HBO, there’s no way for the discussion to continue.
The suggestion you bring up of Brienne being a good fighter but not so big is one variation of the “almost will be good enough” suggestions that have been floated. Others would take her as being bigger but not so good a fighter, or pretty but “uglified” with make-up. The problem is that everyone is willing to compromise, just on different aspects of the character.
So, when I say Gwendoline Christie is my favorite so far, it’s because no one has come up with a specific person I like better. That includes the large-and-can-act-but-can’t fight suggestions, the large-and-can-fight-but-can’t-act suggestions, and the can-act-and-can-fight-but-is-small suggestions.
The reason this is so hard to discuss is that we really have no idea where HBO will make the compromise, if they do. Although no one has ever gone broke betting that they’ll cast a young, pretty woman in a TV show, we won’t know until casting is announced.
And again, we won’t *really* know how suitable the choice is until we actually see the finished product. Whoever they get will have an uphill battle, and I can’t wait to see it.
paulgudeQuote Reply
paulgude,
I believe HBO will take a ‘normal’ actress and fugly her up a bit, just like Charlize Theron in “Monster”. They’ll give her a bad haircut, freckles and buck teeth, and BING, it’s Brienne. I don’t think her size (bigger than Jaime?) is as important as her face and her attitude. So long as she isn’t /tiny/, she’ll do just fine. In all her armour, she’ll look manly/large enough.
Alternately, they may cut her out altogether – they can’t keep every storyline. It’s gonna be a bloody cutgate in season 2, lol.
reedgirlQuote Reply
reedgirl,
Personally, I think it’s inevitable that any actress chosen will look too got at first, if she’s got any pictures online. Yet another reason why people have a hard time picking a name at this point, because no actress has a headshot where she looks awful. Drawing on the past again, if Robin Weigert was announced as Calamity Jane for Deadwood and it had had this amount of attention during casting, folks would have complained she didn’t look rough enough. It’s unfortunate, but there’s no way for Brienne to be cast without some scrutiny on her actress beforehand. Hopefully everyone will keep it in mind once she’s announced.
That said, I’ve heard many people say just the opposite, that Brienne doesn’t need to be *as* unattractive as the book makes out because her size and career choice would make her off-putting and “ugly” to potential suitors. Yet another case where we have to kind of guess which side HBO will err on. It’s entirely possible that in the end we’ll have a Brienne that book fans decry as too pretty but returning fans from season one accept. Not the ideal situation, but one that I’m accepting as possible.
As far as writing her out, I think there’s a huge difference between keeping every storyline and showing every storyline. I went on a bit of a rant on this in the past, so won’t bore everyone with it again, but writing out Brienne (or Davos, or the Iron Islands) entirely will cause the writers more problems than it will solve. Having a POV character exit the main action and then come back with their business concluded, however, would solve the same problem with little or no continuity futzing needed.
paulgudeQuote Reply
Melisandre casting recap and editorial
Tower of the Hand’s description: She is beautiful, with a slender figure, full breasts, and a heart-shaped face. He hair is burnished copper, her eyes are red, and her skin is pale. She always wears red.
Wiki of Ice and Fire’s description: Melisandre is a beautiful woman, always dressed in red, with a heart-shaped face and red eyes. Great heat emanates from her body. She is full-figured with copper hair.
Asshai’i are described as having a dark and solemn appearance. Melisandre is also described as being as tall as any knight.
Suggestions so far from this thread, and some other pickups in other threads and google searches
Gillian Anderson Born 1968, Chicago, Illinois, USA – Age 42Katey Sagal Born 1954, Hollywood, California, USA – Age 56Lindsay Lohan Born 1986, New York, New York, USA – Age 24Christina Hendrix Born 1975, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA – Age 35Tricia Helfer Born 1974, Donalda, Alberta, Canada – Age 36Amanda Peet Born 1972, New York, New York, USA – Age 38Bridget Regan Born 1982, San Diego County, California, USA – Age 28Michelle Forbes Born 1965, Austin, Texas, USA – Age 45Dina Meyer Born 1968, Queens, New York, USA – Age 42Morena Baccarin Born 1979, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Age 31Melinda Clarke Born 1969, Dana Point, California, USA – Age 41
Polly Walker Born 1966, Warrington, Cheshire, England – Age 44Monica Bellucci Born 1964, Città di Castello, Perugia, Umbria, Italy – Age 46Eva Green Born 1980, Paris, France – Age 30Shirley Manson Born 1966, Edinburgh, Scotland – Age 44Hayley Atwell Born 1982, London, England – Age 28Esme Bianco Born 1982, St Albans, Hertfordshire, England – Age 28Helen McRory Born 1968, London, England – Age 42Marion Cotillard Born 1975, Paris, France – Age 35Anna Friel Born 1976, Rochdale, Lancashire, England – Age 34Gong Li Born 1965, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China – Age 45Angel Coulby Born 1980, London, England – Age 30Elaine Tan Born 1979, UK – Age 31Jaime Murray Born 1977, London, England – Age 33
I’ve separated the Americans (from both continents – and thus regretably including Morena Baccarin) since I think they’d have no chance of being cast, even if one of them is D’s wife. I note there was some debate earlier about where Gillian Anderson was born, but I’ve taken the info from imdb for what that’s worth.
