A minor casting update: actor Jamie Michie has been cast as Steelshanks. Michie is a Scottish actor who has appeared in numerous British TV series’ such as Skins, The Bill, and Holby City.
Steelshanks is an armsman in service to Roose Bolton. On his CV, Michie lists “Various” under directors, which means he will appear in at least two episodes. His IMDb listing has him appearing in episodes 7-10, however IMDb isn’t always accurate. At the very least, we know that Steelshanks will be a recurring character.
Winter Is Coming: Thanks to Carne who first spotted this one. Assuming that Steelshanks fills the same role he did in the book and assuming that his IMDb listing is correct, than this casting gives us some clues on where they will cut off a certain storyline.
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71 Comments
Don’t know if I’ll be able to take him seriously, All I will think about is his hilarious role in the IT crowd lol
Seriously though, Can’t wait for Jaime’s storyline this season and watching viewers perception of him change over the course of the season.
ConorQuote Reply
“Cut off” being an operative phrase…
KualanQuote Reply
My sentiments exactly. I’m not feeling this character’s inclusion, when ( or if )
other fan favorites were dismissed .
WildSeedQuote Reply
I think at this point they are excluding and including characters based on the needs of the story rather than getting a fan favourite on screen. They’ll want to set up House Bolton as a major force for this and subsequent seasons, and that requires having identifiable people to do his bidding.
Kind of like how we got Cleos Frey by way of Alton Lannister when precisely nobody was eager to for that character.
WatsonQuote Reply
This Jaime x Brienne shipper is most pleased.
queenofthornsQuote Reply
Yup, which is why I’m starting to think that those who are speculating that Locke will be working under Bolton are correct. It’s possible that in the show Steelshanks may even report directly to Locke, as opposed to Roose.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Steelshanks is a very functional character, he’s useful. I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t be included. His inclusion has nothing to do with other people’s faves not being included.
Ours is the FuryQuote Reply
“A bear! A bear, all black and brown, and covered with hair!”
Cary StormQuote Reply
Now I know why he is familiar! Best episode of that show yet and gives me hope we will see Other un announced characters yet as I assume Steelehanks stuff was already filmed?
Ser Lemon CakesQuote Reply
What’s steel shanks real name?
AshQuote Reply
This a great. RIP Vargo Hoat but making Bolton prominent is key. Michael McElhatton was so subtle last season. I cannot wait until he is unleashed.
Joshua TaylorQuote Reply
Ash,
“Steelshanks” Walton. No family name, or am I wrong? They are probably dropping Walton, just going with what is essentially a nickname.
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
If you guys like Game of Thrones you should check out the series Monarchy. It doesn’t have as much action but some great true stories about people fighting each other for the throne.
ghostQuote Reply
Just got to thinking about where steelshanks’ story will take him & I had a thought, when he takes ‘arya’ back north for ramsay’s wedding do you think they’ll use roz as we dont have a jeyne poole (bar an extra from season 1) Whaddya think?
Wun-WunQuote Reply
Wun-Wun,
I don’t know, she would certainly have a connection to Theon, but she doesn’t resemble Arya in any way shape, or form. Plus, she is nearly 15 years older. I just don’t see it.
Tyrion PimpslapQuote Reply
no way, arya is just a child and ros looks like she is 30. they will need a teenage actor to pull off the arya/jeyne switch
SolarQuote Reply
Tyrion Pimpslap,
To be honest the theon link was the main reason I was thinking of it, but the fact that she’s nothing like Arya would add more of an insult to the rest of the northmen after the boltons seize the north after the RW. Guess we’ll have to wait and see..
Wun-WunQuote Reply
Exactly, I’ve heard both Ros=Fake Arya and Talisa=Fake Arya theories but they sound (no offense) absolutely stupid
PremislausQuote Reply
Ser Lemon Cakes,
Yes, Steelshanks was there for the bear pit scenes with Jaime and Brienne. Sources say he fired a crossbow to kill the bear, and Brienne was in her pink dress, so it all sounds pretty close to the book.
Ours is the FuryQuote Reply
Premislaus,
Right. What about that girl in the first episode of 2 season with the bucket? Some persons indicated that she could be false Arya…
bonQuote Reply
Wun-Wun,
There was a Jeyne Poole extra in Winterfell. There’s no reason why they can’t bring the character back to be pseudo-Arya.
