The fimling crew is at Gosford Castle (County Armagh, near Markethill) these days, as some reports underpinned by photographic evidence from a day or two ago reveal. John Hooks posted some photos to Twitter (click to enlarge):
A similar set of photos was made available online via Samantha McClenaghan as well.
UPDATE: A sigthing of Tully banners at Gosford Castle confirms it as a Riverrun location. Here is a photo snapped by Dean, a local:
Hear Me Roar: The scaffolding outside the walls looks pretty much what we saw during the pilot shoot at Doune Castle in Scotland. I would put money on this again being a lighting rig set in front of windows for shooting indoor scenes. However, we hope they would use exterior shots as well, since the castle has a great look. People speculate that it could stand for Riverrun, not least because they have been shooting other scenes from that part of the story around this time.
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55 Comments
Looks how I imagine Riverrun
Sandy LoveQuote Reply
looks good but would need lots of cgi
glennQuote Reply
whoa, is that thing even real?
it looks too amazing to my american eyes, like something out of a fairytale.
I love that castle. And it would friggin sweet if HBO did use that for Riverrun, or any other castle they will need for S3.
He Who SlithersQuote Reply
Question for anyone in the know…
when HBO has used castles previously, do they do interior shots within the castle? Or is the castle mainly used for exterior work, with interior shots done on a soundstage, or something?
He Who SlithersQuote Reply
Looks pretty good for Riverrun!
They can add in the Wheel Tower and Water Gate as VFX in post-processing easily enough if they feel the need. I asusme they will keep Riverrun on the water so they will need to use some CGI backgrounds anyway.
darquemodeQuote Reply
He Who Slithers,
hello!
Most of the Castles stand as exteriors for wherever they want it to portray, Winterfell etc. They may well have used the interior courtyard for some shots, but any proper interior shots would be done in a soundstage like the painthall in belfast. Even the exteriors can be run down and require some CGI to give it that special look.
Gosford castle though (as the shots above show), has had quite extensive restoration over the lat couple of years (was there when it was starting a while back, and it was still going on as recently as 6 months ago), so it does look as ‘fresh’ as it is seen here.
boulderQuote Reply
He Who Slithers,
My bet is that it depends on location. Possibly there are some castles used for interiors solely, some for the exteriors, and some for both. Of course some in-castle shots are done also in Paint Hall.
Black LionQuote Reply
Looks like Riverrun to me! Take that castle, magnify by ten times, add some water beneath it, and you get Riverrun!
MetalgoddessAMBQuote Reply
a big outer wall should be erected for the show. This castle looks like just a keep, and not a very solid one.
JuanQuote Reply
boulder,
Thank you and thank you too Black Lion
I was wondering about that. It makes total sense. Also, from an audio perspective I would imagine thick stone walls would be less than ideal. And renting out a castle for weeks on end, and having to worry about re-shoots, etc. would be an unneeded strain on the budget, I would assume.
He Who SlithersQuote Reply
I’m from Armagh city and my girlfriend mentioned to me that her friend had to deliver pizza to Gosford Park were they were filming something, no idea that it would be Game of Thrones though, brilliant news.
chart123Quote Reply
Such a wonderful place. And quite similar to one of the castles I was picturing while reading about Riverrun in the books, which is Blackrock Castle in Ireland.
I hope they’ll use Gosford Castle for exterior shots as well, it’s a thing of beauty.
MachaQuote Reply
This is how I pictured Riverrun, strangely. I think it’ll make a perfect Riverrun, and there were most likely be some CGI enhancements, just like with Winterfell and King’s Landing.
LordEddardStarkQuote Reply
Tully! Riverrun and Tully!
The Queen’s HandQuote Reply
Whatever it is, that is one beautiful castle!
scott glennonQuote Reply
They’ve done a good job on the distinctive castles of keeping them distinctive. While the Eyrie and the Twins weren’t exactly as described, the producers tried to keep the relevant special aspects — Sky Cells, on a cliff, Moon Door for the Eyrie and the bridge aspect for the Crossing — even if it meant a decent amount of cash.
Isn’t Riverrun supposed to literally have water running through it? If they are using this castle for exteriors, I hope they go to the trouble of doing the CGI to add that little touch. From a plot perspective, it lost some relevance since Jaime’s escape was not from Riverrun, but it still could play a plot-related part later.
AlanQuote Reply
GRRM just confirmed that the knight of the laughing tree was in fact Lyanna Stark.. if anyone here cares..
Hyper-VentilationQuote Reply
Most castles look like hotels inside these days.
http://www.warwick-castle.com/explore-castle/awesome-interiors.aspx
KGQuote Reply
Looks a bit small for Riverrun doesn’t it?