Of the rest I hope they give Polly Walker a miss, she was part of the crazy ladies storyline of Caprica that killed the show – not her fault but still. Monica Bellucci would be magnificent but probably too expensive, likewise Eva Green. I like the idea of the Asshai being an asian culture. Melisandre is described as pale while her countrymen are generally described as dark, but there are lots of skin tones from asia, so it’s not exclusive. Shirley Manson’s scottish accent would be too harsh and not foreign enough, plus she’s tiny and imo not sensual and curvy enough for the role. Hayley Atwell seems too young, Esme Bianco? seriously dudes. Helen McRory is not exotic enough, Marion Cotillard would be too expensive, Anna Friel I like but not for this role – hope there is something in casting for her. Gong Li would be awesome, Angel Coulby I agree would be the wrong direction for Asshai’i, and I think she’s rubbish in Merlin. I’ve not seen Elaine Tan in anything, but maybe? perhaps not pale enough? Jaime Murray would bring the crazy to the show very well and she has good form from Dexter but is perhaps not exotic enough
Other possibilities? Jaymee Ong Born 1979, Australia – Age 31Stephanie Jacobsen Born 1980, Hong Kong, China – Age 30
FlayedandDisplayedQuote Reply
Here´s an idea: what about Danny Huston as Stannis? He already played in two HBO productions (John Adams, You don´t know Jack) and I think he would be great as Stannis.
MacejkoQuote Reply
Reposting this with a little addition that I’ve adopted among my ‘fishies :D and other suggestions.
Edmure Tully:
Damian Lewis – love him
Richard Coyle – made Lorna Doone with a certain Aidan Gillen
James MacAvoy – too busy?
Michael Fassbender – he was great in Inglorious Basterds, just don’t make him order 3 of anything.
***JOSEPH CAMPO WITH AUBURN HAIR*** :D :D :D
Hoster Tully:
John Hurt is a brilliant idea, it hadn’t occurred to me. Christopher Plummer is Canadian but he’d be a smash. The other veterans mentioned would be perfect too.
Brynden “Blackfish” Tully:
Jeremy Irons – popular vote
Liam Neeson – impossible but WOW
Sam Elliott – American but LOL
Jeff Bridges – see above
Peter Mullan – bit short of stature, but otherwise exceptional
Gabriel Byrne – Irish and solid
Philip Glenister – bit young but charismatic
Christopher Eccleston – why not?
David Thewlis - same age as Glenister, but he’s Remus Freaking Lupin.
Billy Connolly – suggested here
Blackfish BluesQuote Reply
So, after reading all of the comments and suggestions, I find it really weird how most of you agree on Christopher Eccleston as a good Stannis and Robert Carlyle as a good Davos. I don’t mean to be rude or anything, but really? :D
Stannis has to be fierce, you just can’t say no to him, and Eccleston doesn’t give off that vibe. Also, Carlyle is nothing like Davos. Maybe I’m a bit carried away when it comes to the Onion Knight, ’cause he’s one of my favourite characters, and I want great actor to portray him, and I just can’t see Carlyle as a good enough Davos. He’s not warrior-like or “knightly” at all.
It’s fun when our views on the characters collide. It’s quite interesting seeing how some of you see the characters.
StrapheQuote Reply
One actor I couldn’t see mentioned anywhere was Bernard Hill (King Theoden in Lord of the Rings and Captain Smith in Titanic among other roles) He could actually be a very good shout for the Blackfish.
JodanQuote Reply
Hell yeah! I never consider him because he’s rooted in my mind as Theoden, but now that I think of it… I have to update my casting page.
