Game of Thrones: Let’s dreamcast a Robert’s Rebellion prequel show

Who should play young Robert Baratheon, Ned Stark, Aerys Targaryen and others in HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel about Robert’s Rebellion?

Game of Thrones is well over a year gone, but HBO seems determined for it to live on. It’s working on a prequel series, House of the Dragon, as we speak, and we’ve heard that there are several more shows in the pipeline. That includes one about Robert’s Rebellion, the war that toppled the Targaryen dynasty and put Robert Baratheon on the Iron Throne some 16 years before the events of the original series.

We don’t know much about the series as yet, including casting details, story elements, or even whether the project will be a mini-series, a full spin-off show, or a movie or series of movies. My preference would be for movies, since fans pretty much know everything that happens in Robert’s Rebellion after learning about it on Game of Thrones.

That said, it’s still a story worth telling, especially since it would let us meet younger versions of the characters we got to know on the original show. Here are just a few of the central characters expected to playa role, and which actors we think could play them. Let’s start with Aerys Targaryen, Daenerys’ famously mad father:

Aerys Targaryen, the Mad King

1. David Rintoul

Rintoul played the role of the Mad King on Game of Thrones in one of Bran’s Three-Eyed Raven visions. He wasn’t asked to do much, but even just with his one iconic line — “Burn them all!” — he captured the essence of the feared ruler who burned his enemies alive with wildfire. HBO may choose to keep Rintoul for the prequel to keep things consistent.

Rintoul has been working consistently in Hollywood for quite some time; you can see him now as Michael Adeane in The Crown on Netflix.

2. John Noble

Fantasy fans will remember John Noble for ruining grape tomatoes forever in his stirring performance as Denethor in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of The King. If he could bring an ounce of the Mad King energy he had in that role to Aerys, he would be the perfect choice to bring that character to life. All you would have to do it make his hair white. Otherwise, he’s pretty good to go as is!

3. Ian McKellen

This one comes a little bit out of left field. I include McKellen because, when you’re looking for high caliber, prestige English actors with experience in fantasy, there aren’t many people better. He would bring a level of likability and depth to the character that could help sell the tragedy of his downfall. It was said that Aerys was charming earlier in his reign; he wasn’t always the Mad King.

Rhaegar Targaryen, the Dragon Prince

1. Charlie Hunnam

Hunnam became a household name while playing the lead role of Jax Teller in FX’s Sons of Anarchy. Since his breakout performance, he’s returned to his British roots, playing King Arthur in Guy Ritchie’s 2017 film Legend of the Sword.

Hunnam has the look of a leading man: he’s charming, handsome, and has sword-fighting skills to round it out. He could win fans over as the romantic, noble son of the Mad King.

2. Jonathan Rhys Meyers

Myers has the chiseled jaw, arrogant “smize,” and sex appeal necessary to take on a character like Rhaegar. Most famous for his role in Vikings and as the main character on The Tudors, Rhys-Myers has an extensive resume in the realm of medieval epics. His flirtatious, sly demeanor would be perfect for Rhaegar if he could round it out with some grounded likability.

3. Alexander Skarsgard

The ideal (yet least likely) choice for Rhaegar would be this Hollywood superstar. Skarsgard has the perfect look, and has a reputation as an actor who can come off as both likable and dangerous. His performances in True Blood and Big Little Lies say it all. It doesn’t hurt that he seems to have a love affair with HBO and I’m sure the studio would happily bring him on for this meaty role.

Rhaella Targaryen, Queen of the Seven Kingdoms

1. Naomi Watts

As the sister and wife to the Mad King Aerys Targaryen (and mother to Daenerys Targaryen), Rhaella suffered mightily. It’s a juicy role for a good actor, and the talented Naomi Watts would be more than up to the challenge.

Of note, Watts was slated to star in the cancelled Game of Thrones prequel series Blood Moon. She has the look and prestige to easily pull off a Targaryen queen and clearly she’s already on HBO’s radar.

2. Charlize Theron

I’m really dreaming with this one. But there are few people who give off more Targaryen vibes than Charlize Theron. An excellent actress as seen in movies as diverse as Monster and Mad Max: Fury Road, I have no doubt she could find the melancholia necessary to pull off this role.

3. Annabelle Wallis

You may recognize Annabelle Wallis from her role as Grace Burgess in Peaky Blinders. She’s no stranger to period pieces, but what her performance in that show really signals to me is that she’s very capable of pulling off complicated romantic relationships. She would invoke a lot a lot of sympathy as the doomed Rhaella.

