That Hashtag Show is reporting that Olivier Award-winning actors Shiela Atim and Denise Gough are in talks to join the cast of HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel series. Should they sign on, Atim and Gough will join Naomi Watts and Josh Whitehouse as part of the cast.
The prequel show is set during the Age of Heroes, thousands of years before the main show. While this report is a rumor, That Hashtag Show breaks plenty of exclusive, accurate news. For example, it got the scoop on a new villain joining the cast of The Flash for its fifth season before the official announcement. So it’s a rumor, but a rumor with weight.
Atim and Gough are both bright talents. In April, Atim won an Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress In A Musical for her role as Marianne in Girl From The North Country. The Ugandan-born, British actress also starred in season 2 of Hulu’s Harlots, as Limehouse Nell.
Back in September, a casting call for what may be the prequel series surfaced online, and there are a couple roles the 26-year old Atim could fill:
- A – Series Regular. Male. Playing age 17-22. Mixed Race actor
- S – Series Regular. Female. Playing age 24-32. Black actress
- I – Series Regular. Female. Playing age 17-25. Caucasian actress
- F – Series Regular. Female. Playing age 16-23. Black actress
Per That Hashtag Show, Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War star Letitia Wright (Shuri), was actually offered one of these highlighted roles — probably the younger one — but declined when she couldn’t come to an agreement with HBO.
As for Denise Gough, she won an Olivier Award this year as well, for playing Harper Pitt in a production of Angels in America.
The Irish-born Gough may be best known for voicing Yennefer of Vengerberg in the popular video game The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
The 38-year-old Gough fits comfortably into another casting call we’ve seen:
- I: Series Regular. Female. Playing age 17-25. Caucasian actress
- N: (Female, 31 – 34 years old) This role is a series regular, playing age early 30s. The role is meant for a Caucasian actress.
- M3: (Female, 28 – 31 years old) This role is a series regular, playing age late 20s. The role is meant for a Caucasian actress.
For now, there’s been no official word from HBO on any of this, although A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin did say that showrunner Jane Goldman and her team were “busy in London right now, neck deep in casting, and I expect some more names will be announced soon.” Our watch continues.
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