Blackfish BluesQuote Reply
Straphe,
I think your confusion comes from two things:
1) If you can’t see Christopher Eccleston is fierce, you may not be familiar with a large part of his body of work. What have you seen him in?
2) People who are suggesting Carlyle may see Davos as a different character than you do. I never saw him as particular knightly or warrior like. Take his description from Tower of the Hand:
“He is slight with a common face and brown eyes and hair with a beard peppered with gray.”
He has his own sense of honor, but he began this career as a smuggler, a criminal. Stannis gave him his knighthood.
paulgudeQuote Reply
paulgude,
That’s not to say that this is the only interpretation of the Davos, or that these are the only two actors for the job. I’m just trying to show how many people could all come to the same conclusions.
paulgudeQuote Reply
I would agree re. Eccelstone not conforming to the way I saw Stannis.
Ecclestone is a fantastic actor, and I’ve liked pretty well everything he has been in, but he just doesn’t seem to ‘fit’ with the way I saw Stannis – who I ‘saw’ as being thicker set, bearded up (although Ecclestone has appeared in various states of hirstuteness). Having said that, I wouldn’t be overly bothered if they went with Ecclestone – I think I would be if they went with Armitage for Stannis though.
My immediate thoughts on Carlyle for Davos weren’t too hot either, although I’m warming to it, I would still prefer possibly another actor in the part though – someone like Tom Ellis.
I must be sounding like a broken record – but I still say Anna Friel for Melisandre.
MartinQuote Reply
Blackfish Blues,
AFAIK Sam Elliot is actually Australian – not American
MartinQuote Reply
I think I’d make a damn fine Meera Reed, if i do say so myself.
GreenEyedStorkQuote Reply
Regarding all the comments for Richard Armitage for Stannis…
I do think he could do a great job in that role, but given that he will mostly likely be too busy with The Hobbit next year, I think I’d rather have him as Mance Rayder -who should show up in season 3 (if we make it that far). I recall reading somewhere that Armitage is musical.
a different megQuote Reply
I forgot to add to my previous post – I like Rufus Sewell for Stannis. Not sure of availability or age, but he is how I’ve always pictured him.
a different megQuote Reply
paulgude,
Yeah, it’s odd to expect Davos to look like a warrior, given that he doesn’t actually fight anyone; he captains a ship during a sea battle, that’s it. As for looking like a knight, the books make it pretty clear that Davos gets no respect from most knights – they see him as a commoner, he doesn’t look or act like one of them. He’s one of the least flashy and least aggressive characters in the series.
mummerQuote Reply
mummer,
After reading your view on Davos (which seems quite correct) I get Sean Gilder vibes for Davos (really, I keep on switching actors on Davos). I believe Paul Gude suggested him somewhere for someone else? (Sam’s father?). But he has that whole wheatered look, and he was quite brilliant in Hornblower.
I really think Davos needs to look weathered and worn. You don’t spend 20 years on a ship without your skin showing it. The older crackens need to have this as well, nothing makes a man look old and worn (but still fit) than a life on sea.
Based on that I’m back in the Carlyle and Gilder camp, because they don’t look too clean and fresh.
Jan OdaQuote Reply
I dunno… Not “mentory” enough for Liam Neeson.
EdQuote Reply
Martin,
IMDB says Sam Elliott is from California. Alas, I don’t think being Australian would increase his chances of being cast… right? I have only the slightest idea of how these things work.
If Aussies and NZers have some chance, I have to add David Wenham as Edmure…
I think I see what you mean, “mentory” as in Qui-Gon Jinn? You have a point. Actually Neeson was very low in my list of Blackfishies, because his characters usually feel so serious, while I detect a strong sarcastic vibe from Brynden. That’s one of the reasons why Jeremy Irons is not my first choice either: too mournful.
Blackfish BluesQuote Reply
Let’s play the “Unlimited Budget” game! Let’s pretend that Season 1 is a HHUUUGGGEEEE success, so they can afford ANY actor or actress for any of the as-yet-uncast parts… Who would you pick?
The real question is: Who would Sean Connery play?
EdQuote Reply
For the UK, I think it’s relatively easy to work there for Commonwealth countries like Australia and NZ. If you have a grandparent or parent born in the EU you can obtain a passport for the appropriate EU country and if you have the acting experience already from work in Oz or Kiwiland you could then join Actors Equity.
It wouldn’t work for every actor, but it does increase the chances of an Aussie or NZ actor getting a job. Besides, many Aussie and NZ actors head to the USA or UK for work anyway.
