Ian McShane Teases His Important, One Episode 'Game of Thrones' Role

By Cindy Davis | Game of Thrones | November 16, 2015 |

By Cindy Davis | Game of Thrones | November 16, 2015 |

I hope you didn’t get overexcited about Deadwood favorite, Ian McShane being cast in Game of Thrones’ sixth season; turns out he’ll appear in only one episode. It’s not that as a guest star we expected him to be around forever, but I did like the idea of him in a multi-episode arc, perhaps as one of Balon Greyjoy’s brothers. Alas, it doesn’t sound like McShane has much of a storyline of his own at all; rather, he’ll be instrumental in another character’s return.

***Possible Spoilers for Season 6, as well as ***Book Spoilers below.***

The 73-year old (WHAT?), who’s said to be playing a role of “key importance,” has given a hint about his character:

“I am responsible for bringing somebody back that you think you’re never going to see again. I’ll leave it at that.

[It’s] a one-off episode. That’s why I did it. But I can’t reveal anything, otherwise I will never work again.”

Some have speculated McShane, whose character Watchers on the Wall says filmed with the outlaw band described here, may be playing Septon Meribald or the Elder Brother; it’s notable that both have book connections to Brienne of Tarth. In A Feast for Crows, Brienne encounters two “dead” characters, and it looks like McShane’s character may reunite Gwendoline Christie’s fierce warrior with one (or both) of them. Is it possible this season will feature the long-awaited Lady Stoneheart? It may seem more likely McShane is ushering back fan favorite, Sandor Clegane aka The Hound (left for dead by Arya), especially since Rory McCann was spotted in Belfast late this summer. That said, there have also been unconfirmed sightings of Michelle Fairley; the actress was supposedly seen having coffee with an actor who played either her father or uncle (Brynden Tully is confirmed to return this upcoming season).

All of this to say, I can’t wait to see how many presumed killed characters return in Season 6, or “What is dead may never die.”

Cindy Davis, (Twitter)