IT IS A GIFT

WOW

Great news, to be sure, but the ending of the first season would sure have an unfortunate parallel to the ending of the first LotR movie. More ironic than unfortunate, I guess, given that GoT will no noubt be played up as something completely different than LotR.

I pictured more of a jeremy irons, but whatever, this works.

Sean Bean, ever since I saw the movie GoldenEye as a kid, has been one of my favorite actors. And, in truth, he is the only person I can think of who can bring that quiet solidarity that the character requires. He has the look of the north about him as well, I think it is a great casting choice.

Sadly, it is most probably a rumor.

Yeah, unless we can hear more about this seemingly "legit inside source", this doesn't hold any more weight than any other rumor. I guess Winter's assessment of what looks to be legit counts for something though. Could go either way. So in other words, I just said nothing. But I'm going to post the comment anyway.

i don't like sean bean. didn't like him in ronin. didn't like him in lotr. won't like him in GoT.

would be too bad to see him and just be waiting for him to try and steal the ring from frodo the whole time. so many other options out there. let's hope this one is false!

...ryan

He definitely looks like a Ned! Wow. it would be fantastic if it's true.

this is a lie. let's talk more about dante nero

Sean Bean is so way above this production---especially a fuckin pilot. You guys need a job and an education.

I hate to say it, but I may agree with some of the above posts. Watching Sean Bean (who did a tremendous job in LOTR, imho) is going to only make me think of Boromir.

And then I'll think of LOTR. Which isn't a bad thing in and of itself, only... one aspect I've loved about ASoIF is that it so clearly distances itself from LOTR (unlike so many Dragonlance and D&D novels). No disrespect to Mr. Bean, but I don't know if his casting in this role would be ideal. I like the Jorah Mormont suggestion MUCH more.

But, hey. Who am I to complain? This will only add to the credibility and viability of this series. Two HUGE gets (legitimate movie stars) can only help GoT get picked up. :D

WinterIsComing wouldn't have made a post about this and said he thought it was legit unless the source he's getting it from was at least slightly credible.

I know it's too early to start celebrating but if this is true we can look forward to Game of Thrones taking a hefty share of the ratings.

Getting a high profile actor such as Sean Bean to play Eddard Stark will help a lot. It will add a lot of credibility and attract people to watch it (if it eventually gets picked up).

You can get any actor you want if you have the money. This wouldn't be an achievement. And it will not help either since hbo foots the bill. Sides I think you can easily do as well as bean and for much less cash.

But Bean already has a serious fan base that he would bring to the series were he cast. Whatever HBO pays him, they will make it back when his involvement garners a boatload more viewers/subscribers.

a credible source (stanley kubrick) told me that marlon brando is going to be cast as varys.

no joke. dingleberries FTW!

...ryan

SCREAMS.

I really hope this is true!

I haven't really pictured him as Ned but I'm sure he'd definitely make it work.

Please please please let this be true. IT JUST HAS TO BE :)

Well, WiC was the first to get the leaked script - he said he believed it was legit at the time but wasn't 100% certain.

The script I saw and reviewed early was the same that he got - again, I couldn't say I was 100% certain that it was legit, but I thought it probably was.

Once the sides came out it was clear that the script we both saw (and which got posted online later by somebody) was the real deal. Whether it's the ultimate shooting script or not, who can say?

All I'm saying is, he's been careful to not go too far out on a limb on these things, but the one other time he did before - the leaked script - it turned out to be true. So he's 1/1, with that and this one is still pending. I'm hoping he'll be 2/2, since I am a big fan of Sean Bean.

Sean Bean is one of the actors that is just *great* for Ned. Yes, it is unfortunate with how it will parallel LotR, but oh well.

so peter dinklage, gillian anderson and sean bean eh? not sure they can afford this much b-list talent guys. just being realistic here. might as well add matthew mcconaughey as jamie and a blonde mila jovovich as cersei.

...ryan

Well, Sean Bean was on that "Crusoe" show, granted not a lead or anything, but I'm hoping Game of Thrones has a better budget than that.

No celebrating from me until we get confirmation, but thanks WiC for the update!

Dinklage is B talent? You are aware he is pretty much one of the, if not the, best "small" actors around. Gillian and Bean are still unconfirmed, and while I can't speak for Gillian, Bean is more than a B movie guy.

Some people are just never satisfied though and will always have to nitpick at something.

Ryan, do you mean B-list talent in the Hollywood economic sense (i.e., not A-list like Will Smith or Tom Cruise) or B-list in the sense of their acting abilities? I honestly can't figure out what you mean with your post. Are you concerned they are spending too much on these actors, or not getting high enough quality talent.

Also, there have been no serious rumors about Gillian Anderson, just a lot of hopeful people who are big fans of her work.

Sean Bean is 50 years old, Ned is 35 at the beginning of the first book. Now, of course they need to age him up a bit since they're aging the kids, but 15 years?

Ned is listed as 40 in the version of the script I saw. Like many actors, I think Bean can pass for a 40-something age. It's not too big of a problem if he looks like a grizzled, tough, craggy-faced 45 year-old from the harsh, cold North.

he is a handsome dude, he can look younger :)

Really, really hope this turns out to be true. And i kinda think it is.

Sean Bean IS a really good actor and he would for sure drag quite a few viewers.

Dinklage was probably the only "perfect" cast we will get that everyone could be happy about, so most should be able to at least appreciate this, i think.

I, for one, love it!

Oh, IF its true... thats right, i forgot already.

Hey! Heres a thought:

Would Sean Bean bother to sign up for this if the series wasn't a sure thing yet?

He kinda seems a little bit too big for that, maybe..

Sean Bean is a great guy and a true Blade but he is a dreadful, truly dreadful actor. "Hey Up Gandalf, 'ow tha' doin'"

If true then, as someone said, to throw away a large amount of budget on this is just plain stupid

Would Sean Bean bother to sign up for this if the series wasn't a sure thing yet?

