One of the hardest parts to cast was Bran. When the story opens he’s a cute kid, off to see a man beheaded for the first time. But after that… think of all the challenges that await the boy in this role. We think we’ve found a young actor capable of handling them, however. His name is Isaac Hempstead-Wright.

My clues for this one are pretty self-explanatory. Hempstead is a town in Nassau, and Isaac was the Biblical sacrifice (not really, of course, Yahweh was just joking around). All the same, I was astonished when some of you managed to puzzle them out. Isaac is a bright young talent and he gave a great reading, but I figured he was google-proof. Not so. I’m looking forward to seeing him bring Bran to life.

Also cast, as his uncle and Lord Eddard’s younger brother Benjen, a ranger of the Night’s Watch, is Joseph Mawle.

Another fast-rising British actor, Mawle has portrayed both Jesus and Judas, starred in a film called FREEFALL, and began his acting career at the Tobacco Factory Theater. Check out his showreel at http://www.josephmawle.com/main.html for a sample of his talents.

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A GAME OF THRONES opens in the haunted forest north of the Wall, with three brothers of the Night’s Watch on a ranging.

The viewpoint character is Will, sent to the Wall for poaching. In the pilot, he will portrayed by Bronson Webb.

He has been in projects with Tamzin Merchant, Nicholaj Coster-Waldau, and Iain Glen. One of his first roles was “boy on a bicycle.” Peter Parker is Spider-Man and Bronson is a Webb, so they have spiders in common. And he has a home page, a Facebook page, and a MySpace page.

Will’s commander on the ranging is the young knight Ser Waymar Royce, a son of Bronze Yohn Royce, new to the Wall, clad in sable cloak. Playing Ser Waymar will be Jamie Campbell Bower.

JCB has an important role in the forthcoming HARRY POTTER movie, as a wizard from Dumbledore’s past, and can also be seen the new TWILIGHT film. And of course it is the twilight zone that lies between the pit of man’s fears and the summit of his knowledge. He’ll also be in the PRISONER remake, but as a number, not a free man. He was in SWEENEY TODD too, though I didn’t include that in the clues. Didn’t want to make it too easy.

The grizzled veteran Gared is the third member of the prologue’s intrepid trio. His part will be played by Richard Ridings.

Ridings’ previous credits include roles in RED DWARF, FAT FRIENDS, HIGHLANDER, and WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT? and turns as characters named Roach and Daddy Pig.

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I am the last one to the party, I know. I was off in Fargo enjoying Valleycon, away from my computer and the internet, and while I was gone the last remaining speaking part in the pilot was cast, and HBO officially confirmed a whole bunch of the roles and actors I’ve been hinting at. The cast lists are all over this Interwebbie thing by now, and you guys guessed pretty much all of them ages ago in any case (it really was scary, the way you all figured out some of those clues).

For them what came in late or haven’t been paying attention, however, let me be the last to confirm the confirmations and introduce you to our newest cast members.

The Old Knight is Ser Rodrik Cassell. He’ll be played by Ron Donachie.

Ser Rodrik is Winterfell’s master-at-arms, and Donachie also played the master-at-arms in TITANTIC. He has played a colonel, a doctor, a friar, a nazi, a sergeant, a superintendant, a corporal, and a minister in the past, and has been in projects with Lena Headey, Sean Bean, Iain Glen, and Honor Blackman.

The grey man is Maester Luwin, a grey-haired fellow in grey robes. He’ll be portrayed by Donald Sumpter, another fine British character actor.

Sumpter’s previous credits include DR. WHO, and also a film called GROUPIE GIRL.

(More on next rock)

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… is at home on the internet as in the haunted forest. He has a home page, a Facebook page, a MySpace page,

… has something in common with Peter Parker,

… began as a boy on a bike,

… has something in common with Daenerys, Jaime, and Ser Jorah,

… has already announced his appearance in GOT on his own home page, so why am I even bothering with these clues?

Just sayin’

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Two of three are done, I’m told.

Waiting for signed contracts on the last.

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… yes, it’s Rory McCann, a wonderful Scots actor.

