Ian Beattie: Producers knew Arya would kill Meryn Trant back in season 2
By Corey Smith
After five seasons on Arya Stark’s death list, Meryn Trant (Ian Beattie) was brutally murdered by the teenage assassin in a brothel in Braavos. Trant got on Arya’s bad side for killing her dancing master, Syrio Forel, back in season 1 — he was actually the first person on her list. While in Barcelona promoting Game of Thrones: The Touring Exhibition, Beattie revealed to Los Siete Reinos that showrunners Benioff and Weiss had that death planned very early on.
Heading into season 2, Beattie figured he might be the one to try and kill Tyrion Lannister during the Battle of the Blackwater, and then die himself. (That job ended up going to Ser Mandon Moore, like in the novels.) “I was on set for the second season and D & D told me…they had plans for later. I thought they were going to kill me that season.”
"But Benioff and Weiss corrected me. “You’re going to die later. Arya is going to kill you.” I did not tell anyone for three years."
Way to keep a lid on it, Beattie. Also, that shows a lot of foresight on the part of the producers.
Beattie might have been able to keep that spoiler to himself, but the Game of Thrones set is a dangerous place to be for people who want to remain in the dark about the story, as Charles Dance (Tywin Lannister) revealed one day on the set of season 4.
"My last scene I recorded in Belfast in the fourth season was the one with the White Book with Jaime and Joffrey. We finish, we have a coffee, and Charles Dance (Tywin) appears in his suit and says “the little bastard is going to kill me” and I say, “what !?”"
Dance was, of course, referring to Tyrion. As for his own character’s death, Bettie believes Meryn “deserved his fate,” although the Northern Irish actor did enjoy playing him.
"For the first four and a half seasons it was very easy and fun to be Meryn. He has no redeeming qualities. In Game of Thrones, if you have doubts about your character, go to Dan (Weiss), David (Benioff) or Bryan (Cogman) and instantly they solve them. You have the best guides, you also have the best directors in the world, you have all the help."
To film Trant’s death scene, Beattie spent “more than 10 hours with [his] eyes closed,” being blinded and uncomfortable. “Special effects and makeup for the neck, blood…It was sticky, it was difficult.” Still, it’s one of the scenes he’s most proud of.
Finally, Beattie ruminated on whether his character had any redeeming qualities. If he had to pick one, he’d pick Trant’s unwavering loyalty to Cersei, but that’s grasping. At the end of the day, he represents the rot found in King’s Landing society, which penetrated even into the Kingsguard, which is supposed to be made up of the truest knights in the land.
"I think there’s an interesting dichotomy. The Knights of the Kingsguard must have a lot of qualities: courage, chivalry…and Meryn has none. It explains how bad King’s Landing is, how bad the system is, justice in the face of injustice."
Sounds like it’s time for someone to break the wheel.
Next: Season 8: Huge new castle set rises in the Titantic Quarter in Belfast (UPDATED)
Game of Thrones: The Touring Exhibition opens to the public this Saturday, October 28. Interested in seeing props, costumes and sets from the show spread over a 10,000 square foot space? Head to the Musea Maritim de Barcelona. The Exhibition runs through January 7.
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