A new Game of Thrones show is in the works at HBO, and it’s called House of the Dragon. Based on George R.R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood, the show is a prequel set 100+ years before the events of the main series. It’s all about about House Targaryen, specifically the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons.
The Dance was also known as the Targaryen War of Succession, and it pitted Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen against her half-brother Prince Aegon II for control of the Iron Throne. For two years dragon fought dragon in the skies above the Seven Kingdoms, and in the end, neither claimant was left standing.
It’s a great story with a lot of fascinating characters. So join me as I dreamcast the main players, and please keep in mind that, as was the case when Game of Thrones was adapted for television, many of the characters were aged up to fit a story with a lot of mature themes. Also, a lot of the actors I choose will be wearing platinum blonde wigs and learning how to speak with an English accent.
And with that said, let’s dance!
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JULY 25: Sir Anthony Hopkins attends the LEAP Foundation on July 25, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Greg Doherty/Getty Images)
Sir Anthony Hopkins as…King Viserys I Targaryen
Although the Dance of the Dragons didn’t begin until his death, Viserys Targaryen might be the most important person in the entire story. His choices directly influence the entire civil war. This is an important role that should be played by an actor who can cast a shadow over the proceedings, much like Sean Bean did in Game of Thrones.
King Viserys I — last rider of Balerion the Black Dread — was considered a peaceful man who ruled the Seven Kingdoms wisely. During his reign, the realm knew a long peace and House Targaryen grew in strength. There were never more dragons and dragonriders alive at one time as when Viserys I sat the Iron Throne.
After his first wife Aemma died giving birth to his son — who also died shortly thereafter — Viserys named his daughter Princess Rhaenyra as his heir. She was to be the first Queen of Westeros, and he began training her for that task. However, Viserys grew lonely and married again, this time to Alicent Hightower, the daughter of Otto Hightower, his Hand of the King. She gave him his first living son, Aegon.
Rhaenyra and Alicent had always gotten along, but after this they despised each other because Alicent began to push Viserys to name Aegon as his heir. That began the cold war that would eventually heat up into the Dance of the Dragons.
In my mind, Anthony Hopkins is the only choice for this role. If you’re wondering why, look no further than his portrayal of Dr. Robert Ford in the first two seasons of Westworld. He also has experience playing kings, as for example playing King Lear in an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s play.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 12: Charlize Theron attends the Africa Outreach Project Fundraiser hosted by Charlize Theron at The Africa Center on November 12, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ferdman/Getty Images)
Charlize Theron as…Rhaenyra Targaryen
Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, the Realm’s Delight, was the firstborn child and official heir of King Viserys. She rode the dragon Syrax. She was married twice — the second time to her uncle, Daemon — and gave birth to six children.
Rhaenyra and her father’s second wife Alicent hated each other. At an important event, Rhaenyra wore black and Alicent green. Thereafter, everyone at court began to wear the color associated with the woman they wanted to support. Eventually, the Greens and the Blacks would battle for the Iron Throne itself.
When Viserys died, Rhaenyra was on Dragonstone giving birth to her sixth child who was a deformed stillborn daughter. Taking advantage of the moment, Alicent and her father Otto Hightower pushed the Small Council to support Alicen’t son, Aegon II, as king. And thus, the Dance of the Dragons began in earnest.
Charlize Theron has that Targaryen look. She’s an Academy Award-winning actor that can command any scene she is in. Rhaenyra is one of the towering figures of this story — you could even call her the main character, although as on Game of Thrones, there are a few people who could make that claim. In any case, she’ll need an actor of real calibre and endurance, someone who can go the distance. Thoron has the bona fides.
Thoren also has experience in the fantasy genre as Queen Ravenna, Snow White’s evil stepmother in Snow White and the Huntsman. She has experience with swords, shields and dealing with a blended family. She’s perfect.
