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You Know Nothing, Jon Snow: "Game Of Thrones" News

By TK | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (27)

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Oh, “Game Of Thrones,” you do make a man happy. The casting for season two of HBO’s wildly successful adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s series of novels continues to churn on, with new names and faces coming every couple of weeks. I couldn’t be happier, overall. I love that, for the most part, it’s mostly unknowns or less-well-knowns. Hell, Sean Bean was the most well-known actor cast to date, and he fucking died in the first season. Yet they continue to manage to find solid talent for less money, meaning they can focus on writing, production, and everything else that makes the show the fucking balls.

First, the older news, which is still freakin’ awesome: Neil Marshall, director of The Descent and Dog Soldiers, will be directing one of the episodes. Hell yes.

Next, some casting news, some of which is new, some of which is simply new since the last time we updated you. Many of these aren’t huge announcements, but they still make for good discussion.

Ygritte the Wildling: Rose Leslie
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Amory Lorch: Fintan McKeown
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Tickler: Anthony Morris
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Rorge: Andy Beckwith
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Biter: Gerard Jordan
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Salladhor Saan: Lucian Msamati
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Eddison “Dolorous Edd” Tollett: Ben Crompton
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Balon Greyjoy: Patrick Malahide
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Jaqen H’ghar: Tom Wlaschiha
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Xaro Xhoan Daxos: Nonso Anozie
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Also, this is unconfirmed but there are reports that Ser Gregor “The Mountain That Rides” Clegane has been recast. Conan Stevens filled the very large shoes in Season One, but rumors abound that Ian Whyte will take over the role going forward. Worry not, Whyte is still a big son of a bitch at 7’1”, though he lacks the same sense of menace that Stevens seemed the have.
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“Game Of Thrones” resumes on HBO in April, 2012. Fucking April. Six more goddamn months.

Valar morghulis, motherfuckers.









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Comments

In fact, I think Neil Marshall will be directing the one episode that George RR himself is writing, which, I think is titled, "The Blackwater." For those who have read the book it should be a hell of an episode and most likely the largest it terms of effects and budget.

It's too bad about Conan Stevens. I wonder what happened there. He really looked menacing and angry. Perfect for the role.

Based solely on the pictures above Ygritte, Dolorous Edd and Balon Greyjoy look spot on perfect.

Posted by: Forbiddendonut at October 12, 2011 10:40 AM

Looking good! Rorge looks like he will be sufficiently creepy, really like the pick for Dolorous Edd. Really hope that Tom Wlaschiha can pull off the mysterious Jaqen, he looks like he could. I look forward to hating Ygritte on TV as much as I hate her in the books. Come on April!

Posted by: Laura at October 12, 2011 10:46 AM

Why would you hate on Ygritte?

Posted by: Glyn at October 12, 2011 11:03 AM

Conan Stevens is probably busy with The Hobbitt.

Good that they're hiring writers. Because the second novel was atrocious.

Posted by: lubeg at October 12, 2011 11:07 AM

I think there were scheduling conflicts with Conan Stevens. He has parlayed his success in season one into a few other parts elsewhere and the production couldn't accomodate him. He actually confirmed this on the message boards over at Winter is Coming.

I love the casting for Balon Greyjoy. That picture is downright menacing.

And Ygritte looks ok for me. I was actually never that excited about her character. I will refrain from dicussing her further so as not to spoil the nonreaders...

I also like that Salladhor is a black man now, I am all for casting other ethnicities in Fantasy. That way I can continue daydreaming.

Posted by: Phedre at October 12, 2011 11:11 AM

I can't really explain my dislike for Ygritte, she just irritates me constantly and inexplicably. Every time she tells Jon he knows nothing, I just feel like screaming at her that she knows even less. Maybe it's my Jon crush coming through. I can't argue with people that do like her character because my own reasons for disliking her are so vague :P But they are definitely there!

Posted by: Laura at October 12, 2011 11:12 AM

LOVE Patrick Malahide. A very under-rated actor.

Posted by: PaddyDog at October 12, 2011 11:12 AM

Looks like spot on casting to me!

Posted by: chad at October 12, 2011 11:26 AM

You know nothing, Laura.

Fucking April, indeed.

Posted by: Greedy at October 12, 2011 11:28 AM

The second novel was amazing, lubeg. Is that what you meant? Was that an auto-correct issue?

Posted by: John G. at October 12, 2011 11:45 AM

Because the second novel was atrocious.

Posted by: lubeg at October 12, 2011 11:07 AM

You know nothing, lubeg.