Yes. A lot of bigger stars are doing TV now, but their shows still need to go through the pilot process (usually, at any rate). This is a chance for a starring role on a major HBO series and right now HBO has huge artistic credibility within the industry and without (as does Showtime, though to a lesser degree).

Actors look at shows like The Wire, The Sopranos, Weeds, Deadwood, etc. or minis like Band of Brothers and Angels In America, and they want to be a part of something like that. It's a chance to do work that is both very good and very high profile - and these shows have international reach, not just in the U.K., but they are shown around the world.

You'll never see Russell Crowe doing an HBO series (though he could do a mini or a movie, if it was big enough like Angels in America, which got Pacino, Streep and Emma Thompson), but for second-tier stars ('B-listers'), it can be a great thing.

@ebv and anyone else who is concerned they will think of LotR too much if Bean is cast:

I think if Bean does a good enough job, you would see him as Ned Stark within a few episodes. Especially because Ned is such a different character than Boromir was.

I remember him in National Treasure, and while I don't recall much of his acting ability per se, I did not think of Boromir -- and I saw National Treasure for the first time after all three LotR movies had come out.

There are the concerns with money by some people, and if it takes away too much of the budget, I would be concerned. Otherwise, two or more actors with significant fan bases (Dinklage and maybe Bean) will be a big help in getting the show shot. And I think he looks enough like Ned to fit that bill.

It's not stupid. Game of Thrones needs to have a high rating to survive or to get a second season. What Sean Bean will bring to the table in terms of viewership is worth the money it'll take to have him as Ned.

(Would Sean Bean bother to sign up for this if the series wasn't a sure thing yet?)


Brude

Yes



Oh... Okey, then. Lol

Awesome...Pefect if its true..

I hope this is true. I always pictured Sean Bean as Ned when reading the books. Let's hope we hear some official casting news soon!

Well, considering the man made a name for himself as Sharpe and played that role until very recently, it seems like a realistic chance. Of course, it would be amazing to have him in this, as not only it adds another big name to the series, but also a very good actor.

There's only one question remaining.. is it "Sheen Been" or "Shawn Bawn"? ;)

i think sean bean would be amazing. one of my tops pics for ned! yea!

That would be great if it gets official!

Brude, I consider Dinklage a correct call for Winter as well, and thus hold him at 2/2 already :) hoping for 3/3 now.

Winter, could you tell us more about your source? There is a minor typo in your post: "if the deal was finalized tomorrow" should be "yesterday", I guess.

@Marko: That's not a typo. The way I read it was much like this "If we got across the street, we could catch the bus on time."

@anon

"this is a lie. let's talk more about dante nero"



How about we not? I don't think I could make it through that with my sanity still intact.

Oh yeah, I think Bean would make a passable Ned. IMO of course.

@Marko

"Winter, could you tell us more about your source? There is a minor typo in your post: "if the deal was finalized tomorrow" should be "yesterday", I guess."

Yes, do tell winter :)

P.S.- Here is a link to a cool after effects reel made by bompakk...

Games of thrones teaser

One I made to look like an HBO promo like you would see between shows on HBO....

HBO promo

and of course my Hodor video...

Hodor

We've got Dinklage. If this rumour is true, and if the Anderson=Catelyn rumour is also true, I think I may have just died and gone to heaven.

@Stfudonny: I see what you're trying to say. Could be an option. Still, before that we read that the reported rumour is that Bean had been cast the day before, so I take it for a typo. Also, "than" should be "then" :)

This was my pick from the very start. So if its true YAY!

OMFG, please be true- one of my favourite British actors ever.

Anyone saying the whole budget will go on him couldn't be more wrong. Bean is first and foremost a TV actor, he's just never done american TV.

In UK, he is best known as Richard Sharpe (well over 12 2hr movies), he was in Lady Chatterly's Lover (as t'gardner) and was recently excellent in Channel 4's Red Riding as a sleazy 70s property developer/gang boss/possible paedophile.

His TV credentials are SOLID trust me.

@ Carl Timms

The sharpes series was awesome!

Bernard Cornwell wrote that and he also wrote the "Saxon Stories". Great historical fiction stuff. If you're looking for something awesome to read while waiting for AGoT then try out "The Last Kingdom" by Bernard Cornwell.

For every helpful, fact-filled "this is the way film-making goes" post, our lovely Ryan Dunn posts nine other ego-tinted, snide entries, possibly hoping to cement in all our minds that he is yet another typical Hollywood asshat.

...ryan: Way to go into this open minded and positive, brah. And in typical SoCal form, you'll probably retract everything negative you ever said if your friend gets to write for the show. As highly as you think of them, your opinions aren't facts, especially when most of them are wrong.

To the subject of Sean Bean, I hope he's cast. I think he can play the quiet, noble father figure without blinking. He can become stony. He can do Ned, and well. Have every one of his roles been perfect? No. He was terrible in The Island, overacting (as many often do) in yet another hardly-lauded moneymaking Michael Bay tour de farce.

But everything else I've seen him in, from the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring to Troy (yeah, he made a pretty witty Odysseus, for the short time he was on screen) to the slightly campy turn he did in National Treasure ... I enjoyed them all, and primarily due to his talent. There is no denying Sean Bean's talent.

But of course not everyone's going to agree he's right for the role, for whatever their personal reasons. My wife loves Sean Bean, but recently envisioned Jon Hamm in the role and is still trying to picture Bean's face holding Ned's solumn mien. Different people will have different mental blocks to overcome, and I think almost every actor and actress that gets these coveted roles will have their fair share of detractors. Hopefully those detractors will be able to communicate their dissatisfaction beyond typing "these actorz suckzorz."

Personally, I think this is where it starts. The rest of the casting is right around the corner; let it happen, then open the flood gates and let the second-guessers and doubters charge into their own personal frays. Many of you have read the books and have pictured certain faces affixed to their more beloved (or hated) ASoIaF characters, and seeing other faces there - especially ones you recognize - may prove hard.

Dinklage is Dinklage, of course, and is pretty much immune from criticism, casting wise. But even he had a few doubters. No one is immune.

