HBO Officially Greenlights George RR Martin's A Game of Thrones as a TV pilot

[Dunbar]

I love dinklage

 

he's pure awesome, and this bides well

[Werthead]

More news in the next few weeks. They're casting Daenerys, Jon Snow, Robb and Arya in the next few weeks. Apparently they're looking at unknowns for all of them.

 

There are rumours that they're also looking at recognisable-but-not-superstar names for at least Eddard and Catelyn. Given the timetable they are working to, I would definitely expect more casting news to emerge shortly.

[claireducky]

This just in, from GRRM's blog:

 

Yes, HBO has been holding auditions for the pilot of A GAME OF THRONES. In London, in Ireland, even in LA. It's been tough finding the right actors for the roles, however, so we've decided to take a different approach. We're scrapping the whole live action thing, and we'll be doing the show as an animated cartoon. And who better to take charge of that than the guys who have done such a great job with SOUTH PARK lo these many seasons?

 

They've jumped right into it, and we've already got our characters:

 

HOUSE STARK

 

HOUSE LANNISTER

 

HOUSE BARATHEON

 

HOUSE GREYJOY

 

HOUSE TYRELL

 

HOUSE TARGARYREN

 

Can you dig it?

 

All together now. "You killed Ned. You BASTARDS!"

 

*grin*

[mnwhiterose]

They are saying that Holly Marie Combs will play Catelyn Stark.  Interesting choice.

[Liathiana]

Nope, Benioff and Weiss confirmed that this was NOT true.

[mnwhiterose]

really? it was on IMDB. Guess they aren't always right after all.

[Liathiana]

No they definitely are not LOL.

[Mendorah]

IMDB is user edited much like wikipedia.  So it's not totally infallible.  I think the established movies, etc are policed a lot harder than the ones which are still just in rumor stages.  That page probably won't get any solid info until it's totally cast and greenlit.

[Werthead]

Casting breakdowns are doing the rounds as casting for A GAME OF THRONES continues in Belfast, Dublin, London and Los Angeles. One of the more interesting pieces of news to emerge from this is that several characters who do not appear in A FEAST FOR CROWS (like Theon), or appear only very briefly (like Jon) are listed as been needed for 'all seasons' (in Jon's case) or for Season 4 having skipped Season 3 (in Theon's case).

 

Whilst not definitive, this seems to strongly support what had previously been suggested: that HBO do not want to give half the cast a whole season off and will be combining the events of Books 4 and 5 into one season.

 

This to me is a good idea. The show as it stands is going to have some logistical difficulties as it is with the younger actors aging slightly more than they should do as the story develops, and reducing the narrative pace and urgency for a more relaxed, shorter fouth season would seem to be a mistake.

 

Of course, this gives GRRM a whole year less to finish the last two books before the TV series catches up with him.

 

Other news: Season 1 may be 10 episodes long, which fits with the book being 800 pages and the first episode covering about 80 pages. This also gives HBO more episodes for later seasons if the show becomes a success. By my reckoning, Season 2 will need 11-12 episodes and Season 3 around 13-15 given the sheer lengths of the books.

 

Interestingly, the LA casting directors have been looking to cast Jaime, Cersei and Khal Drogo in America. This may fit as Dinklage is American and they may have decided to go with American accents for the Lannisters and other characters from the Westerlands. Interesting to see if that is really the case.

[Haxorsist]

IMDB is user edited much like wikipedia.

 

I was hoping you'd say "much like Tom Cruise is user edited."

[Werthead]

It now looks like that all of the casting locations are looking for all of the characters, so they get the largest possible number and variety of actors.

 

HBO are now looking for sixteen major roles for the pilot episode in all of the locations:

 

Arya

Bran

Catelyn

Cersei

Daenerys

Drogo

Jamie Lannister

Jon Snow

King Robert

Ned

Prince Joffrey

Robb Stark

Sansa

Ser Jorah

Theon

Viserys

 

Regardless of the series itself, it is quite interesting to see the process involved for casting and developing a TV series in production.