Cary StormQuote Reply
In fact, the unnamed extra appears to be cast with a fairly reasonably close resemblance to Arya to make the later storyline a possibility in the forefront in the minds of the writers.
Cary StormQuote Reply
Cary Storm,
But there is one problem. How explain to the audience that she was in Winterfell and suddenly in season 4 appears in KL. We even didn’t saw her in the capital. What about this extra: http://www.paulschiraldi.com/Paul_Schiraldi_Photography/Production_Stills/Pages/Game_of_Thrones_files/Media/GOT_EP201_092911_PS49839/GOT_EP201_092911_PS49839.jpg?disposition=download
bonQuote Reply
I doubt they’ll bring an unamed extra back for that storyline, how many people would even remember her? I’ve read the books and watched the show several times through and I never realized they had a Jeyne Pool until you guys posted it. They’ll probably just cast an entirely new actress, one that acts instead of a stand-in they pulled from a pile of head sheets.
RawrskljldkfQuote Reply
I assumed Walton WAS the family name, and it was the first name that never got mentioned… Like Kramer. But could be wrong.
The important thing is that House Bolton and its followers are getting shuffled into position to be major characters in the coming seasons, which is obviously important to the plot.
Fake Arya will be played by… No idea. Probably not a characters we’ve seen yet. Maybe when they cast the role for S4 (assuming that S4 and S5 both contain material from FFC and DWD concurrently) they’ll Theon gloss over it with a line of dialog such as “Oh, I remember you from when I was a kid at Winterfell, you’re the daughter of that blacksmith/butcher/master at arms/whatever” without her having been seen on screen before.
Or they’ll change the story to imply that the Lannisters just sent a random northern girl they found in Kings Landing, rather than specifically Jeyne Poole.
ChickenduckQuote Reply
bon,
That’s a boy.
And he’s portraying a common-born child, not someone you could pass off as a lady even if the kid wasn’t male.
Ours is the FuryQuote Reply
“his casting gives us some clues on where they will cut off a certain storyline.”
what you did, sir
it is there
and i see it
well played
JP DayneQuote Reply
bon,
My point was that they seemed to have intended an actress who resembles Arya. It stands to reason they’ve got that storyline still in mind regardless who plays her.
Cary StormQuote Reply
Ours is the Fury,
Ok. I thought too that this child can be a boy, but Arya was’t behaving like a lady, more like a town boy, so a common child could pass. Almoust everyone was talking that she is behaving like a “wild wolf” or somethink like that.
bonQuote Reply
Your reasoning makes perfect sense. I ‘d forgotten about Alton Lannister on GoT
and ser Cleos Frey ‘s memory includesthe fatal horse dragging incident, the
demand letter to King’s Landing could’ve been delivered by any knight.It’s
likely that Steelshanks will have a minimal role as well. Captain America-
Dontos comes to mind. However, I had no favourites among any of these ,
I’m interested in the Martell & Tyrell cast. Only 150+ days to go :D
WildSeedQuote Reply
I think I am Steelshanks Walton’s biggest fan. I was really excited by this news. I like his interactions with Jaime and his general vibe.
MQuote Reply
bon,
You think they’d marry a boy to Ramsay? The goal is to produce a Bolton who is heir to Winterfell. They’d have to fake a pregnancy on top of the gender ruse. If northern girls are in that short supply then the North has much bigger concerns than House Bolton.
WatsonQuote Reply
Regarding all the Jeyne Poole thing… If I was a scriptwriter, I would create a whole new situation to bring back JP to the storyline, like mentioning that the girl Tywin will send north was captured after the events of the first season and was kept captive all this time in case she was useful in the future. The TV audience has no need to know who she is until Theon sees her at The Neck and later recognices her as JP. It is not that hard and there is no necessity to twist the plot too much.
Bannerless BroQuote Reply
Bannerless Bro,
Another possibility in that direction would be a northern girl who survives the Red Wedding. Not sure why she’d be there but it beats retconning. Could be this Myranda character.
WatsonQuote Reply
I forget.. but who was steelshanks again? is he one of the brothers on the wall who left Qhorin and Jon’s party to scout?
