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Sean Bean to star in HBO's A Game of Thrones
Sean Bean famously played Boromir in The Lord of the Rings, so it seems natural for him to have been cast in the lead role of Lord Eddard "Ned" Stark in HBO's upcoming adaptation of A Game of Thrones, the first book in George R.R. Martin's Song of Fire and Ice series of fantasy novels.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Tom McCarthy will direct from a script by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, who are also executive-producing.
The trade paper also reported that Mark Addy is in final negotiations to join the production. Kit Harrington, Jack Gleeson and Harry Lloyd also have come aboard:
The books revolve around a battle among seven kingdoms and between two ruling families for control of the Iron Throne, the possession that ensures survival through a 40-year winter to come.Bean will play Lord Eddard "Ned" Stark, known for his sense of honor and justice, who becomes closest adviser to King Robert (Addy).
Harrington will play Jon Snow, Bean's bastard son, and Lloyd will play Viserys, a powerless ruler who seeks to marry off his sister to a powerful king. Gleeson will play Joffrey, King Robert's son.
Peter Dinklage also is in the cast for the production, which is in the pilot stage and begins shooting in October in Ireland.
By John Paradox at 4:09 AM ON 07/20/09
The choice of Dinklage is just the way I imagined the character (read it some time ago.. forgot name)
By Tanek at 6:21 AM ON 07/20/09
Tyrion Lannister, I believe it is. One of my favorite characters.
I thought it was just a bit amusing that when it was announced Dinklage would be joining the cast, they were keeping his role "secret". I mean, I *could* be wrong about him playing Tyrion, but what are the chances?
By Rob Cannon at 7:32 AM ON 07/20/09
This is great news because it means that production is still underway. I can't wait for this to come out and it will be the first thing that would make me want to pay for HBO.
By Rucknrun at 7:36 AM ON 07/20/09
These had to be some of the most miserable books I have ever read. I can't believe they are making a movie about it. There are about 1000 characters I am not sure how anyone is going to be able to keep anything straight.
By apollojd at 11:10 AM ON 07/20/09
How can anyone call these books "miserable?" That is just so ignorant. These are some of the only true classic fantasy novels written in the last 25 years.
By GoblinRevolution at 11:47 AM ON 07/20/09
@ Rucknrun
Hmmm. Perhaps these books are over your head. Maybe you are just used to reading crap, or your reading level is simply too low. Martin's series is the finest fantasy since Tolkein. Period.
By wordwitty at 12:56 PM ON 07/20/09
Definitely the best fantasy series since LOTR. Ruckrun must have been in a bad mood when he/she tried to read it. Fantasy books don't get any better than Song of Ice and Fire.
By RichInSeattle at 1:35 PM ON 07/20/09
I am so excited about this series, I just hope they stick to the books and not go off on their own.
Here is the thing, these books are different and harder to read than most. It is what makes it great. The character development reminds me of the TV show LOST, where by understanding the characters you understand the importance of if they live or die. And they kill in these books. This is not your Bubble Gum fantasy that is out their. This is tough fantasy. The bad guys aren't always bad. The good guys aren't always right. Bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people. The books were deep and honest. It didn't have a dark elf fighting along with a dwarf, it didn't have an old wizard who was more than he seemed.
Now, that being said. Boy was the fourth book horrible!!!!
I can not wait for the HBO show, if it was any other network I wouldn't watch it.
By Aramanthus at 4:01 PM ON 07/20/09
I think it's great! I'm hoping to view these show as they air. I loved the books so far. I'm looking forward reading more of the novels! I agree about them being great fantasy!
By tati at 10:44 PM ON 07/20/09
Guess I need to read the books to prepare. At least there will be SOME decent scifi/fantasy on TV. HBO hasn't missed its mark, yet :)
By Joesketeer at 5:54 AM ON 07/22/09
It is not a 40 year winter. It's seven or eight. Sorry, but as a fan I had to point that out. In their world it's 7 years winter and 7 years summer back to back.
By Someone Else at 3:10 PM ON 07/24/09
This recent casting news has set many fans of the book series into ecstatic geek-gasms like none I have ever seen (closest to this reaction was the casting news as it came out for Peter Jackson's LotR movies).
Dinklange, who apparently was the author's favorite choice, as Tyrion was a perfect casting, but then the blew our mind with Bean as Ned Stark. I get giddy every time I think about that LOL.
My only complaint so far is "who the HELL wrote the initial press release" that has been circulated and quoted in just about EVERY article I have found so far.
The Winter is not a "40 year long" one, and the Iron Throne, or possessing it, will not "ensure survival" of the winter.
Some idiot who obviously did NOT read the series wrote that crappy piece of--oops, can't write that word here! Anyways, the moron in the PR department should be fired, or at least not allowed to write any more press releases for this series.
By mhj555 at 8:39 AM ON 07/30/09
Ned dies pretty early on, so this is a small role.
By optimus at 12:54 AM ON 08/02/09
Ned dies? Oh yeah, and rosebud's a sled...
By TheCerpent at 9:45 AM ON 08/21/09
@Joesketeer
Actually, that's not correct. The latest summer has been well over 10 years now; it's actually commented that a number of the children in the story have never seen winter. The summer and winter periods seem to be variable; this is why there's the legend of the "unending" summer.
But I do agree that whoever wrote that blurb needs to read the friggin books first. It's so inaccurate, and makes the series sound like some random pulp fantasy.
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TheCerpent:
@Joesketeer Actually, that's not correct. The latest summer has been well over 10 years now; it's actually commen...More »