British actors join the cast of George RR Martin’s A Game of Thrones
George RR Martin recently confirmed that several actors have been selected to play the lead roles in the HBO adaptation of his popular fantasy novel, A Game of Thrones.
With filming scheduled to being in Belfast this autumn, HBO have ensured that the British will make a strong showing (maybe the success of Harry Potter has shown that British actors do fantasy particularly well).
The biggest name to be announced is that of Sean Bean (Boromir, The Lord of the Rings), who will play the central role of Lord Eddard Stark, the upright and honourable king of the north.
Mark Addy (A Knights Tale, The Full Monty), will play Stark’s fellow king and long-time friend King Robert while Kit Harington (War Horse) will play Stark’s bastard son Jon Snow.
The cast, as it currently stands, will also include Harry Lloyd (Doctor Who, Robin Hood) as Viserys and Peter Dinklage (The Station Agent) as Tyrion.
A Game of Thrones will be directed by Tom McCarthy (The Station Agent, The Visitor) who will once again team up with cinematographer Oliver Bokelberg.
Book synopsis
As warden of the north, Lord Eddard Stark counts it a curse when King Robert bestows on him the office of the Hand. His honour weighs him down at court where a true man does what he will, not what he must … and a dead enemy is a thing of beauty. The old gods have no power in the south, Stark’s family is split and there is treachery at court. Worse, a vengeance mad boy has grown to maturity in exile in the Free Cities beyond the sea. Heir of the mad Dragon King deposed by Robert, he claims the Iron Throne.
In 1996, George RR Martin began work on “A Song of Ice and Fire”, a series of books inspired by the War of the Roses (a series of civil wars fought between the House of York and the House of Lancaster for the English throne in the 15th century). The fourth book; “A Feast of Crows” became The New York Times No.1 bestseller.
Posted: July 21st, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: George RR Martin
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