Elia Martell, wife of Rhaegar Targaryen

1. Ruth Negga

Elia is another of this story’s tragic characters. A gentle woman (and brother to Game of Thrones fan favorite Oberyn Martell), Elia was abandoned by her husband Rhaegar to be raped and murdered by Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane. She needs to be played by a formidable actress who can carry the weight of these misfortunes. Ruth Negga, who has a great balance of grace and grit as shown in series like Preacher, would be a terrific choice. She could give a performance audiences would fall in love with.

2. Ana De Armas

Audiences became obsessed with Ana De Armas after her breakout role as nurse Marta Cabrera in Knives Out. She can strength as well as innocence. It wouldn’t be pretty watching her suffer as Elia, but the character would certainly have our sympathy.

3. Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Mbatha-Raw would be a great star hire. She’s experienced in period dramas as seen in her starring roles in films like Belle and Emelie. She would bring a power to Elia Martell that no one else could.

Grand Maester Pycelle

1. Christopher Eccleston

One of the most exciting parts about focusing on this era of Westeros is the chance to see younger versions of familiar faces. Pycelle is at possibly his most wicked and scheming best during Aerys’ reign.

Aerys is the third king that Pycelle has served as Grand Maester, so while he’s 15 years younger, he’s still an old man. His most notable role comes after Rhaegar’s death, when he advises King Aerys to open the gates of King’s Landing to Tywin Lannister’s army, which promptly sacks the city. We’ll get to see his relationship with Tywin develop until they become the devious team we know from Game of Thrones.

Eccleston is best known for bringing back the Doctor in the 2005 reboot of Doctor Who. He’s got a lovable energy, but can also pull off characters with dark secrets and intense internal strife; look at his performance as a distraught preacher in HBO’s The Leftovers for an example. He would bring a fascinating mix of tones to Pycelle.

2. Joseph Fiennes

Fiennes has proven time and again how unsettling he can in the right role. Combine his smiley political savvy in The Handmaids Tale with his gruesome doctor from American Horror Story and you get the perfect man to play Grand Maester Pycelle.

3. Andy Serkis

Serkis’ uncanny ability as a physical actor, together with his ability to transform his voice, would allow him to completely inhabit the character of Pycelle, adding his flair to the character along the way.

Varys, Aerys Targaryen’s Master of Whisperers

1. Nicholas Hoult

Varys will be a difficult character to capture, as Conleth Hill gave one of the show’s best performances as the sneaky master of whisperers. During this era, Aerys has newly imported Varys from across the Narrow Sea to serve as his advisor and spymaster.

Nicholas Hoult’s character in Mad Max: Fury Road, Nux, looks a bit like what I imagine a young Varys to look like. Hoult could bring out Varys’ more optimistic side, since he’s always trying to do right by the smallfolk.

2. Jamie Campbell-Bower

Something about this man’s face just screams “Spider” to me. Shave him bald to take away some of the sex appeal, and you’re left with a young Varys who is definitely hiding a myriad of secrets underneath that devilish grin.

Jamie Campbell-Bower has experience with fantasy franchises: he’s been part of the Harry Potter universe, the Twilight saga, The Mortal Instruments and more.

3. Will Poulter

Like Hoult, Maze Runner and Black Mirror veteran Will Poulter could bring out the more idealistic side of Varys, although he still has enough more than enough grit and ruthlessness to play the sly spymaster. 

Jon Connington

1. Chiwetel Ejiofor

An older version of Jon Connington shows up in the later A Song of Ice and Fire books, but he was cut from Game of Thrones. A Robert’s Rebellion spinoff gives us a chance to get to know him. Chiwetel Ejiofor would be perfect as a young lord willing to put his life on the line for his best friend/abiding crush Rhaegar Targaryen. He plays noble characters well as seen in movies like 12 Years a Slave, but could also bring a dangerous edge to his performance.

2. John Boyega

Boyega deserves more chances to shine after the Star Wars franchise screwed him over. How about a meaty role in another developing franchise where he would get to play a young, noble warrior with more depth than FN-187. Connington is riding high on glory and valor throughout the rebellion, becoming Aerys’ Hand of the King and hunting down Robert Baratheon. It all comes crashing down, though. Boyega could do a thrilling job of tracing Jon’s fall (and if we ever get a complete adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire, perhaps his rise from the ashes).

3. Jude Law

This is a stretch, but why not? Law seems like he would fit comfortably into the Game of Thrones universe. He radiates a kind of base decency that would fit Jon Connington well, although he’s probably too old to play Jon Connington during Robert’s Rebellion. But if they ever want to remake Game of Thrones and add Connington back in, he’d be a perfect choice.