ROME, ITALY – OCTOBER 19: Michelle Dockery attends the “Downton Abbey” red carpet during the 14th Rome Film Festival on October 19, 2019 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images for RFF)
Michelle Dockery as…Alicent Hightower
Alicent Hightower was the second wife of King Viserys I. She gave him four children, including his son Aegon II Targaryen, who eventually became king after Viserys died. She’s one of the driving forces behind the war, especially in the early stages, and would have a bitter rivalry with Rhaenyra throughout.
Dockery is best known for her role in Downton Abbey as Lady Mary Crawley. She also played Lady Kate Percy in Henry IV, Parts I and II. Playing high-handed women of influence will come in handy for portraying a power player like Alicent Hightower.
Plus, Dockery actually looks like a noblewoman, so she’d have no trouble jumping into the role of the Dowager Queen Mother. I’m already imagining the crackling chemistry with Theron.
HOLLYWOOD, CA – JUNE 06: Actor Travis Fimmel attends the premiere of Universal Pictures’ “Warcraft at TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX on June 6, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Travis Fimmel as…Daemon Targaryen
Prince Daemon Targaryen was King Viserys’ brother. He wielded the Valyrian steel sword Dark Sister and rode the dragon Caraxes, the Blood Wyrm. He was Rhaenyra’s uncle and eventually became her second husband, following House Targaryen’s tradition of marrying kin to kin. Thank goodness House of the Dragon will keep that Game of Thrones tradition alive, right?
Daemon made quite the name for himself during his life. Frustrated because his brother the King refused to acknowledge him as the heir to the Iron Throne, Daemon carved out his own kingdom on the Narrow Sea, and was crowned King of the Stepstones and the Narrow Sea by his friend Lord Corlys Velaryon.
He was also the Commander of the City Watch, and ended up creating the order known as the Gold Cloaks after he gave his men new weapons, armor, and golden cloaks. He served as the Master of Coin and Master of Laws on his brother’s small council, and became Hand of the Queen and Protector of the Realm for his niece/wife Rhaenyra.
Obviously, Fimmel is most known for his role as the Norse king Ragnar Lothbrok on History’s Vikings show, but he also starred in Warcraft as Anduin Lothar, the military commander of Stormwind. In that movie, Fimmel rode a CGI griffin, so he should have no problem doing the same here.
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 07: Actor Nick Fink attends the Sweet/Vicious press junket at New York Comic Con at Javits Center on October 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for MTV)
Nick Fink as…Prince Jacaerys Velaryon
Prince Jacaerys “Jace” Velaryon — rider of the dragon Vermax — was the firstborn son of Rhaenyra Targaryen and her first husband, Laenor Velaryon. When the Dance of the Dragons begins and his mother lays claim to the Iron Throne, she named Jacaerys heir to the Iron Throne and Prince of Dragonstone.
As the next in line, Jacaerys becomes a close confidant to his mother, and as such she entrusts him with the very important task of treating with several important Lords and confirming their loyalty to her. As part of this mission, Jacaerys flies to the Eyrie to speak with Lady Jeyne Arryn, to White Harbor to speak with Lord Desmond Manderly, and to Winterfell to speak with Lord Cregan Stark.
While at Winterfell, Jace makes the Pact of Ice and Fire, which holds that Lord Cregan will marry a Targaryen princess in return for his support. It was rumored that Jace married Lord Cregan’s half-sister, Sara Snow, while he was there, and even that his dragon Vermax laid a clutch of eggs in Winterfell’s crypts.
Nick Fink (Legacies, Sweet/Vicious) is a relative newcomer to the industry, but has an easy charm that will serve him well as the young heir apparent to the realm. As Rhaenyra’s eldest child, Jace is an important character, and will require an actor who can make an instant impression. Nick Fink is up to the task.
