Celebrity Roundup: Maisie Williams, Giant Freaking Robots, and More

Are you a fan of Maisie Williams? Do you love giant freaking robots? Then this news is up your alley. Cinema Blend is reporting that Guillermo Del Toro, the director of giant freaking robot movie Pacific Rim, has made it clear that he wants the Williams to pilot one of the aforementioned robots in the sequel to his 2013 hit…too bad the production company behind the film, Legendary Pictures, has stated that it’s indefinitely on hold.

Still, it’s nice to see Maise stretching her acting legs, as it were, and going beyond the borders of Game of Thrones. With roles in Doctor Who and a new young adult franchise, plus having lunch with a director of Del Toro’s caliber, the young actress is laying the groundwork for a successful career.

Next up, HBO seems to be fostering quite the director/producer family tree, as Game Of Thrones producer Frank Doelger and Rome producer Jonathan Stamp are working with Germany’s Beta Film to produce an all-new fantasy series titled The Perished Land, which will premiere in 2017. From what Deadline reports, it seems as if the miniseries will stay in Germany for now, but I have a hunch that if the quality of the show is on par with what Doelger and Stamp are known for, then some of the main premium channels will look into picking it up.

And finally, did you know that Stephen Dillane (the late, lamented Stannis Baratheon) has a son who just finished a very successful first season on a high-profile show on a high-profile station? Frank Dillane, who portrays Nick Clark on AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead, survived all the way through to the end of the show’s inaugural year, which had its finale on Sunday night. Frank’s character was a heroin addict who came into contact with what was possibly the first walker or zombie in The Walking Dead universe, as Fear is a prequel to The Walking Dead.

Oh, and here’s an interesting side note: Frank also played one of the most infamous villains to ever grace the doors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and I’m not talking about Draco Malfoy. No, Frank Dillane portrayed Tom Riddle, aka Volde…erm, he who shall not be named. The Dillanes sure do play some difficult people.

In other news, Rose Leslie (Ygritte) will be reprising the role of maid Gwen Dawson in next week’s installment of Downton Abbey. (Sorry US viewers, that’s a spoiler alert for January, isn’t it?) I really hope she tells Mrs. Patmore and Anna all about this terrible boyfriend she had while she’s been away in the North these last few seasons, who was a total know-nothing, and needed a haircut.

Next: Rosabell Laurenti Sellers (Tyene Sand) confirmed for Season 6