Mark Strong claims he was offered a key role on Game of Thrones

You may remember actor Mark Strong from his memorable role as Batman’s butler in the Kingsmen movies, or as the bad guy in every other film he has ever been in. But what you may not know is that he was offered a major role on Game of Thrones…or so he says. Speaking to Metro UK, Strong threw a bit of fuel on the dying flames of an old rumor that claimed he might have been the show’s first choice to portray everyone’s favorite daughter-burning-almost-king, Stannis Baratheon.

“I was offered a role in it but I can’t ever say who it was,” Strong said. “Because I don’t want to belittle the person who eventually did it because they may have no idea they weren’t first choice.”

Awww, how thoughtful that he didn’t want to hurt Stephen Dillane’s feelings, but the cat seems like it might be out of the bag here, Mark.

Okay, I’m being a bit facetious here, because Strong genuinely seems like he’s trying to be respectful and not stick his fingers in a fellow actor’s Kool-Aid. But since the show is now over, why not just reveal who it was he was supposed to play?

Strong remained coy when asked if he turned down the role or if Thrones decided to go with someone else…cough cough, Stephen Dillane, cough cough.

"No it came my way and we were flirting a while with it, but I didn’t have to turn it down."

So I guess he was offered the role, but someone else who was also offered the role accepted it first? Very mysterious.

Strong does have that Stannis Baratheon-esque “I’m a curmudgeon and I will correct your grammar” look about him.

Also, let’s not forget he was Prince John’s henchman, Sir Godfrey, in Russell Crowe’s version of Robin Hood. The roles are pretty much interchangeable.

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h/t Showbiz Cheat Sheet