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 18: Actor Kodi Smit-McPhee attends the premiere of “Slow West” during the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival at the SVA Theater on April 18, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images for the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival)
Kodi Smit-McPhee as…Aegon III Targaryen
Aegon III Targaryen — also known as Aegon the Unlucky, Aegon the Unhappy, the Broken King, and most famously as Aegon the Dragonbane — is the youngest son of Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen. He becomes the King of Westeros at the end of the Dance of the Dragons, and is by all accounts a sullen young man.
Kodi Smit-McPhee is known mostly for his role as Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler in the X-Men franchise. With a blonde wig and a perpetual frown, he’d make be perfect for Aegon III at the end of the Dance.
Aegon was deeply scarred by the Dance of the Dragons, as any young man who lost most of the people he cared about in an armed conflict would be. He hated dragons forever after, but did manage to keep the kingdoms together during his reign. House of the Dragon probably won’t get to that part of the story, but knowing the full arc of Aegon’s life could help Smit-McPhee dig into the beginnings of this meaty character.
HOLLYWOOD, CA – AUGUST 12: Actor Jamie Campbell Bower attends the premiere of Screen Gems & Constantin Films’ ‘The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones’ at ArcLight Cinemas Cinerama Dome on August 12, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images)
Jamie Campbell Bower as…Aegon II Targaryen
Aegon II Targaryen — first-born son of King Viserys and his second wife Alicent Hightower — directly opposed his half-sister Rhaenyra’s claim to the Iron Throne, and wore the crown before and after she did. He rode a beautiful dragon named Sunfyre the Golden and was married to his sister Helaena.
I think the perfect actor to play opposite Charlize Theron is Jamie Campbell Bower. Bower has a ton of acting experience and is very familiar with the fantasy genre, having played a young King Arthur in Starz’s Camelot, a role he took after turning down a part in the Game of Thrones series premiere. He was also slated to appear in a Game of Thrones prequel about the Age of Heroes that never got off the ground, so it’s high time he appear in Westeros in some form or another.
See? The fan art community agrees that Bower would make a good Aegon.
Aegon has quite the arc over the course of this story. He was a handsome young man, if sulky, but by the end of the war he’s suffering from debilitating injuries and has given in to his worse habits, including drunkenness and lechery. It’ll take an actor like Bower, who combines effortless good patrician looks with real acting chops, to sell the progression.
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – FEBRUARY 05: Actor Timothee Chalamet attends the 90th Annual Academy Awards Nominee Luncheon at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 5, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Timothee Chalamet as…Prince Aemond Targaryen
Prince Aemond Targaryen was the second-born son of King Viserys Targaryen and Alicent Hightower. After being injured in a childhood fight with his cousins (Rhaenyra’s three boys), he became known as Aemond One-Eye. Thereafter, he was known to put a sapphire where his eye had been. He bonded with the oldest and largest of the Targaryen dragons at the time, Queen Visenya’s Vhagar.
Aemond had a quick temper and did not know fear. After taking revenge on one of Rhaenyra’s sons for the loss of his eye, he became known as the Kinslayer. When his brother King Aegon II was injured in an aerial battle, he became the Prince Regent and Protector of the Realm.
My pick for Aemond is Timothée Chalamet, who will be starring as Paul Muad’dib Atreides in director Denis Villeneuve’s Dune movie this December. He has experience in the medieval genre, as well, playing King Henry V in Netflix’s The King. Like Chalamet, Aemond was relatively small and slight, but made up for that with her ferocity. We know that Chalamet is a good actor, but having to play someone with an angry fire in his belly could stretch him to places he hasn’t gone before.
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 07: Asa Butterfield attends the BAFTA Film Awards Nominations Announcement 2020 photocall at BAFTA on January 07, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images)
Asa Butterfield as…Prince Daeron Targaryen
Prince Daeron Targaryen was the third-born son of King Viserys Targaryen and Alicent Hightower. Unlike his two older brothers, he had the valiant and good heart of a true knight. At the beginning of the Dance of the Dragons, he’s in Oldtown squiring for Lord Ormund Hightower.