WinturdQuote Reply
Completely OT but I was watching the first episode of Titanic : Blood and Steel and saw two of my favourite GOT characters – Davos (as a union organiser giving quite an impassioned speech) and Barristan (complete with beard as a toff)
AnneQuote Reply
Winturd,
He is the guy who escorts Jaime back to King’s Landing under Roose Bolton’s command. When Jaime returns to Harrenhal to save Brienne, Steelshanks is the one who has the bear killed when Jaime puts himself in danger by jumping into the pit.
Tyrion PimpslapQuote Reply
Anne,
I just checked the trailer and certain Bolton popped out. Also, King Claudius from the 1996 Hamlet.
Bannerless BroQuote Reply
I say, there will be no Jeyne Poole. But there will be a Talisa (fake= played by ros) who carrys robb’s son. Just think about it… Talisa (the real) gets pregnant and robb annouced it in front of everybody. Talisa and all people who are close to robb die at the RW… no one actually saw Talisa as a closeup… and just a few people know ros (littlefinger, varys AND theon)… Only thing is, that someone need to make ros pregnante OR maybe she was from tywin or so ;)
hinkaQuote Reply
hinka,
I like your theory … but what if Shae will end up as fake Talisa in place of Ros? Because they’re both foreign, they look kinda similar and … Shae is a bit more unknown in the world of Westeros, comparing to Ros (everyone knows Ros!). :D
PepiQuote Reply
Watson,
Not a boy a girl!!! I was thinking about girl in that post. You misunderstood me. They should find some common girl very familiar to Arya. It’s hight lord’s daughter or common girl it does not matter. What does matter is that she should in some way look like Arya. Thats all. There is no need for Theon to know her from Winterfell. He will just recognise her as not Arya and not Jeyne Poole. Simple.
bonQuote Reply
Shooting season 3 in Ouarzazate. Enjoy this great video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9dUYuct0bY
HarryQuote Reply
Pepi,
Of course it could be shae and not ros… but 1. if shae gets killed by tyrion it has a great impact in the show 2. theon KNOWS ros… and this may become important later – and he doesn’t know shae.
I just think this change would work… the viewer knows all these persons… the audiance can accept robbs wife (pregnant) to rule over the north… even if she is fake (what just a few guys would know … all of them mean evil and masters of informations – varys, littlefinger, tywin, bolton).
And what is neccessary? Talisa just needs to get pregnant (no problem – and it would make the RW more tragical), Robb needs to announce that he awaits a child (no problem) and of cource Talisa to participate at the RW and gets killed there and will be exchanged by ROS (no problem).
hinkaQuote Reply
Premislaus,
What offense? They are stupid
TomQuote Reply
Harry,
Is that Dany speaking high Valyrian at the start? Sounds very Italian. :D
hinka,
I agree, but Talisa’s trait of being foreign was well established in the previous episode, so I think Shae would blend in better. She needs to fool the northern lords which will be hard with Shae … and even harder with Ros.
PepiQuote Reply
I see Dany gets a new Horse and I’m guessing that scene at the end is the slaves all chanting Mother.
MormegilQuote Reply
Pepi,
Strange, I thought since the Valyrian Empire is based on the Romans, Valyrian would sound like Latin.
Aegon the ConquerorQuote Reply
Pepi,
my thoughts exactly on the high valyrian = italian part
=D
JP DayneQuote Reply
Aegon the Conqueror,
Or Italian.. which is a Romance language meaning it stems from Latin. Nice nod to the Republics of Rennaisance Italy which were neoclassical ie Graeco-Roman in conception. This works well.
Joshua TaylorQuote Reply
Probably not so smart to leave his name and e-mail at the end of the video…
CarneQuote Reply
So…
since it’s November and we’re still hearing new cast information, doesn’t that mean we might still get Belwas?
:D
ZackQuote Reply
Carne,
He looks more like a tourist to me, so he shouldn’t get in trouble…
hinkaQuote Reply
The biggest question is if his middle shank is also made of steel.
This show needs an enema of full frontal male nudity.
RygarQuote Reply
Holy crap @4:20 “mhysa mhysa mhysa”!!!!
Also @4:42 great shot of Whitebeard! Looks like they went with a short, natural beard instead of a fake one.
queenofthornsQuote Reply
I always imagined Valyrian to sound like an Italian speaking quenya. Dunno why. :D
Tír AirgidQuote Reply
hinka,
They wouldn’t let tourists wander onto set, and seeing as he’s posing with the actors I’m guessing he’s a crew member.
