‘Game of Thrones’ - HBO’s hugely successful fantasy series which is now filming its fourth series in Northern Ireland, Iceland & Croatia – has added some new faces to well-known characters for the new season.
As before, filming is primarily based at Paint Hall Studios, with funding by Northern Ireland Screen fund, supported by Invest NI and the European Regional Development Fund.
The following contains no plot spoilers for those who haven’t read the books, with only actors’ and characters' names mentioned.
First up Roger Ashton-Griffiths (‘Gangs of New York’, ‘A Knight’s Tale) will play Mace Tyrell, Loras and Margaery Tyrell's father & the Lord of Highgarden; while Joseph Gatt (‘Thor’, ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’) has been cast as Styr, a Wildling leader.
Chilean actor Pedro Pascal has signed on as the ‘Red Viper’ Oberyn Martell, while Indira Varma (‘Rome’, ‘Luther’) will play his lover Ellaria Sand.
A number of previously-introduced characters have also been recast with new actors - Icelandic actor Haþór Björnsson is taking over as ‘The Mountain’ Gregor Clegane; Michiel Huisman (‘Treme’) is recast as the Khaleesi’s love interest Daario Naharis; and Dean-Charles Chapman will now play Tommen Baratheon, King Joffrey's younger brother.
Finally, Mark Gatiss - who plays Mycroft Holmes in BBC’s ‘Sherlock’ - has been cast as Tycho Nestoris, a representative of the Iron Bank of Braavos, who figures largely in the later books.
Returning Irish cast members for season four include Jack Gleeson as King Joffrey; Aiden Gillen as Lord Baelish; Liam Cunningham as the ‘Onion Knight’ Davos Seaworth; and Ciarán Hinds as Mance Rayder, King Beyond the Wall.
Apart from Paint Hall, Northern Ireland locations which have featured in ‘Game of Thrones’ so far include the Linen Mill Film and TV Studio; Shane’s Castle Estate and Redhall Estate in Antrim; Audley’s castle tower in Down and Tollymore Forest.
Director Neil Marshall (‘The Descent’, ‘Dog Soldiers’) - who helmed season two’s major battle episode ‘Blackwater’ - has also signed on to direct the penultimate battle of season four.