Barristan Selmy, a member of Aerys Targaryen’s Kingsguard

1. Damian Lewis

Damian Lewis has experience acting in medieval drams, earning Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for playing  Henry VIII of England in Wolf Hall. His performance in Homeland is absolutely riveting, and he would bring great sadness and depth to the greatest knight Westeros ever knew. Selmy is a beloved character from Game of Thrones so it will be interesting to see a younger version in this project. Lewis looks enough like a younger version of Ian McElhinney, who played Selmy in GoT, to pull it off.

2. Daniel Kaluuya

With roles in movies like Black Panther and Queen & Slim, Kaluuya is one of the fastest rising stars of the past few years, making a name for himself as an actor who brings great intensity to his performances. Famously, Robert Baratheon was so impressed by Barristan Semly’s courage that he pardoned the knight after he took the throne, even though Barristan had fought for the opposite side. Kaluuya could bring the sense of dignity and inner strength that the role requires.

3. Andrew Lincoln

It’s easy to forget that the star of The Walking Dead is British. He’s brilliant as an honorable yet conflicted warrior cowboy navigating an apocalyptic, zombie-filled wasteland. As a young(er) Selmy, Lincoln would bring the sense of wisdom and world-weary resilience that he’s become known for.

Gerold Hightower, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard

1. Idris Elba

If HBO hopes to turn Game of Thrones into a cinematic universe, it would do well to take a good look at the Kingsguard. Throughout the history of Westeros, these white knights have been heroes, villains, schemers and adventurers. We don’t know a ton about Geralt Hightower, who commands King Aerys’ Kingsguard, but we know he’s a man who commands the allegiances of famous figures like Jaime Lannister, Barristan Selmy and Arthur Dayne. The actor who plays him will need to carry themselves with strength, power, and a natural sense of leadership.

Idris Elba has all of those things. We even have a look at how he might do as a trusted guard with his role as Heimdall in the MCU. He’s a splendid addition to any cast.

2. Jason Isaacs

Gerold Hightower, as valiant and respected as he is, is complicit in all of King Aerys’ crimes. After Aerys kills Rickard and Brandon Stark, Hightower famously remarks to Jaime that they are sworn to defend the king, not to judge him. Jason Isaacs, who played Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies among many other roles in a long career, is the perfect actor to play this costly type of honor on the screen.

3. Mads Mikkelsen

Here’s another actor who could bring out Gerold Hightower’s more complex side. Mads Mikkelsen is often cast as the villain…or at least the antihero with some serious issues, most notably as the title character in NBC’s Hannibal. It would be interesting to see that quiet, sulky, thoughtful demeanor on a character whose intentions are honorable but is bound by duty to defend an evil regime.

Arthur Dayne, a member of Aerys Targaryen’s Kingsguard

1. Luke Roberts

Roberts would be the first choice for this role, as he played the famed Westerosi swordsman when Bran used his powers to watch the fight at the Tower of Joy in Game of Thrones season 6. Arthur Dayne is supposed be one of the best swordfighters alive, and Roberts certainly cut an intimidating figure as he duel-wielded those blades. He could get to show off even more of what he could do in the prequel.

2. Alexander Dreymon

Fans of The Last Kingdom would be delighted to see the show’s lead actor turn up in another medieval drama. Dreymon is brilliant as Uthred son of Uhtred on the Netflix show, and would bring that same intensity and battle prowess to the Game of Thrones universe.

3. David Wenham

I often find that the best casting choices for fantasy and medieval projects come when actors have previous experience with similar content. As Faramir in The Lord of The Rings trilogy, Wenham portrays a tortured night perfectly, and broke hearts all across the world. If a prequel series wanted to expand on the characters in Robert’s Rebellion, it would be smart to cast a gifted veteran like Wenham. He could add depth to the character that goes beyond just being the greatest swordsman in the country.

Okay, that’s everyone on Team Targaryen. Let’s switch to the Baratheon side of things, starting with the man who gives the Rebellion its name:

Robert Baratheon

1. Henry Cavill

Obviously we have to get someone capable to play a young, strapping Robert Baratheon — its his rebellion, after all. Henry Cavill may be a bit of wishful thinking, but after seeing him on The Witcher there’s no doubt this man has a knack for fantasy. And he would look great wielding Robert Baratheon’s famous warhammer in battle. The role would also let him play someone a bit less buttoned down than Geralt or Superman, since Robert is known to be wild, boisterous, funny and often drunk.

2. Tom Hardy

No one plays wild, boisterous drunkards with a soft heart and mean streak quite like Tom Hardy. He would be a difficult get for the show, but he’s possibly the best actor available who would be able to show all of Robert’s flaws while still getting the audience to fall in love with the character.

3. Paul Anderson

Fans of Peaky Blinders will remember Anderson as the oft-looked over eldest Shelby brother. Anderson spends the entirety of the show getting drunk and getting into brutal fights. He plays a character with deep-seated aggression and violent tendencies, yet he also has an extremely soft heart. He falls in love easily and becomes infatuated with those he cares about, not unlike how Robert Baratheon falls for Lyanna Stark even though it’s not reciprocated. I can’t think of an actor better suited to play those moments where the love of Robert’s life (at least so far as he’s concerned) leaves him for Rhaegar (or is kidnapped, as Robert will tell himself for the rest of his life). Robert’s grief and rage drive him to rebel against the Targaryen dynasty. It’s a key moment and Anderson would smash it.

Eddard (Ned) Stark

1. Robert Aramayo

Robert Aramayo is the first and most obvious choice to play young Ned because he already played the character in that Game of Thrones flashbacks we’ve talked about, and perfectly embodied the honorable youth who would go on to become the Warden of the North. We want to Ned to have the steel and honor we remember, but be a bit more vulnerable in his younger days. Aramayo has that.

Also, he’ll be a bigger name by the time this project comes out, as he’s slated to star in Amazon’s upcoming Lord of The Rings TV series. He’ll be the right age and have the right look and experience to play the part.

2. Matthew Lewis

Matthew Lewis is best known for playing Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter movies, but we haven’t seen too much of him since. Neville always had a core of decency that would fit Ned well; it’s easy to sympathize with him. And we’ll be sympathizing a lot with Ned, as he loses basically his entire family over the course of Robert’s bloody rebellion.

3. Tom Sturridge

If you’re not familiar with Tom Sturridge’s work yet, you will be soon. He’s landed the lead role in Netflix’s adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman. If that show turns out half as well as people expect, Sturridge’s already great career is likely to take off in a big way. With his brooding brow, he’d be a great choice to take on a young Ned.

Jon Arryn

1. Colin Firth

Jon Arryn is one of the characters fans are most excited to see brought to the screen. The murder of Robert Baratheon’s Hand of the King is what sets off the events of Game of Thrones, but we never actually see the man in the flesh, outside of a glimpse of his body at his funeral. In this series, we would get to see him as a mentor to young Ned and Robert, a strong political figure wielding power from the Eyrie (hopefully we’ll get to spend a lot of time back there), and the man who marries a young Lysa Arryn in order to secure an alliance, a marriage that eventually dooms him, since she’s the one who poisons and kills him at Littlefinger’s behest.

Arryn would be a good character to cast with a household name. Colin Firth would be great at playing the many sides of this figure, from nurturing mentor to savvy political player to loveless husband.

2. Patrick Stewart

This is me dreaming, I’m well aware of that. Patrick Stewart is the man to turn to when reviving popular franchises. He would be perfectly cast as the strong, wise mentor who’s willing to do whatever it takes to help Robert rebel against the Targaryen tyrant.

I really just want to see Patrick Stewart in more stuff! No one plays the “god-teacher” archetype quite like him, and it would be an honor to have Professor X/Jean-Luc Picard in Westeros.

3. Gary Oldman

Gary Oldman kinds of looks like sketches made of Jon Arryn at the time. He has the right look and he’s the right age. We know from his turn as Sirius Black in the Harry Potter movies that Oldman can play a lovable mentor, and we know from his role as Jim Gordon in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy that he can play an honorable warrior faced with constant moral conundrums. He played tortured politicians and political operatives in movies like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Darkest Hour. He’s got what it takes.

Howland Reed

1. Domnhall Gleeson

Howland Reed is the father of Mera and Jojen Reed, and a good friend to Ned Stark, even going down with him to the Tower of Joy to collect Ned’s sister Lyanna. Together, he Ned, and several others faced down three members of Aerys’ Kingsguard. Only Ned and Howland survived.

Since Leo Woodruff, the man who brought Howland Reed to life on Game of Thrones, is primarily a stunt man, I would expect HBO to cast a more typical actor for the prequel, where Howland can have an expanded role as Ned’s confidant and the only other person alive who knows the truth about Jon Snow. Reed is described as a small but capable man with great depth of bravery and strength. Gleeson is the right size and look for the young Crannogman and can play anything from a villain (Hux in the Star Wars sequel trilogy) to an innocent out of his depth (Ex Machina). Howland Reed isn’t either, but Gleeson will be up to the challenge of occupying a new kind of character.

2. Thomas Brodie-Sangster

The logic here is simple: Thomas Brodie-Sangster played Howland Reed’s son Jojen in Game of Thrones. Now older, he could be a good fit to play Howland himself.

Brodie-Sangster was good casting for Jojen because he had a willowy, vaguely eerie presence often associated with the people of the Neck. Howland is hardier than his precognitive son, but as he’s proven over a career in movies like Tristan & Isolde, Death of a Superhero and The Maze Runner series, he has the range to do whatever asked of him.

3. Colin Morgan

Morgan has great skill as a comedic actor and has received a lot of praise for his performance in the title role of Merlin. He’s got the right look, and could be a sprightly foil to the stern, ever-serious Eddard.

Stannis Baratheon

1. Frank Dillane

Stannis spends a lot of time during the rebellion holding Storm’s End for his older brother, dining on rats, getting to know Davos Seaworth and building up a certainly that he deserves to be king should anything ever happen to Robert. There’s really only one choice for this role, and it’s the son of the man who played Stannis on Game of Thrones.

Fans may remember Frank Dillane as a young Tom Riddle in the Harry Potter movies, but casting him here would be perfect thanks to his close resemblance to his father and his ability to play dark, brooding characters with a touch of malice hidden deep within them.

And because we’re done a bit early with Stannis, let’s cast the man who will become his good right hand…

Davos Seaworth

1. Charlie Heaton

Davos and Stannis meet during Robert’s Rebellion, when the young smuggles brings in food (including a lot of onions) for Robert Baratheon’s brother when he’s holding Storm’s End against a siege. Davos appreciates Stannis’ harsh-but-fair view of morality, and becomes his follower.

Although he’s young during this period, Davos is still a man of the world; he’s had to live the hard life of a lowborn boy making his way as a criminal, yet he still yearns for something more. He’s not a joyously effusive person, so we’re looking for someone with low-key energy. English actor Charlie Heaton displays plenty of that as Jonathan on Stranger Things, another young person who’s had to grow up fast. He could bring that to the role of a young Davos while still finding notes of humanity, pathos and hope.

2. Freddie Highmore

If we wanted to focus in on Davos’ more optimistic qualities, we could cast the baby-faced Freddie Highmore, an English actor who’s had prominent roles in wholesome movies like Finding Neverland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but also showed a dark side as famed movie murderer Norman Bates in Bates Motel. His Golden Globe nomination for his performance in The Good Doctor shows that he has chops, and he could bring that balance between decency and cynicism that’s key to Davos’ character.

Rickard Stark

1. Wayne Foskett

The part of the Stark patriarch and Ned’s father will definitely be a coveted one. His tragic death at the end of the Mad King — cooked alive in his own armor, which Jaime describes to Ned early on Game of Thrones — becomes the spark that fans the flames of rebellion across the country.

Wayne Foskett briefly appears as Rickard in one of Bran’s Three-Eyed Raven visions “The Door.” It would make sense to give him another crack at it, and let him expand on the character.

2. Bernard Hill

Here’s another pic from The Lord of The Rings movies, and I am not sorry about it. Hill’s performance as King Theoden is possibly the most inspiring and undervalued in the entire trilogy. If HBO is looking for someone who can play a lovable, honorable, strong and brave man who inspires Ned to become the man he is when we meet him, Hill would be a perfect choice.

3. Michael Gambon

Michael Gambon delighted audiences as the flamboyant and wise wizard Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter movies. Rickard Stark would be a very different kind of character, and while he’s pretty old for the role, Gambon would bring a lightness and kindness to it that might make it very interesting. Perhaps Rickard doesn’t have to be the brooding, harsh warrior-type we expect him to be. Gambon could certainly pull those attributes off, but his Rickard would show the fatherly side of the man and perhaps make the character even more sympathetic, since we already know he’s destined to meet a tragic end.

Brandon Stark

1. Jamie Dornan

Fans everywhere are wildly speculating on who will be cast as the eldest Stark sibling. Brandon “the Wild Wolf” Stark is a crazy, huge, passionate warrior that the people of Westeros admire so much that the Ned we see in Game of Thrones still lives in his shadow. Any actor cast in this part must have the charisma to live up to the character’s reputation. Among fans, one name seems to keep popping up: Fifty Shades star Jamie Dornan, a British heartthrob who would bring the right balance of wild abandon and righteous fury to the man who wins Catelyn Stark’s favor and dies trying to save his father from King Aery’s flames.

