Which Game of Thrones characters have been recast, and was it the right move?

Gregor “the Mountain” Clegane

A man of few words but prodigious size and strength, Gregor Clegane, aka the Mountain That Rides, has been an effective boogeyman throughout the series. He’s also the only character on this list to have been recast not once but twice! During season 1, 7-foot-tall Australian actor Conan Stevens handled the role before bowing out for season 2 due to scheduling conflicts, namely playing the Orc King Bolg in two of the Hobbit movies. Should have stuck with Thrones, Stevens.

English actor Ian Whyte stepped into the Mountain’s overly large shoes for season 2, and probably made the least impression of the three actors. Whyte later said that playing the character was difficult, as Whyte had no experience being a “killer, rapist, and child murderer.” He was popular with producers, though; the 7-foot-5 Whyte also played a White Walker in seasons 1 and 2, the giant Dongo the Doomed in seasons 3 and 4, and Ramsay Bolton archery target Wun Weg Wun Dar Wun in seasons 5 and 6.

Finally, Icelandic strongman Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson settled into the role for the remainder of the series starting in season 4. At 6-foot-9, Björnsson is the shortest of the trio, but made up for it with a hulking physique. Björnsson isn’t an actor by trade, so the writers have kept his dialogue to a minimum, particularly after Qyburn brings him back from the brink of death a changed man in season 5. Still, his physical presence has always been enough to make his take on the Mountain the show’s most memorable. Now if only the show would tap into his comedic skills.

Next: Here’s every new character appearing in Game of Thrones season 8

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