This time at least it required a second round of clues. But you folks continue to be scary good. Obviously you know every actor and actress in the world, and have seen every film and television show ever made, no matter how obscure.

(Either that, or you’ve been using this new-fangled thing called the interweb. It’s made of tubes, I hear).

Anyway, yes, you got it. Dany’s handmaid Irri will be played by AMRITA ACHARIA (spelled Acharya on some sites, but I have it with the “i,” and she seems to be the same person).

Her initials, obviously, are AA. Twelve steps, get it?

She has been acclaimed for her performance in a play called ELEVATOR (ups and downs):
http://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/event/185018/elevator

A photo of her is featured on a website called My Glass Eye, and she has also appeared in a film called THE DEVIL’S DOUBLE (I used devil as a clue) and another called COLLECTABLES (which I almost used as a clue).

She’s young, she’s lovely, she’s talented, and she’s Irri. It is known.

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The big HBO fact sheet, seen below, announced a whole bunch of new castings. Too many for me to discuss all at once, unless I wanted to devote the whole day to it. Which I don’t. I have a big monkey to wrestle.

Let me say a few words about a few, however. (I’ll get to the others in good time).

In the part of Marillion the singer (who is NOT named after the band), we have EMUN ELLIOTT, a young Scottish actor who has recently appeared in BLACK DEATH with Sean Bean.

He could almost pass for a member of the Night’s Watch in that gear, I think. His other credits include MONARCH OF THE GLEN and an SF crime drama called PARADOX.

EMUN ELLIOTT

He did not actually play the lute in his auditions, so I can’t say whether he will be singing his own songs when that time comes.

As Maester Aemon, we have PETER VAUGHAN, another truly amazing British character actor with a resume that stretches back to 1954 and includes appearances in such classic films as THE 39 STEPS, VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED, TIME BANDITS, THE FRENCH LIEUTENANT’S WOMAN, and many many more. He’s worked with Alfred Hitchcock and Walt Disney, and his TV credits include everything from THE SAINT to THE PALLISERS to WAR AND REMEMBRANCE. He’s going to be a sensational Maester Aemon.

PETER VAUGHAN

Equally distintinguished is the resume of the actress who will play Old Nan, one of Aemon’s rivals for the title is oldest living resident of the Seven Kingdoms (Walder Frey is up there too, but he hasn’t been cast yet). Her name is MARGARET JOHN.

MARGARET JOHN

Born and raised in Wales, Margaret John has been acting professionally since 1960. British audiences known her best for her recurring role as Doris in the television series GAVIN & STACY. SF fans may remember her from her appearances on DOCTOR WHO and BLAKE’S 7. But her credits go on and on forever, and her Old Nan was a delight.

As for my latest round of clues… yes, you solved this one too. Give yourselves a pat on the head. You guys are impossible to fool for long.

So let me confirm. The part of OSHA will be played by NATALIA TENA.

NATALIA TENA

“Arthur and Morgana are familiar with this wildling wench,” I said. The wildling wench is Osha, of course. Natalia appeared with Jamie Campbell Bower in HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS and with Eva Green in WOMB. JBC will play Arthur and Eva Green will be Morgana in the new Starz series CAMELOT.

“In the books she has not met Theon’s sister (yet). Real life? Well… ” Osha has not encountered Asha in the novels, no. But Natalia went to school with singer Lily Allen, the sister of Alfie Allen, who will play Theon in the series.

“Actress and character both made a splash,” I wrote. The scene used in the audition was the godswood scene where Bran comes on Osha bathing in the pool beneath the weirwood. And Natalie took a celebrated skinny dip during a music festival a year ago, as reported in the British press.

Fantasy fans will know Tena best for her portrayal of the purple-haired Nymphadora Tonks in the Harry Potter films. When I saw that she was reading for Osha, my first thought was, “She’s great, but no way, she’s too young and too hot.” Then I saw her reading, and none of the other Oshas had a chance. Her charisma grabbed me by the throat and I could not take my eyes off her. David and Dan felt the same way. We’re all thrilled to have her.