2. Karl Urban

Karl Urban would be my ideal choice for this role. We know from The Lord of The Rings — where he played Éomer — that he’s well-suited to play an arrogant yet honorable warrior who’s driven by a desire to do right by his family and his people. Urban has become even more of a household name since thanks to his starring role in The Boys. He’s made it clear here that he can also embody the dangerously crazed attitude of “The Wild Wolf.”

3. Christian Bale

From Batman to Bateman to Dick Cheney, there’s pretty much nothing that this guy can’t do. It’s unlikely that an actor of Bale’s caliber and prestige would be attached to this project, especially since it’s unclear how large of a role Brandon Stark will play in the adaptation. I put him on here mainly as a fun person to consider.

Lyanna Stark

1. Aisling Franciosi

The fierce Lyanna Stark, who shared a lot of character traits with her older brother Brandon, already appeared in some of Bran’s Three-Eyed Raven visions, so it’d be easy to just go with the actress who played her there. Aisling Franciosi was great as the young Stark sister, who we saw during her secret marriage to Rhaegar Targaryen and later at the moment of her death, as she pleads with a young Ned Stark to take care of her newborn baby, Jon Snow. She’ll get to do a lot more if HBO wants to her to come back, since much of the story turns on Lyanna’s decisions.

2. Saoirse Ronan

Saoirse Ronan is one of the biggest names in Hollywood right now, and would be a great fit for one of the biggest roles in this story. As she showed in movies like Little Women, she’s terrific at playing passionate women ahead of their time, which definitely describes Lyanna.

3. Daisy Ridley

After a steady, committed performance as Rey in the Star Wars sequels, Daisy Ridley has established herself as a talented actress able to confidently play strong women who are thrust into difficult situations. She would bring the right balance of innocence and strength to Lyanna Stark.

Benjen Stark

1. Joseph Mawle

One option here is to just go with the guy you know. Mawle is great as Benjen Stark throughout Game of Thrones, and since we don’t know how much we’ll even see of the youngest Stark sibling in the new show, it could make sense to cast a familiar face and make him look much younger through digital magic. Benjen doesn’t play a huge role in the events of Roberts rebellion as he’s already at the Wall before his fathers death in the Mad King’s court.

2. Jamie Bell

If this project expands upon events and follows a young Benjen on his adventures beyond the Wall, it’d be more important to cast a younger man who could leave his own mark on the role. Rocketman star Jamie Bell would fit right in with the other Stark children as the clear runt of the litter intent on making his family proud. Benjen has more of a sense of humor than his other siblings, and Bell would be the right choice to bring that aspect of the character to life.

3. Ben Barnes

If they were to digitally de-age Joseph Mawley, the result would end up looking a lot like Ben Barnes. Barnes has extensive experience in the fantasy world, most notably with his role in The Chronicles of Narnia movies. Fans will remember him as the wild and sadistic Logan in HBO’s Westworld, so he already is a favorite of the studio. They could bring him in if they wanted to add some edge to Benjen.

Hoster Tully

1. Hugh Laurie

The only time we saw Lord Hoster Tully on Game of Thrones, he was already dead, floating down the river on his funeral pyre. The Hoster Tully of this period is one of the more formidable, strong-willed lords in the country.

Hugh Laurie has made a career out of playing powerful men with honorable intentions and vulgar sensibilities (House, Veep, Avenue 5). And, while he’s rarely crossed over into outright fantasy, he was on the historical fiction comedy Black Adder, which is close enough. He’s skilled at playing leaders of men and would be an inspired choice for the Tully patriarch.

2. John Rhys-Davies

Okay, Drew, we get it: you love The Lord of the Rings. I promise this is the last actor from one of cinema’s greatest franchises that I’m going to ask HBO cast in this adaptation. John Rhys-Davies (Gimli) is no stranger to medieval worlds or to playing strong characters. He could also bring a refreshing sense of humor to the role that could help ground the character

3. Brendan Gleeson

Here’s an actor that can pretty much do anything. I really just want to see him somewhere in this world riding a horse, feasting in a great hall and flourishing a cape. He has an extensive resume in fantasy and historical epics (Braveheart, Kingdom of Heaven, the Harry Potter movies) as well as a reputation for playing hardened yet lovable characters navigating difficult circumstances.

Catelyn Tully

1. Sophie Cookson

Michelle Fairley’s performance is most of the most widely respected from the original series, and anyone who plays a younger version will need to leap that high bar. Sophie Cookson, who captured the hearts of audiences in the Kingsman movies, would bring a sense of youthful willfulness to the character of a young Catelyn, who in the course of the story is engaged to Brandon Stark and then must marry his quieter brother Ned when Brandon dies at the hands of King Aerys, while not losing the strength and dignity we know from Game of Thrones.