Most of you figured that out weeks ago, of course. Mea culpa. My clues were much too obvious this time around, especially the spelling of “porage,” which yielded up the secret to anyone who googled the word. If I had gone with “porridge,” that might have created a few more hours of mystery at least.

Here’s the Scotts Porage Oats commercial from which the clue was taken:
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As for my second clue, “the dog is green,” well, that one was pretty easy to find as well, once you found McCann’s name from the “porage” reference:

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It wasn’t either of those that won Rory the role, however. Nor was it his performance in HOT FUZZ, a movie that I’ve heard good things about but never seen. His look had a lot to do with it, though. A lot of good actors auditioned for the role, and several gave really first class readings… but simply did not have the physicality the part demands. Sandor needs to be a big guy, powerful and threatening, someone who looks like he could break you in half. Rory is all of that and more.

Mostly, though, it was his readings. We had other good ones, yes, but none to touch his. One of the scenes in the side was Sandor’s scene with Sansa, where he tells her how his face came to be scarred. In the space of a few lines, Rory had me terrified (where he roars, “Look at me,” and makes her look at his face), made me chuckle (when he says no, the burns weren’t dragonflame), and brought a tear to my eye (when he tells his story). After I saw that, I knew he was Sandor… and David, Dan, and Tom all agreed.

I think you’ll going to love him as the Hound.

Of course, if we go to series, now we’re going to have to find someone a foot and a half taller to play his brother. Now THAT will be difficult!

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Casting on the HBO pilot of A GAME OF THRONES continues, but there’s not much I can say about it, except in generalities. Another of the supporting roles has been filled, I am told, and offers have been made on several more. Now we’re waiting to see if those deals will close, which of course depends on things like schedule, terms, money, and such. If all the pieces fall into place, we’ll have some exciting and talented additions to the cast.

No, I have no idea when HBO will make their next cast announcement.

Two major roles and some small ones remain unfilled as I write.

Looks like I will be flying over to Ireland to watch some of the filming. Still trying to figure out the dates. Since I will be over there anyway, it seems like a good opportunity to meet some of my Irish fans, so I will likely be doing a couple of signings while I’m there. One in Belfast, almost certainly, and maybe a second in Dublin. We’ll see what arrangements can be made. Details will here and on my Appearances page, once I know ’em.

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… yes, we have the superb British actress Lena Headey.

That’s not news, I know. The CHICAGO TRIBUNE broke the story, and the casting has been confirmed by the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, Reuters, and numerous other blogs and websites. But just in case there were any doubts, this should put ’em to rest.

Lena is best known among genre fans for playing Sarah Connor in the recently cancelled Fox show THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES. Sarah, of course, was played in the TERMINATOR films by Linda Hamilton, who was also Catherine on BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Yes, that was the “Six Degrees” clue, with Sarah Connor as the link.

Lena also starred as Queen Gorgo of Sparta in the film 300, whence came my two “Gorgo” clues, one playing off the old monster movie GORGO (see below), the other off the actual historical Queen Gorgo, as chronicled by Herodotus, Father of History.

(Some folks have complained that the clues were too hard. Maybe so. Hard to judge these things. Originally I had intended to write that the search for our queen had been terminated after looking at three hundred actresses, but Parris convinced me that you lot would have solved that one in about six seconds. So blame her.)

Lena Headey has played all sorts of other roles besides Queen Gorgo and Sarah Connor, of course. Check out her credits on IMDB. She’s even worked with Jennifer Ehle (our Catelyn) in POSSESSION, she played Guinevere in MERLIN, she’s appeared in many period pieces and even a few set during the medieval period. Her range was one of the things that impressed us most about her; Cersei is a character with many colors, and Lena will be able to give us all of them. Her readings were wonderful… and of course she’s beautiful and sexy as hell.

Yes, it’s true, she’s not a blonde, but she has played one on TV (and in films). Seriously, guys. This is HBO. They know about wigs and hair dyes and stuff like that.

Lena should be amazing as the queen you love to hate. I’m thrilled to have her aboard.

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Gorgo’s mother meets Big Ben.

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