Rumor alert: Details about Ian McShane’s character revealed

Before going any further, know that the content of this post may very well contain major SPOILERS for Game of Thrones Season 6. Still with us? Read on.

Why do bad spoilers happen to good people?

Ever since it was announced that HBO veteran Ian McShane would be joining the cast of Game of Thrones for its sixth season, fans have been speculating wildly as to who he might play. Early speculation had it that he would play Euron Greyjoy, the charismatic and far more insane younger brother to Balon Greyjoy, but that role went to Danish actor Pilou Asbæk. Guesses then shifted to Randyll Tarly, a character from the novels we’re all but guaranteed to see next year. However, if the sources at fan site Watchers on the Wall can be believed, McShane won’t be playing him, either. Instead, he’ll play an unspecified character involved with the outlaw band first mentioned in one of the casting calls that leaked shortly after Season 5 wrapped up.

So far as we know, there are several members of the outlaw band who will show up in Season 6: Lachlan (the leader) Flynn, Japeth, and Bower. We know that Flynn has already been cast, and it’s possible there are more characters we don’t know about. According to Watchers, McShane will have “a scene” with the outlaw band, and while he won’t have a lot of screentime, his role will be important. It’s possible that McShane will play outlaw band leader Lachlan, although the description makes it sound like McShane’s character will only feature in one episode, while Lachlan is slated for two.

Anyway, it’s a little surprising to hear that HBO would make so little use of a heavyweight like McShane, but I suppose that’s better than writing a lot of lines for him just because it can. Whatever his role ends up being, let’s hope it fits smoothly into the fabric of Season 6. Also, it’s now open season on Randyll Tarly, so feel free to get hunting.

Watchers claims to have a couple of other inside scoops, too. According to its sources, we will indeed be getting a flashback, likely via Bran’s weirwood visions, of a young Ned Stark together with his siblings, plus a young Hodor. This claim is backed up by that same leaked casting call from above, which was looking to fill several roles that sounded like young versions of Ned and his family, and by the news that the show had gone so far as to cast a young Ned Stark.

Finally, Watchers claims that Mace Tyrell will return to Westeros in Season 6, where he’ll be chewed out by Olenna for being a buffoon who let Margaery and Loras get imprisoned. That one I can definitely believe.

I hope those were enough spoilers for you! Now we’ve just got to see if they’re borne out.

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