So that’s four. Discuss amongst yourselves. My monkey is waiting.

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Arthur and Morgana are familiar with this wildling wench.

In the books she has not met Theon’s sister (yet). Real life? Well…

Actress and character both made a splash.

(Oh, and I LOVED her reading. We all did. But that’s not a clue).

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And here’s the big blast from HBO that I have been promising:

============================================================

GAME OF THRONES

HBO Entertainment
Season one will total 10 episodes
Production is based in Belfast, Northern Ireland and is will begin principal photography on July 26, 2010.

“Game of Thrones” has received funding from Northern Ireland Screen and will shoot in the Paint Hall studio, Belfast, as well as various locations in Northern Ireland. A second location for production will be Malta with assistance from the Malta Film Commission.

LOG LINE:

“Game of Thrones” is a new original HBO series based on George R.R. Martin’s best-selling novels. In a world where summers span decades and winters can last a lifetime, the Westeros crown comes with a price. Betrayal, lust, intrigue and supernatural forces shake the four corners of the Kingdom, from the scheming south and the savage eastern lands, to the frozen north and the ancient Wall that protects the realm from the darkness beyond. Kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars and noble men vie for power in the bloody struggle for the Iron Throne.

SERIES CREDITS:

David Benioff Executive Producer
D.B. Weiss Executive Producer
Carolyn Strauss Co-Executive Producer
Guymon Casady Co-Executive Producer
Vince Gerardis Co-Executive Producer
Ralph Vicinanza Co-Executive Producer
George R.R. Martin Co-Executive Producer
Mark Huffam Producer
Frank Doelger Producer
Marco Pontecorvo Director of Photography
Alik Sakharov Director of Photography
Gemma Jackson Production Designer
Michele Clapton Costume Designer

The pilot was written by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. The writers of the series are: David Benioff & D.B. Weiss (seven episodes), Bryan Cogman, Jane Espenson and George R.R. Martin (one episode each). !œGame of Thrones! is based on the series of books !œA Song of Ice and Fire! by George R.R. Martin.

The pilot director was Tom McCarthy. Series directors include: Brian Kirk, Daniel Minahan and Alan Taylor. Other directors will be announced as they are confirmed.

SERIES REGULARS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER:

Mark Addy as King Robert Baratheon
Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy
Sean Bean as Eddard !œNed! Stark
Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Ser Jamie Lannister
Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister
Michelle Fairley as Catelyn Stark
Aidan Gillen as Littlefinger
Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon
Iain Glen as Ser Jorah Mormont
Kit Harington as Jon Snow
Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister
Isaac Hempstead-Wright as Bran Stark
Harry Lloyd as Viserys Targaryen
Richard Madden as Rob Stark
Rory McCann as Sandor Clegane (Hound)
Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark
Maisie Williams as Arya Stark

FEATURED CAST IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER:

John Bradley as Samwell Tarly
Ron Donachie as Ser Rodrik Cassel
Jerome Flynn as Bronn
Conleth Hill as Varys
Jason Momoa as Khal Drogo
Donald Sumpter as Maester Luwin

GUEST CAST IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER:

Josef Altin as Pyp
Gethin Anthony as Renly Baratheon
Ciaran Bermingham as Mord
Esme Bianco as Ros
Susan Brown as Septa Mordane
Dominic Carter as Janos Slynt
Antonia Christophers as Mhaegen
Kate Dickie as Lysa Arryn
Roy Dotrice as Grand Maester Pycelle
Emun Elliott as Marillion
Lino Facioli as Robin Arryn
Jefferson Hall as Ser Hugh of the Vale
Derek Halligan as Alliser Thorne
Rhodri Hosking as Mycah
Margaret John as Old Nan
Finn Jones as Ser Loras Tyrell
Dermot Keaney as Gared
Francis Magee as Yoren
Joseph Mawle as Benjen Stark
Brendan McCormack as Ser Vardis Egan
Ian McElhinney as Ser Barristan Selmy
Luke McEwan as Rast
Kristian Nairn as Hodor
Rob Ostlere as Ser Waymar Royce
Eugene Simon as Lancel Lannister
Jamie Sives as Jory Cassel
John Standing as Jon Arryn
Conan Stevens as Gregor !œThe Mountain! Clegane
Peter Vaughan as Maester Aemon Targaryen
Miltos Yeromelou as Syrio Forel

==========================================================================

George again, with a few closing comments.