Daeron rode a beautiful blue dragon named Tessarion. At one point, he rides her into battle and saves Lord Ormund’s life and army from certain defeat. For his bravery, he’s knighted and given the name Daeron the Daring.
Because of his acting experience, wholesome exterior, and youth (he’s 22), I would love to see Asa Butterfield cast as Prince Daeron. Not every actor here will have fantasy/medieval film/television experience, but Butterfield does. In 2008 and 2009, he portrayed Mordred in the BBC’s Merlin show. And his experience playing good-hearted leads in movies like Hugo should prepare him for tackling the good and decent Prince Daeron. Just sprinkle a little violence on there and you’ve got yourself a Targaryen hero.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 27: Katheryn Winnick of History’s Vikings attends the 2019 A+E Networks Upfront at Jazz at Lincoln Center on March 27, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for A+E Networks)
Katheryn Winnick as…Rhaenys Targaryen
Rhaenys Targaryen — wife to Lord Corlys Velaryon and mother to Laenor — was known as the Queen Who Never Was. She rode Meleys the Red Queen for Rhaenyra’s side in the Dance, and sat on Queen Rhaenyra’s Small Council. She was fierce, fearless, proud and capable.
Rhaenys actually has one of the most badass deaths in the Dance. Partway through the war, she flies to the rescue of Rook’s Rest and faces off against the Lord Commander of Aegon II’s Kingsguard, Ser Criston Cole. While she and her dragon send Cole’s army on the run, it ends up she flew into an ambush. Aegon II — riding Sunfyre — and Aemond — riding Vhagar — swoop in and begin to attack Rhaenys.
Instead of fleeing, Rhaenys urges Meleys even higher above the battle and valiantly fights the brothers and their larger dragons. The aerial battle is brutal, and Meleys nearly rips Sunfyre’s wing from his body before Vhagar causes all three to fall to the ground. They fall so hard, stones from Rook’s Rest fall from its walls, even though the castle is a league away.
I’ve chosen Katheryn Winnick (Lagertha on Vikings) for the role of Rhaenys — yes, I’ve already chosen one Vikings alum, but this is my dreamcast, not yours. Rhaenys was a great warrior, and it will take an actor with with onscreen battle experience to do her justice.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 04: Eric Dane attends the LA Premiere of HBO’s “Euphoria” at The Cinerama Dome on June 04, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Eric Dane as…Lord Corlys Velaryon the Sea Snake
Corlys Velaryon was called the Sea Snake. As the head of House Velaryon, he was Lord of the Tides and Master of Driftmark. He had the silver hair associated with the old blood of Valyria, as did his two legitimate children with Princess Rhaenys, and his two bastard sons, Addam and Alyn. Incurably ambitious, Lord Corlys was also Rhaenyra’s Hand of the Queen at one point.
Eric Dane is the only actor I can imagine when considering who to cast as Corlys Velaryon. Maybe it’s his hair color, or physical appearance. He even has that gruff timbre to his voice that I imagine Lord Corlys had.
Dane’s got plenty of acting experience too, with stints on Grey’s Anatomy, The Last Ship, and HBO’s Euphoria. Also, not for nothing, but Dane played an admiral on the USS Nathan James in TNT’s The Last Ship, so my choice for the Sea Snake is seaworthy.
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: HOLLYWOOD, CA – JANUARY 14: Ben Barnes arrives at Marvel’s “The Punisher” Los Angeles Premiere at ArcLight Hollywood on January 14, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images).
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: SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 10: Tom Payne attends the 2019 E! People’s Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on November 10, 2019 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Ben Barnes as…Alyn Velaryon — Tom Payne as…Addam Velaryon
Lord Corlys had two bastards he legitimized after his wife Rhaenys died in battle: Their names were Alyn and Addam of Hull. Alyn inherited Driftmark, the title of Lord of the Tides, and the name Oakenfist when Lord Corlys died.
I’ve chosen Westworld star Ben Barnes for the role of Alyn Velaryon. Not only does Barnes have experience on a big-budget HBO show (Westworld), but he played Prince Caspian in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian and Thomas “Tom” Ward in Seventh Son, so he’s got fantasy genre experience.
Addam was a dragonseed and rode his half-brother Laenor’s dragon, Seasmoke. He was wrongfully dubbed a turncloak by Queen Rhaenyra, and after he died in the Second Battle of Tumbleton — fighting for Rhaenyra’s side — his brother Alyn had the word “LOYAL” inscribed as the epitaph on his tomb.
I’ve chosen former The Walking Dead star Tom Payne for the role of Addam Velaryon. Payne’s got a lot of experience swinging a sword as Jesus on TWD, so stepping into Addam’s shoes should be a simple matter.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 14: Zendaya attends the “Queen & Slim” Premiere at AFI FEST 2019 presented by Audi at the TCL Chinese Theatre on November 14, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Zendaya as…Nettles
Nettles was one of four famous Dragonseeds — people with the blood of Old Valyria who were called in to tame and ride some of Rhaenyra’s dragons once there were no longer enough riders to fill the saddles — who fought for Queen Rhaenyra in the Dance of the Dragons. Nettles was the only female Dragonseed and was described as being a small, brown-skinned girl with black hair and brown eyes.
She rode the dragon Sheepstealer, and earned the dragon’s trust by feeding it a freshly slaughtered sheep every day until it no longer snapped at her. Despite the fact that she never turned her cloak against her queen, Nettles was accused of sleeping with and bewitching Rhaenyra’s husband, Daemon. Nettles was lowborn, so to go from a common thief to riding a dragon and sleeping with the queen’s husband is quite an arc.
When Rhaenyra called Nettles — who was most likely sleeping with Daemon — back to King’s Landing in order to be imprisoned for being a turncloak, Daemon saw through the ruse and told her to fly away and never return. Because of this, Nettles and Sheepstealer survived the Dance of the Dragons.
Nettles has a great story, and is a terrific part for a young, buzzed-about actor like Zendaya, who can just lately be seen in Euphoria season 1 and Spider-Man: Far From Home. Foul-mouthed, filthy, and fearless, she’ll surely bring some edge to a story dominated by serious people talking grandiosely around magnificently appointed tables. This is a potentially scene-stealing role.
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – NOVEMBER 05: Actor Grey Damon attends the Screen Actors Guild Foundation 30th Anniversary Celebration at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on November 5, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Screen Actors Guild Foundation)
Grey Damon as…Ulf the White
Not all the Dragonseeds were as honorable as Addam of Hull or Nettles. Let’s look at the final two.
First you have Ulf the White, who bonded with Good Queen Alysanne’s dragon, Silverwing. He was a brutal fighter and man-at-arms for Dragonstone, and along with his friend Hugh Hammer, turned his cloak and fought for King Aegon II at the First Battle of Tumbleton.
Ulf needs to be played by someone who can be seen as a brutal bastard. Grey Damon (The Devil Within, Oldboy) has that look, when necessary.
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 16: Actor Liam Hemsworth attends as London Fog presents a New York special screening of ‘The Dressmaker’ on September 16, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for London Fog)
Liam Hemsworth as…Hugh Hammer
After Tumbleton, Ulf and Hugh Hammer were known as the Two Betrayers. And, despite earning their spurs as knights under service to Rhaenyra, they had higher aspirations, with Hugh even wanting to become King.
Hard Hugh Hammer rode King Jaehaerys I’s dragon, Vermithor, and was described as both tall and huge with strength enough to twist steel bars. Like his pal Ulf, Hugh was a dishonorable brute who turned against Rhaenyra. This act eventually led to their deaths at the hands of Aegon II’s knights, who knew they could never trust them, and who recognized the Two Betrayers had designs above their station.
Liam Hemsworth — who’s huge and tall and extremely strong-looking — is the perfect fit for Hard Hugh. He has experience in science fiction with his role as Gale Hawthorne in the Hunger Games movies.
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 22: Actor Russell Crowe attends the New York screening of “Boy Erased” at the Whitby Hotel on October 22, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Russell Crowe as…Ser Otto Hightower
Ser Otto Hightower was the Hand of the King to King Jaehaerys Targaryen, Viserys I and briefly to Aegon II. He pushed King Viserys to marry his daughter Alicent, and in doing so, unwittingly became the architect of the Dance of the Dragons. He was a knight who was known more for his diplomacy than his martial skill.
Russell Crowe is my choice for Ser Otto Hightower. He’s an Academy Award-winning actor who has experience with sweeping period pieces; see Gladiator and Robin Hood. He’s the right age and has the right look — he basically could have posed for that piece of fan art above.
Ser Otto Hightower is a power player who exerts huge influence over events, even if he’s not always at the center of them. Crowe will bring the gravitas this crucial part needs. Plus, a little star power never hurt anyone.
TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 07: Actor Adam Driver of ‘The Report’ attends The IMDb Studio Presented By Intuit QuickBooks at Toronto 2019 at Bisha Hotel & Residences on September 07, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for IMDb)
Adam Driver as…Ser Criston Cole
Ser Criston Cole was known as “The Kingmaker.” He earned that name because he took it upon himself to crown Aegon II the King of the Seven Kingdoms when Viserys I died. He was the Lord Commander of Aegon II’s Kingsguard and also served as his Hand of the King.
Rumor has it that Criston chose Aegon over Rhaenyra because the two had an affair, but she chose her uncle Daemon over him. And so, he took Aegon’s side against his princess.
I’ve chosen Adam Driver to play Ser Criston Cole. First of all, he fits the profile physically; Cole is described as having coal black hair, which is also one of the first things you recognize about Driver. Also, as a former Marine, Driver will be up to playing a battle-hardened knight, and anyone who’s seen the Star Wars sequel trilogy knows he can swing a sword.
Then there’s Driver’s famous intensity. Whether he’s pining after Rey in the Star Wars sequel trilogy or sorting through his breakup in Marriage Story, Driver is great at playing characters who yearn for what they can’t have, and who bury their hurt deep inside. Cole is someone driven in part by Rhaenyra rejecting him after their affair, and it leads him to make choices that affect the entire realm. It’s high drama, and Driver will play it as well as he always does.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 13: Derek Jacobi attends The Old Vic Bicentenary Ball at The Old Vic Theatre on May 13, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
Sir Derek Jacobi as…Grand Maester Orwyle
Grand Maester Orwyle served King Viserys I as Grand Maester, and later served Viserys’ son King Aegon II in the same capacity. Despite knowing that Viserys wanted his daughter Rhaenyra to succeed him on the Iron Throne as the first Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, Orwyle decided to side with her half-brother.
Much like Ser Otto Hightower, Orwyle could be considered an unwitting architect of the Dance of Dragons, as he counseled King Viserys to marry Alicent Hightower. If not for that advice, there might not have been an Aegon II, and therefore, Rhaenyra would have ascended the throne without any opposition.
I really like Sir Derek Jacobi for the part of Grand Maester Orwyle because he is an extremely accomplished actor with a classical background, who has more experience in period piece films than probably anyone on this list, not to mention appearing in a ton of Shakespeare plays. Like Pycelle, he’s old and wizened, but there’s still a fierce intellect behind those eyes.
I mean, just look at him. How can you not think of him playing a Maester?
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 12: Cillian Murphy during an An Evening with Steven Knight and Cillian Murphy from Peaky Blinders at Esquire Townhouse with Dior at Carlton House Terrace on October 12, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Nicky J Sims/Getty Images)
Cillian Murphy as…Larys Strong
When looking for the best way to describe Larys “the Clubfoot” Strong, one needs to look no further than Game of Thrones. Think of this guy as an amalgamation of Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish and Lord Varys the Spider.