FlayedandDisplayedQuote Reply
What about James Cromwell for a role? He could play a suitable old coot – Maester Cressen would be a good little cameo and a bit of a shock.
I think HBO should steer clear of actors that have been regulars in Merlin, Legend of the Seeker and the like. Regardless of their individual talents, they bring the taint of cheese.
FlayedandDisplayedQuote Reply
I’d also put forward Chris Haywood as an excellent value for money old bastard. He has a lot of TV and film credits, and was born in the UK.
FlayedandDisplayedQuote Reply
Chris Vance is another UK born actor with some good credits. At 39 he’s too old for the youth roles and too young for the coot roles, but there are a plethora of new characters in Clash of Kings.
FlayedandDisplayedQuote Reply
This is why I am so adamant that it has to be a beauty and stature on the level of Monica or Gong Li… an average looking hollywood actress just won’t cut it. Great casting in an ideal world but it will never happen. The best we can hope for is an good relatively unknown actress or a good asian actress.
Rufus Sewell, now thats more like it for Stannis! Was starting to think i misread his description in the books with all these recommendations for Eccleson.
oenoneQuote Reply
I’d love James Frain for Stannis, but he’s probably unavailable due to Cape commitments. But that show’s only gonna last 1 season.
FlayedandDisplayedQuote Reply
How about Derek Jacobi in a cameo as Maester Cressen,
James Nesbitt for Roose Bolton – hair’s wrong but so what?
Philip Glenister for Randyll Tarly
FlayedandDisplayedQuote Reply
I’m sure most people are tired of this issue, but I have to go back to the “USian” thing. Those pushing the term make it seem as though everyone in the western hemisphere would love to be able to refer to themselves as American, but they can’t because the big, bad USA “co-opted” the term for itself. For one thing there is no continent named America. As I said before, if someone wants to refer to themselves by continent, the appropriate term is North American or South American. Does anyone really think it makes sense for everyone in the western hemisphere to call themselves American? It would be like everyone in Europe and Asian calling themselves Eurasian. It may be technically correct but its not very descriptive or very practical. We might as well just all call ourselves Earthlings. Lets imagine for a moment that the USA was instead named USland, we called ourselves USlandians, and the term American was open for anyone to use. Does anyone really believe that Canadians and Mexicans and Brazilians would all be calling themselves American? I highly doubt it. I think it would happen about as often as the French and Chinese refer to themselves as Eurasian. Canadians would still be Canadians and Brazilians would still be Brazilians. There are many legitimate criticisms that can be leveled at the USA, but our use of the term “American” is just not one of them.
Private RyanQuote Reply
How about Camilla Rutherford for Brienne, she has the right bone structure, height, talent.
TysnowQuote Reply
I am throwing in another name Alec Newman for Stannis
TysnowQuote Reply
I take it back, there is One UK actress who has the aura to play Melisandre and just about all the male viewers would quiver whenever she appeared in a scene, and Here she is in red hair to boot. She has talent on top of that.
TysnowQuote Reply
Blackfish Blues,
LOL – my mistake, for some reason I read Sam Elliot as Sam Neil – doooh.
MartinQuote Reply
Ms Beckinsale’s been in so much tripe of late that she may want to take on a meaty TV role – but she’s not exactly bringing the exotic to the role
FlayedandDisplayedQuote Reply
I went hunting for male actors with thick lips hoping to find Reek. Found a dude named Andreas Wilson, who on a really bad hair day might be very good indeed.
FlayedandDisplayedQuote Reply
I think you’ll find a lot of kiwis who beg to differ about Sam Neill.
FlayedandDisplayedQuote Reply
And for Meera Reed I’d suggest just about any of the girls from season 2 of skins
FlayedandDisplayedQuote Reply
Since my nr 1 choice for Stannis will be busy with Hobbitting, what about Carlo Rota?
He’s not as tall as I imagined Stannis, but then Marc Addy isn’t either, so he’d fit in the family. I like his acting, and I adore the sound of his voice, very deep and serious.
He’s born in London, but he does live in the US currently.
Jan OdaQuote Reply
Jan Oda,
I could see Gilder, and I like the suggestions of Tommy Flanagan and Peter Mullan for the same reason.
