Casting is well underway for A Game of Thrones the TV series based on the amazing fantasy novel by George R R Martin of the same name.
Now, I think these books, A Song of Ice and Fire, are the best fantasy series I've ever read. I've read a lot, and these are the best, in my opinion, so far. That's a pretty big call, but I'm making it. The people behind this series are the same who created Deadwood and Rome; two good shows, in their own ways. Today I'm going to outline my response to each of the announced cast choices. George R R Martin also said on his Not a Blog recently that six more characters are about to be cast, but we will have to wait some time for the announcements. When they are announced, I will do a follow up post. I'm interested to see how this series works out, because as I said, this is an amazing book they are working with, and Martin has even been involved with the screen plays, I believe he is writing one episode himself. Now, onto the cast and my impressions!
Sean Bean will do quite well as Eddard Stark, in my opinion. He voiced Martin from The Elder Scrolls Oblivion game quite well, and the character has a similar sense of... rigidity or dourness, so I think this was a good choice.
Peter Drinklage as Tyrion Lanister will be awesome, I think. Drinklage has a tenacious and sardonic personality in many of his roles, and I think this will suit The Imp so very well.
Jennifer Ehle as Catelyn Stark will work very well, even as Elizabeth Bennett in the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice she had an austere coldness that I think will work wonders - now that she is older - as cold and hateful Catelyn. I dislike Catelyn intensely.
I've never seen Kit Harington in anything before, but he looks okay for the part. I would have liked to have seen someone perhaps a little longer in the face, but this serves, and there could be - with hair and make-up - similarities brought out with him and Sean Bean.
Mark Addy as Robert Baratheon is interesting... I've no doubt he can play it, I just envision him as being... bigger, swarthier, and at least somewhat intimidating... :lol: But I still think this will work out well.
Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon I'm not sure about because I can't see a picture of him that is anything like recent on the net, so I don't know. It's going to take a good actor to portray that horrid little abomination.
Harry Lloyd as Viserys Targaryen... he seems too old, to me. This one sticks out a bit... but with a lot of alterations, silver hair, lilac eyes, maybe it'll work.
So far only the pilot is sure to be shot, but if the reception is good enough, more could follow, and I for one, bloody hope so!

3 comments
1. Anonymous (anonymous), Aug 19, 2009 7:17:06 PM #
All of the younger characters (Stark children, Baratheon kids, Danaerys, Viserys, etc.) are depicted in the HBO series as older than they are in the books.
2. LucasH, Aug 20, 2009 2:12:10 AM #
Ah, interesting, I can guess why, but it's still a bit odd.
3. zhyyo (anonymous), Nov 13, 2009 8:36:23 AM #
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