Born with a twisted foot that gave him a limp for life, Larys Strong inherited Harenhal when his father and older brother died in a mysterious fire. He served Viserys and Aegon II as Lord Confessor and Master of Whisperers. He may not have been well-liked, but he was listened to, and had a hand in shaping the events of the Dance.
Cillian Murphy has the look of a man who keeps his own counsel but could be ambitious enough to purposefully cause enough chaos in order to further his own designs. In Peaky Blinders, Murphy plays the leader of the Peaky Blinders gang, Thomas Shelby, a multi-faceted, complex character. Larys Clubfoot is just as layered, and will need someone like Murphy to inhabit him.
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 16: Actors Michael J. Anderson and Bonnie Aarons arrive at the HBO Golden Globe After Party at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 16, 2005 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images)
Michael J. Anderson as…Mushroom
Mushroom was the name of the fool who served in the courts of King Viserys, King Aegon II, Queen Rhaenyra, and King Aegon III. Many courtiers considered him to be slow of mind, so they gossiped freely in his presence. But he was far from stupid, and mentally recorded everything he heard.
Later, his observations were written down by an unknown scribe. The resulting work was used by Archmaesters Orwyle, Munkun and Gyldayn to fill in the gaps in the history of the Dance of the Dragons where other sources failed them.
The temptation here is to treat Mushroom as another Tyrion, but they are very different characters. While Tyrion was the son of a powerful house, Mushroom had a very low position at court, and survived by allowing others to think him dim-witted, something Tyrion would never do. Still, both characters were often underestimated by those around them.
I’d love for Michael J. Anderson (Twin Peaks, Carnivàle) to fill the role of Mushroom — and trust me, his role is very important to the story of the Dance of the Dragons, even if he keeps a relatively low profile. At the age of 66, that might be an issue, but Mushroom deserves someone of his caliber playing him.
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 08: Actor James Purefoy speaks onstage during the Sundance TV’s Hap and Leonard panel as part of the AMC Networks portion of This is Cable 2016 Television Critics Association Winter Tour at Langham Hotel on January 8, 2016 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
James Purefoy as…Lord Cregan Stark
Cregan Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, made his mark on the Dance of the Dragons in true Stark fashion. Lord Cregan pledged to support Rhaenyra at the beginning of the war if she would agree to join her house to his in marriage once it was over. This became known as the Pact of Ice and Fire.
Cregan and his Winter Wolves descended on King’s Landing once Rhaenyra’s son Aegon III was crowned king, and for a day known as the Hour of the Wolf, he served as the young king’s Hand, dealing justice to those he judged to be complicit in the poisoning and assassination of Aegon II, an act he considered cowardly and dishonorable even though he benefitted from it. Like some of the Starks we would come to know on Game of Thrones, Lord Cregan had a very severe view of right and wrong.
I like James Purefoy for Cregan because he just looks like a Stark. Also, he’s got a lot of experience with medieval/fantasy films like A Knight’s Tale and Solomon Kane, and in television shows like Camelot.
WESTWOOD, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 20: Gerard Butler attends the LA Premiere of Lionsgate’s “Angel Has Fallen” at Regency Village Theatre on August 20, 2019 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
Gerard Butler as…Lord Borros Baratheon
Borros Baratheon was the Lord of Storms End during the Dance of the Dragons. He was a wild and brutish man, and used his Stormlanders to support King Aegon II. He died exactly as you’d expect a Baratheon to die: with a curse on his lips and a wild charge ending in the slaughter of his army.
In The World of Ice and Fire book, Maester Yandel described Borros as “the wind which rages and howls and blows this way and that.” That’s about as perfect a summation as you’re likely to find.
I’m choosing Gerard Butler for Borros because he’s got that wild look that I picture when I imagine this Baratheon lord. He also has tons of action movie experience, so fighting in a large battle won’t be a problem. All you need to do is watch 300 to see how amazing he’d be leading his army against impossible odds.