Carlyle still has my vote for now because he’s one of my favorites and available, but yes, this is the direction in which I’d like to see the casting go.
paulgudeQuote Reply
just to clarify Shirley Manson is listed as 5’7″ (170cm) which is by no means “tiny” for a girl. now the accent might be an issue as you said. really the suggestion was just an “outside the box” sort of suggestion. i got sick of people suggesting ugly old actresses like Polly Walker. Shirley may be over 40 as well but she looks much younger than Polly Walker who looks absolutely haggard.
but if we need somebody “as tall as any knight” maybe Famke Janssen. put some red/coppery colour in here hair HERE and she could definitely be jaw droppingly gorgeous enough for Melisandre. again she is in her 40s but unlike Polly Walker she does not look that old. plus she has recently done cable TV (Nip/Tuck) and has nothing listed as “in production”.
the “going Asian” idea for Melisandre is not one i am totally opposed to either. but if you go with a Gong Li or a Ziyi Zhang then you are forgoing bot the “tall as any knight” and very likely the “busty” part of the description too along with the “pale”.
there are a lot of different ways to go with Melisandre but i hope we can all agree that drop dead gorgeous is at least the minimum requirement so QUIT F**KING SUGGESTING OLD HAGS LIKE POLLY WALKER PEOPLE!!!
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?Quote Reply
Jan Oda,
It’s an interesting idea. I keep looking at him and then looking at Addy, and I think I could buy them as brothers.
Also, read a bit that he was raised in Italy and then moved from Canada to Los Angeles, but definitely as what I’d consider a UK accent:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9_fauPyQXQ
Eccleston is still my fanboy pick, but Carlo would be an interesting choice. Mark Strong would be just fine by me too, but I can’t see the production getting him.
paulgudeQuote Reply
why are people suggesting women who are like 6’9″ for Brienne or who are female body builders and WWF wrestler chicks? did i miss something in the books? nowhere is she described as “the female Hound” or “female Mountain”.
from what i gathered from the book description she is probably somewhere between 5’10 to 6′ ish. a similar height to most of the knights in the realm. and with a “husky” and muscular build but not some roided up body builder chick.
i think to cast Brienne, like Paul said, HBO is going to have to pick a direction they want to take the character and decide what parts of her from the books are absolutely essential to portaying her character on screen. the core principle of her character is the rejection of her world to who and what she represents. she is a “tomboy” in a world where only “proper ladies” are acceptable. now obviously to hold her own as a knight in Westeros she can’t be Arya sized (who also suffers from Tomboyism) but she doesn’t need to be Hound/Mountain sized to be a competent knight. i think as long as they cast somebody who looks physically like they could go toe to toe with Jamie or Flowerboy they will be fine.
as for her being “ugly” i am not sure that is essential to her character. by the very fact she has chosen to be a fighter and not a lady makes her “odd” and “ugly” enough to the eyes of her suitors for TV purposes. i do think they might need to go with somebody who isn’t drop dead gorgeous or “delicately” beautiful. but “butt ugly” isn’t really required imho. anybody with a squarish face or more handsome face than pretty would be fine as long as they are also of a believable body type (ie decent height and build but not some freakish giant). i definitely think that Brienne is the type of role that an actress who is of roughly the right height (5”10 – 6′) would be willing to “work out”/”train to be of a physical enough build (like the masculine build of Kate Sackhoff in BSG) to fit the role. Brienne is a very interesting character and i would think many actresses would enjoy playing her. Plus with Conan being such a work out guru they’d have the actress would have their own on set training partner to guide them.
anyway. i think of Brienne as more of a WNBA or beach volleyball player body type than a female body builder/wwf wester type. but that could just be my loathing of those later things colouring my judgement.
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?Quote Reply
I’ve liked him in the stuff he’s been in, and he could easily play the brother nobody wants promoted, but he does have 5 years on Mark Addy and I don’t know they aged Robert to the point you could easily believe Carlo as Stannis to be younger.
FlayedandDisplayedQuote Reply
FlayedandDisplayed,
The age thing is a really good point. I think I keep on mentally thinking of him as older, and am constantly reminding myself to keep that in consideration.
paulgudeQuote Reply
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?,
Yeah, the bodybuilder thing doesn’t sit well with me, either. Really, anyone that’s a good match for Finn Jones and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau will be big enough.
paulgudeQuote Reply
FlayedandDisplayed,
Oh I checked his age, saw that he was 49, and assumed that was younger than Marc Addy. But I guess I aged up my mental Addy due to how he looks in GoT. I checked on IMDB, and they differ only 3 years, so I think it’s doable, because Stannis isn’t that much younger than Robert (I believe only 1 year?). The age difference with Renly is way bigger (though I think they might have overdone it a little in GoT).
