This Game of Thrones fan film about Ned Stark’s older brother Brandon is terrific

Last year, we learned of an ambitious Games of Thrones fan film in production. Titled The Wild Wolf, it was to cover an infamous moment in the lead-up to Robert’s Rebellion: the duel between Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish and Brandon Stark for the hand of the young Catelyn Tully. Check out the trailer:

Now, the film is finally finished, and has been released on YouTube by Wild Wolf Films. It’s about 16 minutes long and very well-made. Check it out:

The Wild Wolf was written and produced by Belfast film students Shane Gibson and Ciaran McIlhatton. Gibson also produced the film and played the title role. Other acting credits are as follows:

• Curtis Worell — Petyr Baelish
• Elisha Gormley — Catelyn Tully
• Jenny Edgar — Lysa Tully
• Michael McGarry — Edmure Tully
• Jonathan Gilespie — Ethan Glover
• Roger Dane — Maester Vyman
• Ryan Lafferty — Raff the Raper (not to be confused with Raff the Sweetling)

The show hasn’t explored the life of Brandon Stark in any great detail. We know that he was hot-blooded like his sister Lyanna — his father blamed their tempers on their “wolf blood,” hence Brandon’s nickname: the Wild Wolf.

As Brandon Stark, Gibson nails the Northern accent used by characters like Ned Stark and Jon Snow, and looks every bit the part of the brash heir to Winterfell. I also enjoyed Worell’s turn as a young Petyr Baelish — Worell gets across the idea that, even this early in his life, Baelish had designs on a station much higher than his low birth should have allowed. His off-handed dismissal of Lysa when she comes to him before the duel and the beginnings of his signature goatee are spot-on.

The film also did a great job with the look and feel of Riverrun, the seat of House Tully. I was impressed that the production team was able to find such a good facsimile of the fictional castle. Hopefully, Wild Wolf Films will continue to produce fan-made shorts in this world — a movie about the rivalry between Rhaegar Targaryen and Brandon Stark, which eventually led to Eddard Stark calling his banners and joining his friend Robert Baratheon in the War of the Usurper, would be fantastic.