Pouria MolaviQuote Reply
Hyper-Ventilation,
Do you have a link or context?
PS super bummed about Dominic West turning down Mance Rayder according to HuffPo’s MoRyan. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/03/game-of-thrones-wire_n_1731640.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular
Sounds like he just wasn’t informed on how perfect he would have been.
DirehoundQuote Reply
I have no idea why this was even a question.
AlanQuote Reply
Direhound,
I’m gutted!
He was one of the early fan favorites and few big names left that I liked in the role.
I’m sure HBO will find another stellar actor for the role, but West was one I truly hoped for!
darquemodeQuote Reply
The West interview sounded fishy to me. I mean c’mon is an actor really so beset with character names coming at him from all directions that he can’t even remember the name of a significant character he was offered, even when prompted with some possible names?
Maybe he was sounded out in general terms about his possible interest in the show, but it reads to me that he’s talking it up now to cash in on the publicity.
Nick LarterQuote Reply
Brutal. Dominic West was my pick for Mance. UGH. Also Fully Integrated Geek was pushing him as their choice for Mance.
SuperdeluxeQuote Reply
From WIcnet’s twitter it seems there was some confusion about the shooting schedule and him being away from home for so long. Would it really take six months? as he is quoted. I think they meant six weeks but even that seems long. Maybe we could start a fan petition to get him to reconsider?
DirehoundQuote Reply
Here is the one positive though, HBO definitely wants a BIG name for the role of Mance.
SuperdeluxeQuote Reply
Superdeluxe,
I was thinking the same thing! XD
Knowing HBO wants an actor of his name recognition makes me happy (assuming they can get their next choice). Jason Isaacs is on par (at least) with West and available I think. Although I do not see Isaacs in the role as much as West honestly.
My mind is racing now dammit!
He was perfect….. I wonder if he would cave into being away for 6 weeks or 2 months even if he knew how rabid we fans are for him in the role.
Online petition time?
Anyone know if he is on Twitter etc? XD
darquemodeQuote Reply
Can we get him to reconsider? He should look at Sean Connery who turned down Lord of the Rings and regrets it.
SuperdeluxeQuote Reply
This doesnt look like a Riverrun to me… Where are the rivers flowing under/through the castle (u know, the river that becomes a major set-piece later on in the season ;);) ) iunno, it looks too WOW to be Riverrun, i always imagined Riverrun to be a little rundown since Hoster Tully isnt well…
Dave BrownellQuote Reply
He says he regrets the decision, Get back in DOMINIC.
SuperdeluxeQuote Reply
Superdeluxe,
Maybe if Winter informs him it should be more like 6 weeks and not 6 months he will reconsider?
I hear Iceland is a great family vacation spot…. C’mon Dom! XD
darquemodeQuote Reply
If ever needed for Castelry Rock, I think this Croatian castle is ideal. It is called Trsat and it stands above city of Rijeka wich is on the sea. Just like Castely Rock and Lannisport. Settlement and relationship between Trsat and Rijeka is so similar to Castelry Rock and Lannisport that it must be used. And it is in Croatia, where they are already filming.
http://www.google.hr/search?num=10&hl=hr&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1276&bih=651&q=trsatska+gradina&oq=trsatska+gradina&gs_l=img.3..0j0i24l8.1574.6137.0.6798.16.8.0.8.8.0.210.910.6j1j1.8.0…0.0…1ac.BN9iGBI8pGY
magogQuote Reply
Ugh now I am going to have a hard time not envisioning him as Mance.
SuperdeluxeQuote Reply
I always imagined Riverrun a bit more epic but I am sure they’ll add CGI to enhance the epicness of Riverrun. I can’t wait to see it finished. They did such an awesome job with Pyke, so I know it’s going to be fantastic. I can’t what to see Sunspear. Now that’s going to be epic. And I hope Highgarden is in the future. The Dreadfoot is probably going to be creepy, grotesque, and beautiful. Can’t wait!
OliveQuote Reply
Macha,
Thanks for the heads up on Blackrock Castle, that structure is gorgeous and intimidating, I will be in Europe next year for business and plan on a week or two in Ireland/N.I. and will be mapping out a plan to visit cool castles and natural wonders. Looks like Blackrock will be on my list.
Furthermore, perhaps Riverrun will be an almagamation of different castle shots, incorporating CGI in blending them together. If GoT utilizes this technique, I can see Gosford being the main keep, Blackrock the river gate, possible a third castle thrown in, with CGI adding in curtain walls and perhaps a few more tall towers.
tysnowQuote Reply
This other view of Gosford Castle is even more impressive than the ones posted above, perhaps WiC can include it also.
tysnowQuote Reply
Great choices. It would appear that everyone here is on the same page as to how
some specifics may be added to make this an ideal Tully fiefdom. I can almost
visualize and hear the swishing of Catelyn’s frock and the cool moist air drifting
through Hoster’s bedroom and solar.