CarneQuote Reply
Re: Fake Arya.
I see no particular reason they can’t just have a peasant girl from King’s Landing fill the part. There is no major reason that Theon has to know Ramsay’s bride in advace.
sunspearQuote Reply
why did you delete the video of filming in Morocco? I still have that page open in a tab lol
WinturdQuote Reply
Winturd,
Presumably HBO requested it.
WatsonQuote Reply
Winturd,
I assume it was a request / threat. I’m not sure if threat is appropriate as it sounds incredibly sinister, but it may have violated some law or agreement.
telobsidionQuote Reply
Watson,
telobsidion,
The video is still up though.. I still have the page open so I have the link.. the whole purpose of this site is to get us underground information about filming.. dont know why they freaked out and took the video down.. On another note its nice they still included the “mother! mother! scene”.. but the crowd looked so small! they should use cgi or ill be extremely disappointed
WinturdQuote Reply
We’ll get back to you on that. Sorry for the inconvenience,
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
That set is very familiar. Is it the set built for Kingdom of Heaven? Kerak and Jerusalem, probably…
bonQuote Reply
I think you people need to stop coming up with theories. Seriously, they’re getting more ridiculous with the moment. You know what they’ll probably do? Cast a new person for Jeyne Pool, have her be seen when TheoReek sees her, and he’ll say something like “you’re sansa’s friend who went to the capitol”. Everyone is coming up with these (honestly) dumb theories about Ros and Talisa. They wouldn’t marry Talisa to Bolton because they need a stark and any child could be claimed to be Robbs, and they wouldn’t marry Ros because she’s a whore who’s way too old for any of the girls. And looks nothing like them. In the books some know it’s not really Arya, but it’s a suspension of disbelief they have, something they can’t have with a thirty year old redhaired whore.
RawrskljldkfQuote Reply
Rawrskljldkf,
Yes, well that’s my thought. While it’s possible that there will be a rationale for making a surprisingly non-canon decision based on information we haven’t thought of, I’m sure if that were the case, sunspear’s idea would be far more likely than the curiously creative theories being put forth involving Talisa and/or Shae.
Cary StormQuote Reply
sunspear,
I agree, and while in the books I think it worked well for theon to have the connection to who he once was and his past ,more pleasant days with the Starks at Winterfell, for the show it might even work better to have him trying so hard to help/ protect a stranger from Ramsay’s cruelty. Either that or he can mention/address that this girl was once friends with Sansa.
JillQuote Reply
Rawrskljldkf,
I just love it, when someone goes on about “people” speculating about different theories and then, in his next breath, introduces a theory of his own. :)
PepiQuote Reply
hinka,
If Robb knows Talisa/Jeyne is pregnant then we don’t get the scene where he tells Catelyn that he is legitimizing Jon and naming him his heir. I always enjoy seeing Catelyn bitch about Jon. Besides, I don’t believe Jeyne is pregnant in the books. Her mom was giving her moon tea.
Tyrion PimpslapQuote Reply
There’s a very good chance fake Jeyne Poole won’t be a character already introduced. There’s absolutely no reason Theon needs to know the person.
He simply has to know she’s not Arya. Which he knows by virtue of knowing what Arya looks like. And he has to be sympathetic enough to her to want to help her escape. Which they can do by either having them interact a bit or just by virtue of him seeing how Ramsay treats her.
Or they can introduce her in Theon’s storyline. But it’s not going to be that extra wiping the blood and there’s really no point in making it Jeyne Poole, since we’ve never heard her name. The extra that played her is probably not the level of actor they’d like for Fake Arya anyway. And no one is going to remember her.
AlanQuote Reply
Just like Dolorous Edd, they’ll just handwave it and mention she was “here all along”
And that extra… looks like a bastard of King Robert. Noticed the black hair?
Ren SnowQuote Reply
Wun-Wun,
I think they’ll use this servant girl we saw at KL to be “Arya”. I think Littlefinger looked at her right after the whole “power is power” talk with Cersei, or when she was cleaning the floors or something… I can’t remember the exact moment right now. I don’t know, maybe it’s because of the way Littlefinger was looking at her… but that will make things simple.
Laura Ponce De LeónQuote Reply