L: CULVER CITY, CA – NOVEMBER 10: Aaron Taylor-Johnson attends the 2018 Baby2Baby Gala Presented by Paul Mitchell at 3LABS on November 10, 2018 in Culver City, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Baby2Baby). R: HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 24: Jack Reynor attends the Premiere Of A24’s “Midsommar” at ArcLight Hollywood on June 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Aaron Taylor-Johnson as…Lord Kermit Tolly — Jack Reynor as…Ser Oscar Tully
The Lads was a nickname given to the young leaders of the Riverlands at the end of the Dance of the Dragons: Lord Kermit Tully, his brother Ser Oscar, and Lord Benjicot Blackwood.
Lord Kermit inherited Riverrun when his father Lord Elmo died…and no, I’m not making up those names; George R.R. Martin just wanted to sneak some muppet references in there. Lord Elmo was against getting involved in the Dance, but once he died, Lord Kermit quickly declared for Rhaenyra and he and his brother Ser Oscar called their banners and the Riverlands rode into battle.
I’ve got Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Lord Kermit, mainly because he’s got that Tully look, what with the brunette hair. And he’s been in action movies like Kick-Ass, Avengers: Age of Ultron and Godzilla.
For Ser Oscar, I’m going with Jack Reynor. He too has the look of House Tully and he’s got experience with period dramas like 2015’s Macbeth.
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 03: Taron Egerton attends the 23rd Annual Hollywood Film Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on November 03, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for HFA)
Taron Egerton as…Benjicot Blackwood
Lord Benjicot “Bloody Ben” Blackwood was Lord of Raventree Hall and head of House Blackwood toward the end of the Dance. He was young but fierce and earned the nickname Bloody Ben because he wasn’t afraid to get messy leading his forces into battle.
However, Lord Benjicot was not a brute. It was only when he donned his armor and picked up his weapon that he actually looked the part of Bloody Ben. In fact, when he fought in the Battle by the Lakeshore — also called the Fishfeed because the armies of the North and Riverlands fought the Westermen into the lake where they drowned or died at the end of a sword — Ben began to weep for the massive loss of life.
Taron Egerton is the perfect fit for Lord Benjicot. He’s got a youthful look, a built-in UK accent, and he’s got plenty of experience doing action scenes in the Kingsman movies and as the titular character in 2018’s Robin Hood. Benjicot has some layers to him, and I’m sure Egerton would love the chance to stretch himself as an actor and explore them.
CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 27: Eva Green attends the “Based On A True Story” screening during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 27, 2017 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Antony Jones/Getty Images)
Eva Green as…Alysanne Blackwood
Lady Alysanne Blackwood, aka Black Aly, was a member of House Blackwood and the aunt of Lord Benjicot Blackwood of Raventree Hall. More importantly, Aly became the second wife of the widower Lord of Winterfell, Cregan Stark. She was deadly with her bow and became known for using weirwood arrows.
Aly was given command of the archers of the Riverlands when Lord Tully’s army joined the Blackwoods. Under her direction, the archers brought down an entire battalion of mounted knights, even unhorsing Lord Borros Baratheon, which would directly lead to the breaking of the Stormlander’s army when he died on the field of battle.
Since House Blackwood was one of only a couple of noble houses not in the North who still worshipped the Old Gods, Aly and Lord Cregan were a perfect match. The two met when Lord Tully and the Lads marched on King’s Landing. Lord Cregan was immediately smitten with her and the two later married beneath the weirwood tree in Winterfell.
In my mind, the only actor who could pull off the charisma of a highborn lady who was also a fierce warrior is Eva Green. Green played a princess in Kingdom of Heaven, a witch in The Golden Compass, a badass warrior in 300: Rise of an Empire, and the legendary Morgan Pendragon in Camelot for Starz. And then there’s her scene-stealing turn as the mysterious Vanessa Ives in Penny Dreadful. Whatever she’s in, Eva Green drips charisma and command. She’s got what it takes.
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