Yes, we will be filming in Malta, rather than returning to Morocco. The Knights Hospitaller were kind enough to build some great sets for us.

“Mhaegan” is little Barra’s mother. She has no name in the novel.

Two more directors have been named. This was news to me as well. I’m excited too.

Lysa’s son has been renamed for the series. “Robin” instead of “Robert,” as in the books. He’s still Sweetrobin.

Marillion has not been renamed, though I offered to do so. I was tired of people assuming he was named after the band. I had never heard of the band when I named him, though I’ve heard a lot about them since.

’nuff said. This should give you plenty to chew on for a few days… while casting continues and we nail down a few more parts. Lots more still to come, including Osha, Shae, and Twyin.

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Damn, you guys are good.

Yes, you got it. The third and final part I hinted at is the Old Bear, Lord Commander Jeor Mormont, and the actor playing him is the fabulous James Cosmo.

I knew that I referenced BRAVEHEART or TROY or any of his other numerous film credits, you folks would use IMDB and ferret him out in seconds, so I went all the way to my childhood as a funny book fan for a clue — a short-lived comic that lasted only six issues half a century ago, called COSMO THE MERRY MARTIAN.

Cosmo was published by Archie Comics, hence the “jugheads” reference in my last post.

As for James Cosmo, well, he really doesn’t need much in the way of introduction.

I wish I could show you his audition. He blew away a dozen other strong contenders, including some very fine actors and household names. He will be an AMAZING Old Bear.

And that’s it for Froggy’s clues for now.

But brace for a big announcement from HBO, with lots more names.

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Hiya, kids, hiya, hiya.

Okay, you’ve managed to puzzle out two of the three castings I hinted at yesterday. Congratulations to whoever was first to come up with the right answer.

“The first never says a word in the books.” No, not Ilyn Payne. (I told you he hadn’t been cast yet). It’s Lord Jon Arryn. Who is dead before the books begin. We do hear others quoting things he said, but never from Lord Arryn himself. But in the series, he will appear on screen in a flashback scene.

“The first flew by night to find the truth.” In my Hugo-losing novella “Nightflyers,” the scientist Karoly d’Branin leads an expedition to find the truth behind the legendary volcryn, voagers through interstellar space. In the 1987 film NIGHTFLYERS his name his changed to Michael d’Branin, and he is portrayed by the fine British actor JOHN STANDING.

Sir John Standing is a distinguished veteran of stage and screen, and the descendant of a great British acting family. We’re incredibly honored to have him as Jon Arryn. And hey, maybe he’s even forgiven me for NIGHTFLYERS.

“The third birthed a monkey, a pimple, and a loon.”

Yes, it’s Ser Alliser Thorne, master-at-arms at Castle Black, who fastens those nicknames on three of the young recruits that he is training.

“The third was a supervillain, and once ambled amongst oak trees and hollies, where he might have come across a golden rose.”

Playing the part of Ser Alliser we have DEREK HALLIGAN, who played the supervillain Dr. Nightshade in TONIGHT WE FLY, and also appeared in the British soap opera HOLLYOAKS, where he might have encountered Finn Jones, our Knight of Flowers (the golden rose). His reading was lights out. I sure wouldn’t want him chewing my ass in medieval boot camp.

As for the second lord… the one where the clue is really really obscure… you bunch o’ jugheads haven’t come close to that one yet, heh heh.