[Liathiana]

Hmm...I think it's a good idea and yet...a fake accent from an American might pull me out of it, even if he or she's a good actor. I"m still hoping, at least family-wise, the accents seem the same. But then again I"m an American so it probably won't annoy me as much as someone who can actually tell the difference between the gazillion different accents in the UK.

[Cadsuane]

IMDB is user edited much like wikipedia.

 

I was hoping you'd say "much like Tom Cruise is user edited."

 

Hax, I adore you.  ;D

[Werthead]

Multiple sources are now saying Sean Bean has been cast as Eddard Stark.

 

No confirmation from any of the usual sources, but awesome if true. Waiting to see if HBO confirm this tomorrow or on Monday.

[Mendorah]

I saw that on WiC today and I have to say that I HOPE it is true!!!!  Fabulousness!

[Liathiana]

That would be SWEET!

[Dunbar]

:o

 

Sean Bean = awesome!

[el Nynaeve]

Fantastic. My MiL has a crush on Sean Bean but there's no way she'd watch this, lol. ;D

[RunswithWolves]

this series will be awesome. there may be a problem with every other charcter AND their mom dying, so much so that people not into the series may get mad at having their favorite guy in episode 3 die in episode 5.. or so on ;)

[Ozhammer]

I saw a horrible movie with Sean Bean in it the other day, I just worry about his credentials (though Im no expert on ASOIAF etc, and only read them cos Caddy told me too)  ;)

[Werthead]

I've seen Sean Bean in some bad things as well. He's an actor who does really good work in response to good direction but can be a bit lacklustre without it. Since the director for GoT is the excellent Tom McCarthy, I have no worries on that score.

 

Anyway, it is official. Sean Bean IS Ned Stark. They also announced some other casting:

 

King Robert Baratheon - Mark Addy (The Full Monty, A Knight's Tale)

Joffrey Baratheon - Jack Gleeson (Batman Begins)

Jon Snow - Kit Harrington (a newcomer)

Viserys Targaryen - Harry Lloyd (Will Scarlett in ROBIN HOOD, also in the DOCTOR WHO 'Human Nature' two-parter)

 

More news to come ;)

 

[claireducky]

Here are a couple pictures of the actors for Viserys (Harry Lloyd) and Joffrey (Jack Gleeson):

 

Viserys (Harry Lloyd)

 

Joffrey (Jack Gleeson...more than 4 years ago from Batman Begins).

[Sirayn]

Yesssssss. Want.

[Werthead]

Jennifer Ehle - best known for playing Elizabeth Bennett in the BBC's definitive version of PRIDE & PREJUDICE (the Colin Firth one) - has been cast as Catelyn Stark in the adaptation.

 

Excellent choice. Ehle is one of our top-tier actresses with a very strong and varied career. I'm pretty sure she'll do brilliantly in the role.

[Werthead]

HBO have announced that an additional seven castmembers have been added to A GAME OF THRONES.

 

Rising Danish actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau has been cast as Jaime Lannister. Coster-Waldau was most recently seen in the lead role in Ronald D. Moore's VIRTUALITY.

 

Tamzin Merchant as Daenerys Targaryen. Merchant has just been starring as Katherine Howard in THE TUDORS.

 

Richard Madden as Robb Stark. Madden is an up-and-coming Scottish stage actor.

 

Iain Glen as Jorah Mormont. Glen is a veteran actor who recently played the role of Orestes in THE LAST LEGION (not a great film, but he was good in it) and King Richard in KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. A very sold and reliable choice.

 

Alfie Allen (brother of Lily) as Theon Greyjoy. Alfie Allen is another stage actor and the brother of British pop singer Lily Allen. He got some unwanted attention after his sister penned a humourous song about him on her first album, but has come into his own with some solid reviews after taking over the stage role of EQUUS from Daniel Radcliffe earlier this year.

 

Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark & Maisie Williams as Arya Stark. Newcomers.

 

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iebbbd387ec9a77d4309a5c3b4bb8e30e