Sci-Fi Film and Television Developments

Game of Thrones (TV)

3/2/10 - HBO has given a green light to a 10-episode series based on George R.R. Martin's fantasy series Game of Thrones.  Cast members include Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister, a woman of royal blood, Peter Dinklage as Cersei's brother Tyrion, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Cersei's twin, Jaime, Sean Bean as aristocrat Ned Stark, Jennifer Ehle as his wife, Catelyn Stark, and Mark Addy as King Robert.  No release date was announced.

11/20/09 - Filming on the pilot for Game of Thrones, adapted from the fantasy novel by George R.R. Martin, has wrapped, according to Visual Effects producer Julia Frey. The three weeks of shooting took place in three different countries and involved a cast of two dozen and more than 100 extras.  Cast members include Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister, a woman of royal blood, Peter Dinklage as Cersei's brother Tyrion, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Cersei's twin, Jaime, Sean Bean as aristocrat Ned Stark, Jennifer Ehle as his wife, Catelyn Stark, and Mark Addy as King Robert.  HBO is reportedly expected to give its decision on a green light around March.

10/19/09 - Jason Momoa will appear in HBO's upcoming Game of Thrones pilot, based on George R.R. Martin's fantasy book series A Song of Ice and Fire.  Momoa is reportedly being cast as Drogo.  He'll be filming in Morocco and doesn't like horses, so isn't looking forward to the horseback scenes. He also said that it'll be his first nude scene and first sex scene.  He also said when he went in for the audition he did a haka, as he thought it would be perfect for Drogo.

9/2/09 - Lena Headey has nabbed the last major part in HBO's Game of Thrones pilot, according to Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune. Headey will portray Cersei Lannister, a woman of royal blood who is every bit as smart, cunning and devious as the powerful men around her.  Other cast members include Peter Dinklage as Cersei's brother Tyrion, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Cersei's twin, Jaime, Sean Bean as aristocrat Ned Stark, Jennifer Ehle as his wife, Catelyn Stark, and Mark Addy as King Robert. HBO confirmed the casting of Headey on Tuesday.  The Game of Thrones pilot, an adaptation of the fantasy novel by George R.R. Martin, starts shooting in late October in Northern Ireland.

8/21/09 - Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and several others actors have joined the cast of HBO's fantasy pilot Game of Thrones, according to The Hollywood Reporter.  The group joins the previously cast lead Sean Bean as battle-weary Ned Stark, who leaves his home to serve the king. Mark Addy, Kit Harrington, Jennifer Ehle, Jack Gleeson, Peter Dinklage and Harry Lloyd also star.  In the adaptation of the George R.R. Martin fantasy book series, Coster-Waldau will play Jaime Lannister, one of the king's guards and a ruthless usurper of the previous king.  Another addition is Tamzin Merchant who'll play Daenerys, an exiled teenage princess.  Also new to the cast are Richard Madden as Stark's eldest son, Robb; Iain Glen as Ser Jorah Mormont, a disgraced knight; Alfie Allen as Theon, Stark's young ward; Sophie Turner as Stark's eldest daughter, Sansa; and Maisie Williams as Stark's young tomboy daughter, Arya.

8/4/09 - Jennifer Ehle has been added to the pilot Game of Thrones, HBO's adaptation of the George R.R. Martin fantasy book series, in which she will play Catelyn Stark, Ned Stark's (Sean Bean) wife who originally was betrothed to Ned's older brother, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

7/20/09 - 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.  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.

5/6/09 - Tom McCarthy has come aboard to direct HBO's fantasy pilot Game of Thrones and Peter Dinklage has been tapped for a key role, according to The Hollywood Reporter.  Based on George R.R. Martin's best-selling Songs of Fire and Ice novels, Thrones is described as an epic struggle for power set in a vast and violent fantasy kingdom. Dinklage will play Tyrion, the Queen's brother, who is treated as an outsider because of his size.  Thrones marks the first TV directorial gig for McCarthy.

11/12/08 - HBO has given a green light to production on the pilot for a fantasy drama series, Game of Thrones, based on a book series by George R.R. Martin, Variety reported.  The pilot for the long-gestating project was written by feature scribes David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. Former HBO entertainment president Carolyn Strauss will serve as a co-executive producer, along with Guymon Cassidy, Vincent Gerardis and author Martin.  The pilot for the HBO series is described as an exploration of an epic struggle for power set in a vast and violent fantasy kingdom.

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