To me he doesn’t look older than Marc Addy, so I assume make-up and the likes could make him a believable Stannis.
Jan OdaQuote Reply
It should be noted that I’m already adjusting my concept of Brienne for the show. According to GRRM she’s well over six feet, taller AND heavier than Jaime:
http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Brienne_of_Tarth/
I think that’s where people are getting body builders as suggestions. Maybe HBO will go that route, but I’ll be surprised.
paulgudeQuote Reply
My maths is terrible. Yes of course it’s only 3 years difference, and Stannis can be younger and seem older merely from the stick up his arse. Robert was looking older from hard living but his weight would otherwise have made him look younger. I wonder if Mr Rota would consider becoming a bit leaner for the role? in which case he has my vote! I’ve always imagined Stannis as hollow cheeked.
FlayedandDisplayedQuote Reply
Icegoddess,
Bryce Dallas Howard is the SECOND most ridiculous suggestion on this board, Felicia Day being #1
Rhiannon JungQuote Reply
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?,
Paul Gude commented somewhere above that there’s various combinations of compromises they might make with Brienne and I agree with him that the kind of compromise they make will have a different impact on different fans. For me the most important factor is that they hire a really, really good actress, because there aren’t that many female characters to sympathise with (There’s Dany, Arya and Brienne imho, but your mileage may vary).
But after that I really want her to be tall. Not a giant ala the mountain, but tall like the hound (in comparison to the average female). I’m 6 ft myself, which is tall compared with the average female, but is pretty much on the average men (at least in my country). I think Brienne should be taller than that, not to the 6.7ft extremes, but definitely taller than the average male.
I always thought that the fact that she was tall (which I read as taller than the average men, because she lives in a world of men), is what made her so unfeminine and disliked, because in a courtly world like Westeros men would feel intimidated by a woman taller than them. Being ugly would never be enough to scare away all those suitors.
So I think she should definitely be the tallest actress on the job.
Physique wise I always got a Rugby player vibe from her, definitely not female wrestlers.
Jan OdaQuote Reply
I’ll let you pass on that offensive and seriously outdated remark because you’re obviously developmentally challenged. PMS, dude? REALLY?????
Rhiannon JungQuote Reply
yeah. like i said i sort of think of her as the modern equivalent of a WNBA (basketball) power foward or Volleyball player. so that would be in the world of Westeros like 6′ to 6’2″. most men in Westeros seem to be 5’8″ ish and most knights around 6″. of course in film/tv terms you don’t need an actress who is actually 6′ to 6’2″ to portray that. i’d think 5’10″ to 6′ would be enough as long as the build of the actress isn’t “thin modelesque”. the magic of TV and films always makes people seem taller than they really are. and good actresses OVER 6′ tall are pretty uncommon whereas actresses just under 6′ while not abundant are more common.
i just think that as long as the combination of height and build (perhaps augmented with some specialized training for the show) of the actress allow her on screen to appear to be the physical equal (roughly) as JCW then i think that should suffice. and that opens the choices of actress much larger than trying to find some huge freakishly large woman who is as big as McCann or something.
as for being ugly i couldn’t care less. i never really thought that was important. i think i would actually prefer an actress that is attractive but just in more of a handsome/slightly androgonous sort of way (sort of how Katee Sackhoff or Clea Duval are not traditionally “pretty” but is still attractive).
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?Quote Reply
I respectfully submit Clotilde Hesme for your consideration as Brienne. She’s tall, is a good and rising actress, and has an interesting face that with the right makeup could do for Brienne nicely.
Any actress who plays Brienne, no matter how good she is at stage fighting, will be spending long periods in real armour, so even when the muscular physique is faked under the kind of low self esteem clothes I expect Brienne to wear, the actress will still need to be made of the right stuff.
FlayedandDisplayedQuote Reply
FlayedandDisplayed,
Flayed, Andreas Wilson is a Swede and his English is an American accent; a former male model, he is so handsome that a character part would be a stretch for him….
I’m assuming that for some of the suggestions here, wishful thinking is encouraged, correct? Otherwise, Damian Lewis, Natalie Portman—for minor Second Assistant Spear Carrier parts? Their salaries would break the entire casting budget. Lewis was the lead in Band of Brothers….Portman is going to win the Oscar.
Ciaran Hinds has his own series in production, plus no fewer than nine starring/featured roles in the next 12 months, including LaCarre’s TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY. Doubt if he is available before 2014. I always thought he would have made a stunning Ned but doubt he’d even have taken the part. He is like Tom Wilkinson—booked solid for decades.
