I suppose I could still hint around about this… something about holly and oaks and a bill, I guess… but it seems rather pointless, since (1) you guys would solve such hints in about twelve seconds, and (2) the answer has already leaked out on Twitter and has been picked up by some of the fan sites.

So instead I’ll just confirm the reports. We have our Knight of Flowers. The part of Ser Loras Tyrell in the HBO series GAME OF THRONES will be played by Finn Jones.

Jones is a talented young British actor whose previous credits include the long-running British soap opera HOLLYOAKS and a cop show called THE BILL. I haven’t seen either of those myself, but I have seen Finn’s audition for Ser Loras (the scene where Loras confront Jaime and Brienne at the gates of the Red Keep), which was terrific.

(There’s a YouTube video with clips for those who might be interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOsUFwKxAPk There’s also a YouTube fan video from a young lady who seems to be madly in love with him, which I guess just goes to show that (1) he’s a great choice, and (2) Sansa isn’t the only one. That one you’ll need to find for your own selves, however).

So… House Tyrell is now represented in the GAME OF THRONES.

I should mention, by the way, that the earlier report of Finn Jones’ casting was somewhat premature. At the time the news leaked out, via tweet, Jones had been cast and had been approved by HBO, but the deal had not yet closed. In fact, it was not until this morning that HBO officially informed me that the deal was set. Which is why nothing has been said until now. You have to understand the way the process works, folks. Many audition, they are winnowed down to a few finalists, a choice is finally made after much internal discussion and weighing of alternatives, the choice is submitted to HBO for approval, approval is given (or sometimes, rarely, not — in which case it is back to square one)… and then negotiations begin with the actor’s agents.

But not every deal closes. Sometimes you can’t get together on the money. Sometimes there is a problem with the dates and shooting schedule. Sometimes, in between the audition and the callback and the final offer, the actor gets another job… a movie or another TV show (you and I may think it mad, but truth is, most actors would prefer, say, a lead in another production to a supporting part in ours)… and elects to take that instead. Lots of things can happen.

And no one wants to announce an actor, only to have the negotiations dead end for one reason or another, or the actor withdraw. Which is why I will never post anything here until the deal is closed. So keep that in mind the next time you hear a rumor on Twitter.

There should be more casting news soon, by the way. Another five or six parts have been cast and approved… but the negotiations are still ongoing with the actors in question and their representatives, so I will say no more. You’ll have to wait. (But David and Dan and Nina have found some great people, so the wait will be well worth it).

Today belongs to Finn Jones. Three cheers for bold Ser Loras!

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