Posted by: Forbiddendonut at October 12, 2011 11:50 AM

I just finished A Clash of Kings 2 days ago and with all the casting it seems that anyone with a speaking role in the book (no matter how small) is getting cast in season 2. I really hope it doesn't become overwhelming because despite having just read the book I have only a vagure recollection of some of these people's names.

Balon Greyjoy looks particularly well cast. And when I read that Neil Marshall was directing an ep the first thing that came to mind was the massive battle at the end of the book. Hopefully I'm right because they have to do that scene justice.

And it is an amazing novel.

Posted by: TylerDFC at October 12, 2011 12:00 PM

Considering how badly Conan Stevens wanted the role of Gregor Clegane when they were casting it, I find it hard to believe he'd abandon it so readily. Also, the guy that they have playing him in season 2 is the same guy who played the White Walker in the pilot, so I'm guessing they're just having a tall stuntman fill in for Conan while he does other projects. It's not like Clegane has that many lines to begin with.

Posted by: SJ at October 12, 2011 12:27 PM

Nope, not an autocorrect issue. Merely my belief that the second novel lacked any of the intrigue which made A Game of Thrones at least serviceable. I find Shogun to be amazing. A Clash of Kings, in my opinion, is not.

I do think someone should provide Mr. Martin with a thesaurus and if necessary some instruction. I grew weary of reading "...a man grown..." and "...broke his/her fast...", for instance, without any variation.

I enjoyed much of A Game of Thrones as well as its adaptation. I certainly hope that the second season is more compelling than its source material.

Posted by: lubeg at October 12, 2011 1:15 PM

Well, I know Gregor doesn't say much, but if he has any real character work (granted, his "character work" consists entirely of committing atrocious acts), I'd say it comes mostly in book two, so it's disappointing that Conan can't continue. I read that he's playing the Goblin King in The Hobbit, and that was the cause of the conflict. If Whyte is taking the role, I hope he sports the beard that Conan had. There's not nearly the necessary menace in that still up there without it.

Posted by: DarthCorleone at October 12, 2011 1:17 PM

Season two is the year of Tyrion!

And, yeah, I read Marshall is confirmed to be directing Martin's episode number nine "Blackwater" with the battle royale.

Posted by: DarthCorleone at October 12, 2011 1:19 PM

I like these castings better than the first batch!

Posted by: Luke at October 12, 2011 1:27 PM

Gripes we've all heard before. All Martin needs is a better editor. And maybe some focus.

The Blackwater should be awesome.

I think I'd take the Goblin King over Clegane too.

Posted by: Protoguy at October 12, 2011 1:28 PM

I believe that GRRM's repeated use of phrases like "a man grown" and the like is to establish cultural idioms which help in world building in a phantasy novel, not because he's unfamiliar with a thesaurus.

Posted by: John G. at October 12, 2011 2:35 PM

Dayamn. Jaqen looks good. I can't wait for him and Arya, and The Blackwater battle. Shit will be fucking nuts.

Posted by: Alexa at October 12, 2011 5:53 PM

I have never heard of any of these people but based on looks alone, each person seems absolutely perfect.

Posted by: ang at October 12, 2011 7:16 PM

The woman at the top looks like the general manager who fucked the owner at the restaurant where I used to work.

Posted by: Lucas at October 13, 2011 1:00 AM

Rorge and Balon Greyjoy are just spot on! Great work!

Posted by: Matthijs at October 13, 2011 3:14 AM

A simple rejection of repeated phrases or idioms is naive if it doesn't examine the effect that is intended by such a repetition.

Posted by: Ender at October 13, 2011 4:51 AM

I didn't find this much of an issue until the last installment, Dance of Dragons. Sounds more like bandwagon bitching if we're still talking about season 2. Martin's last book was rushed to publication with slopping editing and the first time I heard gripes about repetition.

Posted by: Protoguy at October 13, 2011 5:29 AM

Nope, not bandwagon bitching, either. I have not yet read any other criticisms of Martin's work, nor do I discuss the novels in my circle of friends, the majority are not interested in his material. These are my own opinions, reached while I was reading the novel this summer.

There are interesting characters and fascinating events taking place in this world. But I personally feel they are poorly realized in Martin's prose.

I took an interest in the works based on the positive discussions taking place here on Pajiba. It's unfortunate that I disagree with the majority of you, but I stand by my feelings on the matter.

Posted by: lubeg at October 13, 2011 11:07 AM

Goody gumdrops. Get us a cup of tea, would you, Rorge?

Posted by: Wapshin at October 13, 2011 12:06 PM