WildSeedQuote Reply
Can he carry a tune ?
WildSeedQuote Reply
Juan,
Bingo – I wouldn’t want that many windows in my walls if I was trying to survive a siege in Westeros – that is what CGI is for I guess
PhillipQuote Reply
WildSeed,
I don’t think I have ever heard him sing , but he did graduate from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama for whatever that is worth. XD
darquemodeQuote Reply
darquemode,
You’re right !I forgot about that. I’d seen him in bit parts but my best recall
is of his portraying McNulty on ” the Wire “. There was a long scene where
he practically sang the same profanity word over and over. It was hilarious :D
WildSeedQuote Reply
WildSeed,
Now that you make me think of The Wire…..
There was a scene or two when McNulty sang if I recall. Okay, it was drunken bar singing with Bunk and at a cop’s funeral so I’m not sure the scenes are a good gauge of his skills…. XD
darquemodeQuote Reply
Nice looking castle, but it doesn’t look defensive enough. I can live with it being off the water a bit. But maybe if they add some curtain walls, etc (CGI or otherwise) I’d buy it.
GreedaloxQuote Reply
They used Gosford last year too. I live down the road and saw the pink signs plastered all over the place. I think it was only used for interior shots, probably the scene in Maegor’s during Blackwater.
The problem with Gosford is it’s since been converted into fancy housing for people with lots of money so I’m not sure to what extent they’ll be able to take the place over.
Oh, and a mate of mine was walking his dog round that way and swears he saw Jack Gleeson, which could kill the Riverrun theory.
JoeQuote Reply
Wow, certainly popped up as “Riverrun” once I saw the castle. It has a slight triangular aspect to it, much like the castle is described in the books. Shoot it in such a way that it looks triangular, CG in a few branches of the trident, and we’re good.
caravaggioQuote Reply
Reading over everything, I don’t think this is Riverrun.
Firstly, I agree with all those who are saying it doesn’t look like the kind of castle that would survive a siege, which will obviously matter in future seasons even if you add CGI water all round. Creating a CGI wall etc would be a pain.
Secondly, as the last commenter mentioned, and given that the rigs being set up are for lighting of interior shots, we could be seeing something in KL.
Are there any “water castles” in Northern Ireland?
There are quite a few around France and Germany (probably elsewhere in Europe too) where a castle was built out on the water either for defence or later for aesthetics. There may be a good one somewhere in NI for Riverrun.
ChickenduckQuote Reply
https://twitter.com/Irishdeano/status/231506192428580865/photo/1 this is my pic, i taken yesterday which cleary shows riverland flags outside the castle
Dean RussellQuote Reply
Ah well then, in that case I was wrong!
Looking forward to seeing how it looks on the show.
ChickenduckQuote Reply
Chickenduck,
i think they will probably use a few locations for parts of riverrun
Dean RussellQuote Reply
I wonder if N.I. paid Google to blurr the images of the countryside, because whenever I zoom in outside the cities I totally get a blurred image. I remember a couple of years ago when I zoomed in at sites that were being utilized for filming I could get very clear images, but now the resolution sucks.
Example, Castle Black set appears to be when it was under construction before completion, with very low resolution, two years ago the Google image was not only clear, but it showed the finished castle, with elevator (now completely gone). Is it possible for countries to pay Google to use older satellite images, I know they do it for low resolution (blurry images).
tysnowQuote Reply
not that i know off
Dean RussellQuote Reply
Gosford Castle will fit the bill nicely.
Slightly off topic but I am currently on vacation in Scotland and who did I run into in Callendar other than the Hound, Rory McCann. I was in a cafe and I couldnt help but hear the proprietor talking to a patron about GoT (I heard the word “Sansa” and “season 3″) so mildly curious and quasi bitter about not being able to go to Northern Ireland while I am here in Glasgow, i looked up and saw a tall guy in black shirt black pants and a cap on his head and he looked very familar. Unable to catch him outside (half of me wanted to and half of me wanted to leave him alone) I asked the owner: “was that the Hound…Rory McCann?” The owner smiled and said yes it was, I recognized him right away.” Then we talked about season 3. He hasn’t read the books and his favorite character is Robb. Eeeep!
Joshua TaylorQuote Reply
It look pretty good.I like the style and its unique.
cgi backgroundsQuote Reply
Sandy Love,
I expected bigger and lots of water. There is supposed to be 3 main sections of the castle.
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