The only part that is going to interest anyone we’ve ever heard of is Brianne, and I suspect that if someone major enough is interested in the part, D&D will go with her regardless of whether she “fits” the physical description or not, much as Anna Paquin landed the role of Sookie Stackhouse despite bearing no physical resemblance to the character whatsoever.
DH87Quote Reply
But that gave me a good laugh: Sam Elliot is famous for his westerns (born in California) and when I met him he was in costume playing Union General John Buford in the movie GETTYSBURG. Nothing remotely Australian about him.
DH87Quote Reply
Has anyone mentioned Tom Hardy? I can’t think of a specific role that he’d be perfect for, but I thought he was great in Bronson and Inception. And he got his start with HBO on Band of Brothers. I’d really like to see him get a role.
He was already a face-changer in Inception, maybe Jaqen H’ghar?
StevonQuote Reply
DH87,
I’m never quite sure what parameters folks set for themselves for this. I feel Carlyle is a possibility because he signed on for Stargate Universe and I still think HBO might want a more recognizable actor if Davos carries the Dragonstone storyline like he does in the books. Still, as mentioned earlier, I don’t see any reason why they’d change their trend of mostly-unknowns for season two. (That is unless, as you suggested, an actress lobbies for Brienne. Interesting idea, in contrast to those who suggest the character might be written out. Brienne is here to stay.)
paulgudeQuote Reply
Stannis, Melisandre, Aeron Greyjoy, Asha Greyjoy, Randyll Tarly, and Margaery Tyrell are all great roles and are just some of the new characters in Clash of Kings from the first 20 or so chapters.
If you mean for a ‘star’ to take on a role, then I think they’d more likely go for Melisandre. But if HBO wants to keep the budget down I’d suggest they do aim for cameo roles for bigger stars than the ongoing seasonal roles. It’s not unprecedented by any means that actors jump at the chance for a short role in a hit series. What’ll be different is that fans of the show (who’ve not read the books) will say ‘Oh! look I know THAT actor, guess they’re gonna be slaughtered soon’
FlayedandDisplayedQuote Reply
Stevon,
He is a huge favorite of mine (RocknRolla, Wuthering Heights, Oliver Twist, as well as the roles you mentioned) but his career has gone nuclear and he couldn’t be had for any of the parts we’re discussing now. He’s at the Reese Witherspoon co-star level and is going to be the villain in the Christopher Nolan BATMAN. What would D&D have to offer him now?
DH87Quote Reply
Stevon,
I used to bring up Tom Hardy every chance I got as anyone he wanted, but once Inception came out, I knew they couldn’t afford him any more. Last I heard he was slated to be the next Mad Max and appear in the latest Batman installment.
paulgudeQuote Reply
Given HBO’s propensity to deal with the same showrunners and actors over and over again, an actress with her sights set on a lead in some future series might very well take the Brianne role as a stepping stone to something bigger. This has worked for the writers/showrunners of Six Feet Under, the Wire, Sex and the City, and the actors in Generation Kill, Sopranos, Treme, the Wire, etc. Getting into the HBO stable in whatever way possible is a wise strategy.
DH87Quote Reply
Ed,
BALON! Connery’s been playing too many crusty, lovable rogues; let him be just a total dick for once.
mummerQuote Reply
I couldn’t agree more, but if True Blood is any indication, such “stunt” casting is not to be desired. Evan Rachel Wood has been terrible as Queen Sophie Anne despite her relentless lobbying for the part, and now the showrunner has to fend off the likes of Paris Hilton (I’m serious) and other bottom feeders who “want” to be in the series whether a part is available or not. Entourage’s experience with casting porn star Sasha Grey after (Soderbergh’s The Girlfriend Experience) has been similarly bleak. You have to be careful what you ask for, I suppose.
DH87Quote Reply
DH87,
No matter which way HBO decides to go, I have a feeling that the actress playing Brienne may bet a chance to really transform herself, which isn’t that bad for the resume either. Tom Hardy in Bronson, Charlize Theron in Monster, Christian Bale in the Machinist, Noomi Rapace in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, people are always impressed when the actor disappears into the character.
Of course, there’s not a lot of time from the show being greenlit to filming, but when I think about this as you’ve laid it out, playing Brienne might be a pretty big deal, big enough for someone to put in some effort beforehand, even.
paulgudeQuote Reply
Alas, Connery has said repeatedly for several years that he is officially retired from acting.If he passed up a fortune to star in 20o7′s Indiana Jones installment, I doubt D&D can tempt this 81-year-old with anything in S2.