Meanwhile… lots more casting announcements coming soon. Ser Vardis, Pyp, Grenn, Maester Aemon, Bronn, Lady Lysa, Sweetrobin, Yoren, Old Nan, Septa Mordane, and more… and maybe even a big one that you have all been eager for. But you’ll read those elsewhere first, most like… though I will echo when I can. Some terrific actors coming your way.

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Just a brief note to confirm the other news in Mo Ryan’s blog this morning.

Yes, there’s been another recasting (and possibly a few more in the offing).

David and Dan and HBO have decided to reshoot the prologue sequence from the pilot. For the very best of reasons, I think: to make it better.

I’ve seen the pilot, or at least a rough cut thereof, and I thought the prologue sequence was quite good, actually. But this will be the opening scene of the entire series, the first introduction to the world of Westeros for millions of viewers, so “quite good” was not good enough. We want to make it great.

So we reshoot. The only problem with that being, life moves on and so do actors. Other roles come along, dates don’t always work out, schedules refuse to mesh, even with the best of intentions. And that’s what happened with our prologue.

Everyone loved Jamie Campbell Bower and his performance as Ser Waymar Royce… but since our pilot wrapped, JCB has gone on to win one of the lead roles in the new Starz series CAMELOT –no one less than Arthur Pendragon himself.

JAMIE CAMPBELL BOWER

Unfortunately, Jamie’s shooting schedule with CAMELOT conflicted with our own, so there was no way he could come back and reprise his performance as Ser Waymar. But we wish him luck with his new (much larger) role… and who knows, if GAME OF THRONES should happen to have a longer run than CAMELOT, maybe one day he can come back and play another (much larger) role for us.

Meanwhile, for our reshoot, Nina Gold has found another terrific young British actor to don the sable cloak of Ser Waymar Royce. His name is ROB OSTLERE.

Ostlere is a relative newcomer, a recent graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts who has appeared in the films THE TASK (just completed, not yet in release) and TORTOISE, and the tv series THE DOCTORS. He’s actually an actor we’ve had our eye on for some time. Last year, when we were casting the pilot, he read for several parts, and was a strong contender for all of them. And though ultimately he lost out on those roles, he impressed all of us so much that we kept bringing him back. We knew he was someone we wanted to work with. It’s great to have him as part of the show at last.

(If only, ah, briefly).

As for the other rangers in the prologue sequence… nothing has been settled there as yet, but there is a chance that those roles will need to be recast as well. We may also need to recast one other player, NOT from the prologue, again for reasons concerning a reshoot and schedule conflicts. But we’ll see. Every effort is being made to work these things out.

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… and to confirm the story that Mo Ryan broke earlier today in her column, the role of Varys the Spider will be played by CONLETH HILL.

Born in Northern Ireland, in County Antrim, Hill has done his share of televison and film, but is probably best known for his work in the theatre, which ranges from serious drama to musical comedy, and everything in between, including roles in THE PRODUCERS, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY, WAITING FOR GODOT, and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM. He’s appeared on stages in Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, London, Toronto, and on Broadway, where he was nominated for a Tony Award for best actor. Hill has also twice been awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award, once for best actor, once for best supporting actor.

He has his own website at http://www.conlethhill.com/ where you can find out a lot more about him, and even see some amazing video clips. Hill, like Varys, is quite a chameleon, an actor who truly disappears inside the characters he portrays, more than capable not only of bringing the slimy, simpering eunuch to life, but also of showing us all the other faces of King’s Landing’s master of whisperers.

With Varys, Littlefinger, Grand Maester Pycelle, and Ser Barristan all cast, King Robert’s small council lacks only Lord Renly… and he’ll be joining them soon. (Sorry, you will need to wait for season two for Stannis, off brooding on Dragonstone). It is going to be amazing to see all these actors sitting down together at the council table…

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More casting news from Mo Ryan of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE:

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/

The Watcher. Hmmmm. Wonder if Mo is a Marvel Comics fan.

Her announcements are about roles other than those mentioned in my hints, FWIW, so don’t confuse those.

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