I'll end it with this: the thing I want most of Game of Thrones is success. I want it to be well made, well acted, well produced, and I want to see all of it. If Ryan suggests it will fail because Bean's asking price will rape the budget, well, that's his opinion and he can point and laugh at everyone if that does happen.

I agree with Brude, with Marko, with Rer, and many others: if Sean Bean is cast as Ned, it will only help bring in a wider net of fans. And once they see that it's motherfrackin' awesome, they'll tell their friends, and their friends' dogs.

Let the buzz keep growing, and let the talent keep striding right through that swinging, fire-burnt Mud Gate. Talent trumps everything else.

I hope that this rumor is true. I think that Sean Bean is very good actor, and very good choice for this role. Well, to be honest, i wouldn't care if they cast my grandfather for this role, as long as we get some real news.

@About Yeah High: Agree with everything you say here. Bean is an excellent choice for numerous reasons. And even if he costs more than the average actor, he will also certainly bring more viewers than the average actor. A great choice.

@Ryan dunn: Putting Matthew McConaughey in the same sentence as the quite talented Bean and Anderson is asylum stuff. And, by the way, it's JAIME not JAMIE.

There simply is no-one else for this role in my mind. I hope it's true.

@yea high... whoa! wasn't trying to rile anyone here. i post my opinions (yes opinions, go and re-read them) because i'm passionate about this series. not because i'm trying to take a piss on the production. where else have i done that?

i just don't like sean bean (what can i say?). i think he'd bring interest to the show, for sure, but just don't think he's going to overcome boromir comparisons, and thus people who haven't tuned in yet to say "oh great another lotr show trying to tap into that market" when it's so so much more than that.

also, i never criticized dinklage, never criticized gillian anderson rumor, i don't live in hollywood, i'm not an asshole, and i don't work in hollywood. i just come here to give my opinions, share any insights, and offer my excitement. sorry you feel i'm and egotistical asshole for it.


@brude... oh i meant b-list as in not brad pitt. i personally (hey, yea high, that means this is my opinion!) define b-list as the ones who usually play supporting roles, and don't command $10-40 million a movie. and i also think (opinion) that dinklage is definitely the premier small actor of our time, a great actor taking up vern troyer's mantle. and also that gillian anderson is very underrated as an actress.

@JG... i just sort of randomly chose two other actors there, sorry was feeling a little smarmy at the prospect of ned being played by bean.

and are you realllllly going to get on me for misspelling jamie? wow talk about ganging up!

*ponders becoming this board's most hated poster and considers hiding in a bathroom stall in shame.*

sorry guys. bye bye now.

...ryan

Ryan, if it's really a typo no probs. It's just I've been seeing loads of people all over the net saying Jamie this, Jamie that (probably thinking that it actually is Jamie) since the Game of Thrones bandwagon started up. I see now that you're not one of them and it was a genuine typo.

No excuses on the Matthew McConaughey thing however!! :P

Sean Bean is perfect for the role, he's the obvious choice, just like Dinklage for Tyrion.

Besides, it won't be the first time he plays a character who doesn't survive till the end of the story ...

If this is true, I'm hoping the Gillian Anderson rumours are true also. They both work with the slightly aged up cast we need since Dinklage was cast as tyrion. I can see this couple in my head already, and it's a pretty vision. I don't get the boromir fears, Ned is a very different character, and Sean Bean has a far larger body of work.

I think people thinking of Sharpe will be a bigger problem (since he was in LotR for a couple of hours and in Sharpe for about forty hours). But he's done enough different roles now (006 in GoldenEye, that dude in Equilibrium etc) that he's not so associated with just one role.

This is a publicity photo from his new film BLACK DEATH. Definitely got a Neddish vibe going on:

http://www.horror-asylum.com/database/data-images/5141a.jpg

"Dinklage: if not the, best "small" actors around."

I don't know... Mini-Me is really funny. That's the other small actor, right?

Did someone suggest that the leaked GoT script that is all over the internet originated from the person who runs this site? And that therefore, this page is a trusted source of information?

lllllllooooooooooooooollllllllllllll

There are no words.

You people have been drooling about Sean Bean and Gillian Anderson for these parts for months. It doesn't make rumors more true. It just shows that you need a job and an education.

Yeah, we got it. We need job and education.
I have both a job and an education, so I can waste my time arguing on teh interwerbs.

Marko: Thanks for the typo and grammar corrections. I guess that is what happens when you hurriedly type up a post at 11:30 at night after working for 14 straight hours!

As to my source, all I can say is this person works in the entertainment industry.

@ Ryan Dunn

I appreciate your right to your opinion. I really don't think you should be based for it.

As good as your previous post was you did it quite a bit of harm me thinks when you said:

"and i also think (opinion) that dinklage is definitely the premier small actor of our time, a great actor taking up vern troyer's mantle"

Dinklage is a real actor. Vern Troyer is not. He just happened to be funny in the Austin Powers movies. No offense to him but I don't think he actually has any great acting ability.

I heard Nicholas Cage just got the role of King Robert Baratheon.

Winter: You're welcome. This is obviously one of the things where the content is way more important than the form (not that it's bad in any way!). So no need to appologise, appreciating every bit you write for us. I have no connections and very very limited experience in filming, so this is one way I can try to help - hope I'm not too nitpicky.

Concerning the source, I hope they're worthy of a high level of anonymity and will provide you with more info in the future :) I like your moral stance and caution towards rumours since the beginning.

Or some people might be like me... I didn't even remember that Bean was in LotR... I haven't seen the series since it was in theaters either and although I read the books 10 years ago I've forgotten much of the story as well.

Anyways, I'm really excited to hear this news and I hope its true!!!

anyone else finds it funny that, when commenting on dinklage being cast as tyrion, GRRM said there were "many more beans to come"? xD

I like Sean Bean, and I think he can pull off Ned, but isn't he a little old for the part? Ned is supposed to be in his early 30s. Sean Bean turned 50 this year.