DH87Quote Reply
paulgude,
Obviously, that’s supposed to be “May get a chance to transform herself.”
And I’m leaving whether that be by training, make-up, or a combination up to your own fertile imaginations.
paulgudeQuote Reply
paulgude,
Yes, those parts you mention absolutely were transformative (I’d add Portman’s Black Swan role) but they are all FILM roles, Oscar/Bafta star turns the actors took on (beautiful-to-ugly/learning an arcane skill/playing a physical disability) specifically to show their range.
Who needs such a break out role, and is available, and can become a lean fighting machine in 90 days, before filming S2 commences? That might be the better guessing game. :)
DH87Quote Reply
Definitely think we need a sympathetic character to anchor the Dragonstone story-line, so they will focus on Davos, and thus need a bigger name for that role. Carlyle would do it for me. Loved him every since “Ravenous.”
Someone suggested Kaya Scodelario from Skins earlier – I’d like to see her as Margaery if she’s not too excpensive.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2546012/
OxfordhurricaneQuote Reply
DH87,
That’s the question, really, isn’t it? Unless they cast a tall, emotive, physically capable actress who basically “is” Brienne right now, there will be a lot of catch-up necessary in some areas. Even if they do find someone who’s very close, there’s still going to be some work necessary. This goes for whether they shoot for book-Brienne, or some variation.
I’m hoping all of this means that there’s already someone they’re grooming for her, so she really does have three or four months to train.
paulgudeQuote Reply
She is execrable in True Blood isn’t she. Hopefully the casting directors of Game of Thrones will keep level heads on their shoulders. With so many roles, it would be miraculous if every one works, and the show probably doesn’t have the budget for much in the way of reshoots. Most of the cameo roles here won’t be ongoing though, and there could well be satisfaction in watching the swords go in, ala Tamsin Merchant in the Tudors, and thankfully not Tamsin Merchant here.
FlayedandDisplayedQuote Reply
I’ll also acknowledge the idea that the actress playing Brienne will train any real length of time might be an unrealistic expectation on my part.
paulgudeQuote Reply
I thought of Holliday Grainger for Ygritte but i think she might be attached to the Borgias.
I suppose she might fit other characters aswell.
WTaylorQuote Reply
Speaking of Brienne, weird search results on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/#!/search/Brienne
It’s like a whole bunch of spam bots are using #GOT quotes along with their normal pitches.
paulgudeQuote Reply
Sorry meant to link.
http://www.nzbmovieseeker.com/Actor/334441/Holly-Grainger/
http://coolspotters.com/actresses/holly-grainger
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaB1K22DcA0
Btw, she has been in Merlin, Robin hood and most recently Any Human Heart.
WTaylorQuote Reply
What About RUTH WILSON (the Prisoner, Luther) as Melisandre. She’s unsettling enough, for sure. Is she available?
CaedesQuote Reply
If we entertain height as an important aspect of Brienne, then Ms Wilson is too short for the role.
FlayedandDisplayedQuote Reply
Lucky for us I put her name up for Melisandre, then :-)
CaedesQuote Reply
Actually – she would make an excellent Melisandre – she could certainly bring a disturbed extremely charismatic presence to the role, my only fear would be the possibility of hamming the part up a bit (Her role in Luther was on the verge of becoming a panto villain – IMO it didn’t quite tip over, but it came close – although having said that, Luther was a bit Panto anyway)
She definitely has the TV Screen presence.
MartinQuote Reply
Oh dear. Apologies.
Would it be ridiculous to ugly up Kristanna Loken for Brienne? She’s got the height, and whether or not she can actually kick ass, we’ll all think she can.
FlayedandDisplayedQuote Reply
another suggestion for Roose Bolton – Udo Kier. Gives people the creeps, check. Pale eyes, check.
FlayedandDisplayedQuote Reply
Please, no. Not Mads Mikkelsen. His English is absolutely horrible – this coming from someone who’s bilingual Danish/English. Honestly, that man can’t do unaccented English to save his life.
As far as Monica Bellucci goes, I always wanted her for one of the Sand Snakes – but maybe she’s too old for those? Or maybe Taena Merryweather.
Kathrina MartinsenQuote Reply
Natalie Portman is pregnant … so even if for no other reasonthan that she’s unlikely to be available.
Kathrina MartinsenQuote