Kit Harington to produce and star in Guy Fawkes drama, and other cast member news

This week in the wide wide world of Game of Thrones, the King in the North is looking to expand his resume. Business Insider reports (via trade publication Broadcast) that Kit Harington is in talks to produce and star in a BBC drama regarding the failed assassination attempt on King James I by the infamous Guy Fawkes.

Artist’s rendering of Kit Harington in costume. (Image:

V for Vendetta

/Warner Bros.)

Fawkes notoriously attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament using a basement full of explosives in 1605. The scheme came to be known as the Gunpowder Plot, hence the project’s working title: Gunpowder. Fawkes’ story is the inspiration behind the mask worn by V in the comic book series V for Vendetta, although Harington has a more personal reason for his involvement in the proposed three-part drama. As it ends up, he’s a descendant of Robert Catesby, the mastermind behind the assassination attempt. Well, I guess everyone has a skeleton or two in the closet.

Next up, Gemma Whelan (Yara Greyjoy) has posted a couple of pictures of herself on the set of Horrible Histories, a British sketch comedy show for kids that irreverently recreates famous moments from from the past. Think Drunk History meets Saturday Night Live, but for children. Apparently Whelan is a bigger fan of the costumes on Horrible Histories than on Game of Thrones.

And here Whelan appears in her Sunday best.

We’re not 100% this one’s from Horrible Histories, but it seems likely, doesn’t it?

Finally, we have a reminder regarding Game of Thrones director Neil Marshall, the man behind tentpole episodes like “Blackwater” and “The Watchers on the Wall.” He’s directed the upcoming third episode of HBO’s newest hit, Westworld.

Both of his Thrones episodes rank among the best of the series, and both feature huge battle scenes. Does this mean Marshall’s episode of Westworld will be just as big? It’s possible, but not likely, given that Westworld doesn’t feature huge armies (yet) and seems smaller in scope. Still, with $75 million to spare after making the series premiere, it’s gotta go somewhere, and you don’t hire Neil Marshall for something small. We’ll be watching.