Dude 50 today is like being 30 back "then". They often grow up fast and die early after a hard life.

If Gillian Anderson is cast as Catelyn, maybe they should cast David Duchovny as Ned.

Seriously though, I am always curious how some sources are "legit" (like the one who leaked Sean Bean) and some are shady (like then one who started the Gillian Anderson rumor). Was the source for Bean correct with other rumors? Was the Gillian source incorrect with other stuff?

Personally, I think Sean Bean will be very good. He is a good actor. It's odd that most of his movie roles he plays bad guys (Bond, National Treasure) and good guys who are weak (LOTR, Ronin) Ned will be an interesting turn for him, what with all the intregity and honor and whatnot. Additionally, he is a big enough name to draw an audience and won't bankrupt the series.

Bean will be great in the role, and he will bring in viewership. Hope this is true. Now we need Tricia Helfer as Cersei!

Yeah, GRRM's bean remark fits with this.

Great news. This will surely get my sisters to watch it. They both loved Boromir.

I didn't think I could possibly be more excited about this show, but with this casting possibility I am totally over the moon. He would be a great Eddard. Keeping my fingers crossed that this is true.

@anon above...

i didn't mean acting quality when comparing vern troyer to peter dinklage. i was comparing the commodity factor, mostly because someone was asking what i mean by b-list actors. both troyer and dinklage are/were b-list, but dinklage is the hot commodity in the little person realm right now, no question.

and station agent is one of my favorite indie films ever, while austin powers 3 is one of my least favorite films ever.

...ryan

While I can see Ryan's point about the LOTR comparisons (which I agree with) I can't say it's a bad choice. He's not a bad actor. He's been in some bad movies but what actor hasn't. I'd say it's a very safe and solid choice. (If true) And for those who don't like him, look on the bright side, you will only have to endure him for one season.

@anon

to anon posting earlier about wanting to talk about Dante Nero. LOL please that guy is a stand up comedian hack... and too fat for the role he's trying to get... let's all hope he does not land the role.

I'll wait and see what happens before freaking out.

But I do like Sean Bean.

However, for Ned? I would have picked the actor who did Faramir instead.

Sean Bean is my favorite actor. This is great news! Lets get it confirmed!

Sean Bean is ideal casting! If this rumor turns out to be true, GOT will be a better production with his involvement. Sean is an intense actor, and GOT is an intense narrative, so I feel the casting fits.

In further casting speculation, I'd like to see Angus Macfadyen in the part of King Robert. His age would fit right in with the Bean casting. Also, Taylor Kitsch and Audrina Patridge merit some consideration for the Lannister twins.

Hope this is true, Bean would be terrific as Ned, and - just as important - would bring a lot of cachet and buzz to the show.

Slam dunk!

Also, how do I get to post with a screen name, nothing works but "Anonymous"

Yeah, the bean comment by GRRM is surely a not so subtle hint that the rumor is true . . .

In that case, it does indicates that HBO is going all out with the pilot, thereby the chances of GOT being approved as a series is almost a sure thing.

Hope this is true. Now we need Tricia Helfer as Cersei!

Helfer is doing a comedy pilot right now (not sure if it's done/picked-up/etc.), but so long as that is out there, she can't do another series.

Regarding Matthew McConaughey, the sad thing about the guy is that when he started he did some very good, very interesting performances and it looked like he was going to be the 'next big thing' (remember "Dazed & Confused?"). But pretty quickly he fell into some annoying performance habits and took some very bad roles, so that now he's got the rep of being just lame. There's a lot of talent there, but I think he lost his acting mojo a long time ago.

As much as I like Sean Bean, I almost want relative unknowns for these parts. The characters would feel more "real" to me, instead of, "oh, that's Sean Bean as Ned." HBO usually does a great job casting unknowns who then go on to become accomplished actors.

When Dinklage was announced on Not a Blog, GRRM had this to say:

"The Beans Are Spilled

Well, the first two beans, anyway. There will be many more beans to come."

Now this may have been reading into that too much, but it seemed like a very deliberate choice of words and that he was maybe being clever and hinting at Sean Bean, who seems to be a very likely fit for this role(in terms of look, acting, and a big but not too big name actor they can afford for Ned...)

This was just over two months ago, but maybe they were already decided on him and maybe it takes a while to work out the details with the bigger actors, who knows...

Anyways, just thought I'd throw that out there...could be way off base, but after reading ASOIF, we all know George can AND loves to be clever.

With a little Hollywood magic... bring Bean back again in the later season as Benjen.

A little Hollywood magic to age Bean for Eddard, a little Hollywood magic to make him appear younger for Benjen. :)

I gotta say that this is a great casting move. While Bean may not be a huge actor, he is recognizable enough that when people see him get beheaded towards the end of the season they will be fairly shocked. It will cement the idea that no character is ever truly safe in throughout the entire series either.

I really hope this casting is true!

It would make sense that HBO go with someone big, but not huge for this role.

He'd only be in series one and maybe the odd flashback later on, so he wouldn't cost that much.

I see this as akin to Ciaran Hinds being Caesar in HBO's Rome.

I would expect that maybe Robert will also be a biggish name as well. Beyond that, not so much, but we'll see.

Gosh, I hope this is true. Sean Bean with a beard is EXACTLY how I pictured Ned when I read the books. Brilliant stuff.

okay with some caffeine and a couple lumps from earlier posters, i will say this much in FAVOR of a sean bean move (and someone above mentioned it as well).

if they get 1. peter dinklage, 2. gillian anderson, 3. thomas mccarthy to direct, and 4. sean bean....

then this would (to my mind) be a clear indication that hbo is taking this show very seriously, and looking for a reason NOT to pick it up. seems like it's built for success. not to mention committing to shooting this pilot in northern ireland and morocco.

that's more importantly the issue isn't it? whether or not this show gets made!?

can i bring up one more thought that nobody has touched upon? if sean bean makes the cut, wont that now be two clear fan choices that the creators agreed on for casting? i don't know if the chatter around here had gillian anderson as a possibility for catelyn, but if so, this would be an unprecedented example of show creators listening to the fans when putting their show together. even if they totally agreed with the casting, the interest for sean bean and dinklage came early and often, well before casting began.

< /rant >

...ryan

There's been chatter about Sean Bean as Ned and Gillian Anderson as Catelyn from pretty early on. We know that Benioff and Weiss were hanging out on the Westeros boards and taking casting suggestions from there - they actually asked us for them. So it's a strong possibility that they have been at least listening, and quite possibly exploring the suggestions that we gave that they thought would be suitable.

WiC, could you please remove any posts with blatant book-ruining spoilers? Like that one line anonymous post up there that adds nothing to the conversation? Thanks.

Sean Bean is a great, talented actor who could bring a lot of credibility to this series. Two thumbs up from me!

I expect apologies from all of the doubters when the information is released publically. My information is true. I just reconfirmed it. -The Source

Anon: Yes. Please try to refrain from spoilers in the comments guys.

Also, to anyone commenting under anonymous, you can use the "Name/URL" option and type in whatever name you'd like and leave the URL blank. Will make it easier for people to respond to your posts.

After reading about this and Gillian Anderson, I realized that I don't actually WANT that many big name actors in GoT. I know it will help it get recognition and viewers, but I really hate going into the show with preconceived notions about the actors of some of the major roles.

Plus, I pictured Ned different. Similar to his bust at Valyrian Resin, actually:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasontd/2762758561/in/photostream/

^I just don't see that in Sean Bean

OMFG.

Seriously though, if this is indeed true then the real bonus is that the series is being taken very seriously. Whether or not Bean is perfect for the role it just helps everything on so many levels. The show is now GUARANTEED fangirls (which is somewhat annoying, but will definitely boost ratings).

Yup, Sean Bean will bring in many SHARPE fans, LotR fans and many simply of his own fans as well. It'd be a canny casting choice. Gillian Anderson would be another one.

Beyond that I'm not sure we need many more big names. Dany and Jon are two of the most important characters and it looks like they are going to be newcomers, at least.

Could a second "Bean" be spilled in the immediate future? Such as Rowan Atkinson (AKA Mr. Bean) for Varys?

For that man who didn't see him as Ned:
http://martin.chronarda.ru/wp-content/gallery/filmcollage/sean_bean.jpg

mr. bean and sean bean, cajunman you're a beanius. grrm does want rowan atkinson for varys.

man, writers. so tricksy.

...ryan

this guy could definitely be eddard

http://www.arwen-undomiel.com/images/boromir/Boromir_cool_2.jpg

Am i the only person who doesn't see Rowan Aktinson as Varys?

Ser: I don't really see it either. Isn't Varys supposed to be fat?

It would be interesting to see Rowan Atkinson in such a straight role (excuse the phrasing), but Varys isnt really a comedy role and im not sure Mr Atkinson has ever done anything other than.

@ Narwen: Those are some questionable Photoshop skillz.

Ever since someone else mentioned it on this blog a little while back, I can't see anyone but Matt Lucas for Varys now. He looks more or less exactly the way Varys is described. I've only seen him in "Krod Mandoon" where I thought he was quite good, but I admit I have no idea if he has the dramatic chops to pull it off.

Atkinson has done some serious roles on-stage, but I've never seen him do anything dramatic on screen.

Varys is plump but not huge: he disguises himself as a dangerous-looking miscreant several times to talk to Ned and Tyrion on the QT, which I imagine would be difficult if he was carrying round 20 stone.

Catelyn: "You cannot be thinking of riding with the Lannisters all the way to Kings Landing...!"

Ned: "One does not simply... WALK... into Kings Landing...!"

Catelyn: "It just feels like a trap--"

Ned: "IT IS A GIFT!"

Slap!

Sex scene.

Fade to Black.

Atkinson can definitely do non comedy. He would be a WONDERFUL Varys. Or Littlefinger I think.

@ Ser Not Appearing and @ WiC

I never really saw, in my mind's eye, Atkinson either. But, Varys' "plumpness" is not crucial to the plot (I know, he's a eunuch) and he is a bit of a "master of disguise" anyway... We also know that GRRM is a big fan (from interviews, etc).

@ Legion

Atkinson does have some serious credits, not many, but some...

@ Tim and Legion
I always saw Clive Owen as Ned while reading the books, but I'm no less pumped about Bean.

@ Ryan Dunn

Thanks for the beany compliment. I also agree that McCarthy, Dinklage, Bean demonstrate a BIG TIME committment to the series. Bravo so far.

I should really be working right now to get my companies web server "unjacked up".... but I really want to know if anyone else thinks Robert Baratheon is a lot like "prince Vultan" from "Flash Gordan"(the early 80's version)? Might only be me /shrug

I would die (well, noy literally) if Matt Lucas was Varys. I can see where it comes from, but I just don't think he has the range to do it and not make it overly comedic.

I love Atkinson, but I can't picture him in this production at all for any role. He's forever embedded into my head as Mr. Bean.

@ Rer: Brian Blessed--who played Prince Vultan--is always who I pictured as Robert when I was reading the books. Unfortunately, I was picturing Blessed the way he looked 30 years ago. LOL He's far too old for the character now.

To the Anonymous poster who suggested it, though, I have to say, Angus MacFadyen is an inspired suggestion. I am a huge fan of his, but I never would have thought of him. Now that you mention it, though, I can so see it.

@ Rer

EXACTLY!! As I read the books I pictured the very same guy!

Agreed with Legion, i really wouldnt want Matt Lucas as Varys (judging from that Krod Mandoon thing anyway).

As for Atkinson, i've never seen any role with him in it which suggested Varys, nor does his physical appearance match my own idea of the character. He's still a good actor, i just don't understand why people see him as Varys.

@Anonymous
Really? It isn't so bad as could be...

To everyone who says Sean Bean will remind them too much of LOTR:

You are a very small minority. So you've watched your LOTR DVDs so many times that you can't differentiate the actor from the part. That's on you. Watch some other films.

If they are going for Bean as Ned, and thus aging the guys a bit, then I have to admit that the person I always say as Robert when I was reading the books was Ray Winston.

He was Henry VIII in a production a few years ago, playing a sort of modern londoner Henry VIII and it just was old fat Robert.

SQUEEEEAAAA! Casting news! I wonder if more will follow... O_O

Actually, Ray Winstone is the best suggestion by far for Robert. The right age, the right look, the right build and a damn good actor as well.

One concern I'm having for Sean Bean is that he has a bit of an odd mid-English accent he puts on when he's trying to disguise his Sheffield accent, which I found vaguely distracting (but not overwhelmingly so) in LotR. Which is odd as he can do a bit of a posh accent (as in GoldenEye) quite well. So I'm wondering which he'll go for if he is cast as Ned?

ray winstone would be great as robert. might he be a little on the old side? possible could be aged up, dye job, etc. i love him as an actor.

Ray 01

Ray 02

Ned and Robert!?!?

...ryan

i meant aged down, duh.

...ryan

That would work. I get the impression that Robert is supposed to be very 'big' all round, and is taller than Ned, but frankly I'd sacrifice that if we got those two actors.

I suspect that's one piece of wishful casting too far though :-)

That picture of them from the Henry VIII show is pretty good....maybe needs a bit of dye to make Sean Bean's hair darker.....and Ray needs the same and maybe a beer gut suit.

That is pairing I would love. If anyone is member of the forum where the casting guys actually go - go suggest it!!!

It seems that Mr. Bean has already been researching his role as a heavy-handed, "father knows best" type Lord of Westeros:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2009/07/12/cops-called-to-sean-bean-s-house-after-domestic-115875-21513146/

Brian Blessed--who played Prince Vultan--is always who I pictured as Robert when I was reading the books. Unfortunately, I was picturing Blessed the way he looked 30 years ago. LOL He's far too old for the character now.

Exactly my sentiments - too bad he's too old now. A younger John Rhys Davies, or a younger and alive Leo McKern, too - all of those RSC Fallstaff-types are what the Robert role requires. Brian Blessed as Vultan (minus the wings, of course) - that's Robert in my mind!


I get the impression that Robert is supposed to be very 'big' all round, and is taller than Ned, but frankly I'd sacrifice that if we got those two actors.

Apple boxes. The least expensive form of movie magic can solve that problem, easy. Alan Ladd was only 5'5" and he played "Shane" and was made to look 10' tall (metaphorically).

I think he'll be great...
Can pull off the sword thing - Baramir
Can pull off the wise thing - Odysseus

He has the right commonplace face, the right stature, somewhat "nordic" features.
I give him a yes.

LOL sorry BOROMIR

same anon as above.

We should browse through the cast of "300"... I find a lot of faces I could picture in GoT... Rodrigo Santoro for Renly (with blue contacts) for one...

There was a time when I loved Sean Bean, and would have been very pleased by this. But not now, not here.

Personally, I was hoping not to have any big name actors for the sake of making them more easily identifiable with the characters. If you've seen an actor in a dozen movies, it's really difficult to attach their face to a character you've come to know and love from a book. Which would be a very true case with Sean Bean for me. And I don't even think Boromir when I think Sean Bean.

I guess I just don't think Sean Bean is a very good "character" actor... Every time I see him in a movie he acts like... Sean Bean...

I still think whoever plays Robert should be a tall, buff dude wearing a fat suit. This is so flashbacks could be shown and the same actor can be used. Also, Robert should give the impression that once upon a time he was a fearsome man to behold. Ray Winstone is short and squat. I agree that if this had been done back in the late 80's, Brian Blessed would have been the only choice, but now, I'm thinking Rory McCann. He's a scottish actor who looks like a young Sean Connery and stands 6'4". His voice is also much like Connery's was. Unfortunately, he's not a huge name, so I'm having a hard time finding decent pictures of him online. Here's a pretty good one:

http://static.richardyoungonline.com/photos/15272_large.jpg

One on horseback (kinda small): http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/images/bank/programmes_tv/bbcone_autumn2007/300warriors_mccann.jpg

Headshot: http://www.alexander-the-great.co.uk/images/rory_mccann_1.jpg

As for Sean Bean...YEAHH! I'm gonna have to change my shorts!

I can see where you are coming from with Rory McCann there. If it would lead to Stannis being Scottish (I don't know why but Stannis is always Scottish in my head) then I could get on board that train.

Though I still prefer the idea of Winstone as old Robert. He just is.

Am watching the BBC Ivanhoe production from 1997 (try youtube ivanhoe 1997)
That's a very well made series and is somehow the way I would imagine GoT (with more magic of course, and some greater scale)

The Daily Mail: Watch out for... Sean Bean, who is one of the first stars to be cast in the TV drama A Game Of Thrones, based on the fantasy novels A Song Of Ice And Fire by George R. R. Martin.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1200242/BAZ-BAMIGBOYE-Jackos-West-End-financial-thriller.html#ixzz0LSmb8HGi

Off of work now and I still can't get "Oh well, who wants to live forever? Ha, ha, ha!" out of my head!!!

We need some anti aging cream (that really works) for Mr Blessed!!!

or maybe some age reversal cream, arg, I'm tired.

I did not see Bean as Ned but I can live with it. I do think he has the skills to pull it off. I can't see Mr. Bean in this show. No way. No how.

Timothy Spall would actually make for a compelling varys also.

Look him up as mr. Weasley in Harry potter. He's been in sweeny Todd and will be in burtons upcoming alice in wonderland.

Anyone else agree?

...ryan

He isn't Mr Weasley in HP, he is the rat guy whose name has gone out of my head.


Peter Pettigrew, it came back.


He'd be a good Varys actually. Hadn't thought about him, now I am, yeah. See that.

The one character I always find it hard to cast is Lord Frey - I think that is a role that as understated but seriously important villain could do with a named actor rather than an undiscovered. But I never want to cast anyone that isnt Peter O'Toole and I don't see him doing TV work at his age and with his status. Any thoughts?

Peter O'Tool would be a good one, he does do tv work, was the Pope in the recent Tudors tv series. doubt this series could afford him though if it has Dinklage, Bean, and possibly Gillian Anderson!

Also, on topic of casting Robert, I'd like to see the same actor play Renly as well, just with extra padding and make up to make him look older for Robert. Just a thought..

whoops. Yes pettigrew NOT mr. Weasley. My bad.

...ryan

exciting confirmation post you have there, Anonymous of 6:19 PM. :D

Walder Frey = Aged up Christopher Plummer perchance?

...ryan

Talking of aging up - anyone for Measter Aemon?

From Anon's confirmation link: "There are warring factions and divided loyalties and I can’t pretend to tell you much more, because I couldn’t get beyond the first couple of chapters."

tee hee

Sean Bean is really old looking. Would be cool to have him, but as Ned? Well.. we'll see I guess.

Yeah, that reporter just made me remember why I don't read the Mail

Hey Ryan, wanted to apologize, we completely misunderstood each other there, when I think B movie actors, I think of the talent/quality not the pay. I totally understand what you meant now, glad that's all sorted out.

Anon@6:19PM link to a daily mail rumour page is interesting. But it's only a confirmation if that rumour is not based one the same source that WiC has (or WiC himself).

The segment itself is has some dubious facts, I mean a Game of Thrones computer game? But, this does make a case that this is a rumour that's going round on entertainment side and is even parroted by non-fans, which is a good sign.

Hm. The Daily Mail.

"But I know Game Of Thrones has legions of fans — not least because it’s also a computer game."
What?

I think this pretty much rules them out as a reliable source.

It has been confirmed a couple of weeks ago that it is being made into a computer game, but yeah, it isn't yet.

The Daily Mail isn't the initial source, they just caught wind of it.

And Anonymous, Ned is old-looking. He's supposed to look "much older" than his 35 years.

Sean Bean is da man and I am super-excited to see this now. PLEASE let this be picked up as a series!

For Varys, I still say Pruitt Taylor Vince is the best choice...

http://content7.flixster.com/photo/77/70/12/7770121_tml.jpg

Isn't there a total war game about ASOIF? also GRRM confirmed cyanide games are making a game based on the series. Saying this, neither of thoe would account for what this idiot of a journalist has claimed, even the most basic of research could've told them that the popularity of the series is due to the wonderful writing, brilliant plot twists and turns, and the sheer mind boggling scope of the books, not some computer game. Though someone who couldn't hack it past the first few chapters of GOT couldn't hope to appreciate this. Then again it is the Daily Mail, and GRRM will've finished writing the whole series before i read something decent from that rag!

Josh,

That wasn't very convincing to me, about Ned being too old or young or whatever. He looks OLD. Period... Very Old.

I'm not sure what your standard of "old" is. He's 50 but could pass for 40. I guess we're gonna have to agree to disagree, but I don't see how a young-looking 50-year-old qualifies as looking "VERY old".

yeah i don't think he looks that old either he could totally pull of a 40-year-old, especially with the right makeup.

@Rer oh yea a younger taller Brian Blessed would be perfect for Robert. too bad he is old now

Brian Blessed wants to be Odin in Marvel's Thor movie.

Winter, any idea on who the 'Rain Mark production company' are? I thought HBO just had everything made under the 'HBO Original Programming' name.

Rainmark and HBO have done things together before, such as the Into the Storm Churchill movie.

Still, it seems a new company, created in 2005 by people from HBO and the BBC to produce US/UK TV/Film series (took me a while to get that article, as the name Rainmark was not used). Some of the people there did Rome and John Adams before.

Btw, Dante Nero was asked about GoT on his Twitter and his reply was that he thinks they've passed on him (well he wrote 'pasted', which I assume is a misspelling of 'passed').

As Drogo, that isn't much of a suprise, but totally, i think that is a shame as he would make a great bloodrider.

Googling Rainmark turned up this nugget:

AGoT's production designer is Gemma Jackson, who previously worked on FINDING NEVERLAND and JOHN ADAMS. I think that's new information.

http://www.skouras.com/productiondesigners/jackson/Jackson%20Gemma.pdf

Of course, it also says that AGoT is a HBO programme, not a Rainmark one. So maybe the Daily Mail got that wrong (SHOCK! HORROR!) ;-)

Things are finally starting to heat up. While neither Gillian or Sean would be my first choices, they would both be up there on the list. Further, they both add weight to HBOs seriousness for picking up this series. Rowan Atkinson would be all wrong for Varys IMO, but he would be the cat's meow as Dollrous Edd Tollet. Hopefully we will learn something more concrete in the next few days as George gets back in the swing of things with the conclusion of Fincon.

This guy is my Dolorous Edd:
http://www.uk.castingcallpro.com/view.php?uid=52538

nothing is heating up at all, just this here cauldron that literally thrives on falsehoods speculations and rantings. It's like being on the ground floor on wall street but geekier.

Lauren, not lately imhfuckingo

so glad to hear they passed on Dante Nero. He's way to fat for a blood rider..

I can't believe someone seriously suggested Audrina Partridge for a part in this series. You have got to be fucking kidding.

On the other hand, Angus MacFayden for Robert is an awesome suggestion. I also was thinking Oliver Platt.

I can definitely see Rowan Atkinson as Littlefinger. Blackadder and him share some traits, for sure. Another person I always picture as Littlefinger is Christopher Guest, but only exactly as he played that bad guy in Princess Bride.

I think Bean is a great choice, though I have to say I always pictured a bearded Liam Neeson, for some reason.

just had a little fun here, posted a partial cast of the rumored and locked in cast, along with some other suggestions for different roles.

Partial GoT Cast

...ryan

Rowan Atkinson is too old for Littlefinger I`m afraid. Littlefinger is even younger than Ned in the books, isn`t he? And perhaps Catelyn too?

Yes, I know Sean Bean is a little older than Ned and Dinklage a little older than Tyrion.

But Rowan Atkinson is going on 55. A stretch too far imo.

Ryan who is the guy you have as Jaime? He looks familiar but I can`t seem to place him!!

IMO MHO I think that that the Rowan references are ahem....
REALLY?
SERIOUSLY?
Like are you seriously serious or did the joke go over my head cuz.....
Ahem.

while we're on the subject though I'm gonna throw Ed off "Ace of Cakes" out there. He's young but you can't freak this dude out. he flew in an helicopter and his voice didn't even go up like a single notch he just has a monotone I think of with The V Man

I know this is still a rumor, but I was looking at imdb.com and it looks like he has 2 movies in post-production, and 1 in pre-production which is due out in 2011, so it seems like he has some time this year. So it seems like there is a good possibility that this rumor might be true. As far as him playing Ned, I think it is a good choice. He is a fairly good actor, and him being high profile adds to the flair and importance of the show itself. He is soft spoken, which I think Ned is, but can have the intensity which Ned needs as well.

Grades for Bean as Ned

Looks A-
Acting B+
Availability A-
Profile (high/low) A

Horribly inaccurate Daily Mail writing, hope no one uninitiated bases any knowledge of ASOIAF on that crap :P

OK Guys, time to put in my 2 cents ......


Totally happy about Sean Bean & Gillian Anderson if its true ...

As for people not being able to see him as anything but Boromir, BUllOCKS ..... how many period pieces we've seen Orlando Bloom in and not once was he confused for Legolas while playing Will Turner (sorry for the comparison just needed an example)... also, not that there's a drought in Hollywood but the economy's not good for them either and actors need jobs and there's not alot of them around right now, so I'm pretty sure contract wise Bean and Anderson would be reasonable and remember Bean is around for 1 season ....


Watched an episode of Warehouse 13 on SyFy (let's get it right) and Tricia Helfer guest starred ... I could see the hoopla surrounding her for Cersei but she's doing something else ....


@ Chrysee ... would love to see David Wenham in this (Faramir) ... not as Ned, but I'll take BenJen to keep it all Brotherly ... LOL ... but believe it or not I could see him as Jaime (nice range for him) ... if Helfer was Cersei ....


Someone mentioned Angus MacFadyen as King Robert ... Again acceptable to me and if not I could see Jeffery Dean Morgan (Another acceptable Ned) ...


Rowan Atkinson .... love him as Mr. Bean, have never seen him in anything serious, so I'm not feeling him as Varys, maybe LittleFinger ... I googled him via images and there's one where he's gruffy looking so maybe? ....


If I could remember who suggested him I would give them credit but I would go for Ian McNeice as Varys, He played Baron Harkonnen on SyFy's version of DUNE and once he was suggested I've pictured him ever since (could also go with Timothy Spall)


@ Ryan

I could see Christopher Plummer as Ser Barristan Selmy if he was strong enough ... I could see Martin Landau as Maester Aemon ... I could see Kirk Dougles as Old Man Frey if it wasn't for the stroke and just because I love them as actors .... would love to see them in GOT one way or another, so I'm taking suggestions on ...

F. Murray Abraham; Anthony Hopkins; Peter O'Toole (He was great on The Tudors)and Mickey Rooney ... LOL ...

Post Script: I could also see Angus MacFadyen as Ned too :)

Holding Back tears "YESSSS!!!!" made my day!

Daily Mail is not a reliable source for any news, not even rumors. They actually printed a fan-made mock-up news story on an internet forum as a real news story a while back (it dealt with Liverpool FC), so I'm guessing their source for this rumor is this blog. And look at the facts they present, computer game? Yeah, it's under development, but that's all. And the premise of the story is wrong in that as well.

Anyway, I wouldn't take this as any kind of proof or confirmation that the rumor about Bean is correct.

By the way, why doesn't commenting work on Firefox?

British tabloids invent rumors or just pick them up on forums, blogs and such. They are just about the most unreliable source of information imaginable and not worth quoting.

HarperVoyager in Twitter: BREAKING NEWS: Sean Bean has been cast as Ned Stark in 'A Game of Thrones'!!! http://twitter.com/_TheVoyager_/status/2686271157
Where did they get the news?

According to some people in the know, Voyager don't have any inside info for this. They're probably misquoting the WiC article.

Heheh, good to see how influential your blog is, Winter!

http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2009/07/17/32730-has-sean-bean-landed-a-juicy-role-in-a-game-of-thrones/

Another site reporting the rumor,though their source is WiC,

can I ask a very silly question? too late! But seriously...

the source who said bean would be announced soon, did THEIR source indicate he was for sure playing NED?

Just thought I'd make sure, as there a couple of other roles he would fit for.

...ryan

Very well casted.

Marko: Indeed. Will feel even better if (when?) we get some official confirmation.

Ryan: They said they "believed" it was for the role of Ned. And honestly, I would be pretty surprised if it was for any other role.

The Daily Mail source (assuming it wasn't WiC) said it was for one of the heads of the Great Houses who appears in the pilot. So it's either Ned, Robert or Jon Arryn. According to them anyway.

@ LADYNYC74

I think the opposite. Martin Landau would be perfect as old man walder frey. and kirk douglas is old enough for Aemon.

Angus McFaden would only do as Ned, not Robert.

Rowen Atkinson can do drama, but is too old for Littlefinger, and too old and too skinny for Varys.

According to Parris on Westeros.org, HBO are planning to do 12 episodes (including the pilot) not 10.

Think he could be announced at Comic-Con, possibly along with Gillian Anderson? Less than a week away.

Oh, nice find and nice news, Adam! that's great ... although we once established that 10 could just work for the first book, 12 is better if not perfect. HBO seasons are not too long and that is the right way to do it.

@ Ryan Dunn

MY source didn't specify Ned actually, they specified "The Lead," but who else could "The Lead" be? Based on that I told WiC that it was "probably" Ned, but that part I wasn't sure about.

Whoever said Jeremy Irons, he would not be a good ned stark...way too old