2. Jessie Buckley

After a long dual career as an actor/musician, Buckley solidified herself as a future Hollywood superstar with her breakout role in this year’s I’m Thinking of Ending Things. She has the perfect balance of innocence and exuberance to capture the essence of the young woman who wins the affections of both Stark boys. She also has the hair down already.

3. Sophie Turner

I’m not in love with the idea of bringing back Game of Thrones cast members for the show — Maisie Williams has been floated as a possible choice for Lyanna, since it’s noted that she looked Arya — but I might make an exception for Sophie Turner. She would shine as the younger version of her Sansa’s mother. She’s the right look, she had the right experience, and she has the talent to bring us a textured take on this iconic character.

Lysa Tully

1. Anya Taylor-Joy

What can’t this young actress do? Anya Taylor-Joy is a star on the rise who has quickly become a household name with performances in The Witch, Young Mutants, Emma and The Queens Gambit, which hoisted her profile. She has experience with period pieces, fantastical worlds, and characters with devious intentions. She’d be well cast as the rambunctious, beautiful, passionate, possibly slightly unstable young woman who falls for Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish even though he doesn’t have her best interests at heart.

2. Florence Pugh

Here’s another Oscar-nominated superstar who would be a huge get for the show. Florench Pugh is one of the best young actresses out there. She could dig into the complexities of Lysa’s relationships with her sister, father and lover, drawing out sympathy for this woman who got lost in the game, and suggesting the aspects of Lysa that would later bloom into paranoia.

3. Millie Bobby Brown

The young Lysa Arryn was beautiful and beguiling, but we know she’ll grow into a woman of suspicion and intensity. If the show wanted to bring that out, perhaps they could hire Millie Bobby Brown and have her channel some of the rawness of her performance as Eleven on Stranger Things. And she’s done plenty of other work since, so you know she can handle anything the writers throw at her.

Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish

1. Alex Lawther

Since we don’t know yet where exactly in the story we’re going to pick up, it’s difficult to say where or whether Petyr Baelish will appear. Not long before the Rebellion, Littlefinger falls in love with Catelyn Stark, challenges her betrothed Brandon Stark to a duel, loses, and then takes advantage of Lysa, who loves him so much she’ll eventually commit murder for him. It would be interesting to see Baelish as a young man who was still hanging on to some of his youthful idealism, before he became the ambition monster we know from the show. Lawther has experience playing seemingly innocent characters that turn out to be despicable. Look at his episode of Black Mirror, “Shut Up and Dance,” for a sense of what he could bring to a young Littlefinger.

2. Asa Butterfield

As far as young British actors go, few have been more successful than Asa Butterfield, who had starring roles as a child star in movies like Hugo and Ender’s Game and has continued working straight through to today. He has the acting chops to make this role sing, and his penchant for playing good-hearted heroes could make Petyr’s eventual collapse into cynicism ring tragic.

3. Diego Luna

By far the oldest actor on this list, Luna would be a better choice if the show picks up after the events of Baelish’s youth. If we’re focusing on his rise to power and years-long manipulation of Lysa, Luna would be a brilliant choice. He played a spy in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (and will be reprising the role in an upcoming Disney+ series), and Littlefinger is nothing if not someone adept at hiding their true intentions.

Tywin Lannister

1. Paul Bettany

Fans are looking forward to seeing this towering figure from the original show in his prime, busy playing both sides of the battle and ultimately helping overthrow King Aerys. Paul Bettany may be slightly on the young side for this version of Tywin Lannister, but he would bring the deviousness and conviction the character needs, both as Aerys’ Hand of the King and later as his worst enemy.

2. Gabriel Bryne

On the flip side, Gabriel Byrne might be a bit on the old side to play a young(er) Tywin. He may not exactly have the look, but his ability to play characters who intimidate with silence or a look cannot be questioned. He’s a brilliant actor who brings a weightiness to his performances that would suit Tywin well. His casting would highlight the characters ruthlessness and cunning as well, as his failings as a parent.

3. Kevin McKidd

Ah, just right. McKidd has the look and demeanor to perfectly embody a young Tywin Lannister’s powerful presence. Best known for his role as the steamy doctor Owen Hunt on Grey’s Anatomy, McKidd has extensive experience playing kings and knights in fantasy projects.

Jaime Lannister

1. Alexander Ludwig

We all know the most important thing Jaime did during Robert’s Rebellion: although a Kingsguard knight sworn to protect Aerys Targaryen, he killed the Mad King instead, earning him the name of Kingslayer. But there was so much more to Jaime than that. He was the youngest-ever member of the Kingsguard, a talented young man being moved across a board like a puzzle piece by his father and his king. The actor who plays Jaime must play the heartbreak of unrequited love as he’s separated from his sister Cersei, the golden child who disappoints his father, and the brave knight who learns from the best in the world but eventually betrays the king he’s sworn to protect.

There’s a lot going on in this role, and Alexander Ludwig could be up to the challenge of tackling it. Fans will recognize Ludwig from his performance as Cato in The Hunger Games and Bjorn Lothbrok in Vikings. There, he’s the perfect golden child but is also capable of intense brutality. He has an arrogant swagger and a sense of honor. All of those things should map onto Jaime as he navigates his new life in the game of thrones.

2. Dacre Montgomery

Montgomery blew up when he played Billy Hargrove in Netflix’s hit Stranger Things. He’s got the perfect look for a young Jaime, who’s widely regarded as the most beautiful man in the country.

As Billy Hargrove on Stranger Things, Montgomery achieves a perfect balance between sadistic monster and sympathetic young man. This balance will be essential to making Jaime Lannister an enjoyable character in a story where we already know he won’t develop past the point he’s at in the beginning of Game of Thrones.

3. Tom Felton

Who better to play a cruel yet misunderstood golden knight than Draco Malfoy himself? We know from Harry Potter that Felton is more than capable of making audiences sympathize with a character who’s actively doing things we disagree with or don’t understand. He has a deep understanding of characters who are forced into being who they are due to the circumstances of their complicated families. It would be thrilling to see him in another blockbuster role.

Cersei Lannister

1. Evanna Lynch

More Harry Potter! Like her brother, Cersei is struggling with a lot of forces during Robert’s Rebellion, although she seems more sure of her place in the grand scheme of things. She’s in love with her brother, but isn’t above manipulating him gain position. She was promised to Prince Rhaegar but ends up marrying Robert Baratheon himself, whom she tries to love but who treats her horribly for the crime of not being Lyanna Stark. She’s very much a mini-version of the woman we meet on Game of Thrones.

Evanna Lynch has the right look for a younger Cersei and knows how to walk the line between loopy and lucid. It would be fun to see her sink her teeth into a role with more edge than most viewers are used to.

2. Sarah Bolger

Bolger looks enough like a young Lena Headey and has experience with a medieval-ish setting in 2015’s Into the Badlands. She has the right combination of beauty and venomous sweetness to play a compelling Cersei Lannister.

3. Freya Allan

Nineteen-year-old English actor Freya Allan certainly has the right look to play a young Cersei Lannister, although she’ll have to show us a new, wicked side of herself to pull off the role. As Ciri in The Witcher, Allan mostly plays a sweet wayward princess, whereas Cersei is a good deal more sinister.

But Allan is a good enough actor that I’m sure she can pull it off. Also, she’s starring in a movie called Gunpowder Milkshake alongside Lena Headey, so she can ask for tips right from the source.

Okay, now that we’ve gone over some options, here’s what my ideal cast for a Robert’s Rebellion prequel would look like:

• King Aerys Targaryen: John Noble
• Rhaegar Targaryen: Alexander Skarsgard
• Rhaella Targaryen: Naomi Watts
• Elia Martell: Ruth Negga
• Grand Maester Pycelle: Joseph Fiennes
• Varys: Nicholas Hoult
• Jon Connington: Chiwetel Ejiofor
• Barristan Selmy: Damian Lewis
• Gerold Hightower: Idris Elba
• Arthur Dayne: Alexander Dreymon
• Robert Baratheon: Paul Anderson
• Ned Stark: Robert Aramayo
• Jon Arryn: Gary Oldman
• Howland Reed: Colin Morgan
• Stannis Baratheon: Frank Dillane
• Davos Seaworth: Charlie Heaton
• Rickard Stark: Bernard Hill
• Brandon Stark: Karl Urban
• Lyanna Stark: Saoirse Ronan
• Benjen Stark: Ben Barnes
• Hoster Tully: Brendan Gleeson
• Catelyn Tully: Jessie Buckley
• Lysa Tully: Anya Taylor-Joy
• Petyr Baelish: Alex Lawther
• Tywin Lannister: Kevin McKidd
• Jaime Lannister: Dacre Montgomery
• Cersei Lannister: Evanna Lynch

There are other characters we could talk about, like Quellon Greyjoy, Llewyn Martell and Paxter Redwyne. And of course, there are infant/child versions of main characters from the original show  like Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen and Tyrion Lannister. It’s a big story with a big cast, and if it goes forward we’re bound to get a flurry of exciting announcements that give us a better idea of what direction HBO wants to take it.

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