Fakir Audingas

UPDATE July 16: HBO has released an up-to-date cast and crew list. It features all the actors, writers and directors who have been confirmed as of this time. It’s at the end of this post. 

As the shooting date for HBO’s “Game of Thrones” gets closer, I’ve been able to confirm a couple of pieces of casting:

• Varys, the calculating spymaster for the king of Westeros, will be played by UK actor Conleth Hill.
• The role of Waymar Royce has been recast due to a scheduling issue. Jamie Campbell-Bower had played the role in the pilot but when the producers decided to do reshoots of his scenes, Campbell-Bower was unavailable. The role of Royce will now be played by Rob Ostlere.

The main cast for “GoT” includes Lena Headey, Sean Bean, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Michelle Fairley, Peter Dinklage,
Jason Momoa, Emilia Clarke and
Mark Addy (Bean as Lord Eddard Stark is pictured at right).

As fans no doubt know, other casting has been leaking out here and there, including the recent news that Aidan Gillen, a veteran of “The Wire,” will play Littlefinger. Martin has been confirming the names of actors playing various roles on his Not a Blog, and the “GoT” sites Westeros, Winter is Coming and Tower of the Hand have all the intel and some fan speculation as well.

Martin just posted a few new clues about three “GoT” roles. Let the speculation begin!

All my previous stories, interviews and news items about “Game of Thrones,” which arrives on HBO next year, are here.

UPDATED CAST AND CREW LIST FOLLOWS (and Martin offers some clarification on production details here).

From HBO on Friday:

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). “Game of Thrones” is based on the series of books “A 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 “Ned” 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: