Casting Begins for HBO's Game of Thrones Pilot

Fans of the epic medieval fantasy novel series A Song of Ice and Fire have long amused themselves in forums by exchanging "dream cast" ideas on actors and actresses to play each character. Now that HBO has exercised their option for a series adaptation to be titled Game of Thrones, it looks like we'll see who will actually step into the roles. George R. R. Martin, author of the series, has faithfully noted current confirmed progress of the HBO adaptation on his personal site. If the pilot is successful, HBO intends to film each book as one season, starting with book one, A Game of Thrones. Currently, the series stands at four novels and Martin is hard at work on the fifth in the series, though completion has been delayed by his busy schedule. Martin plans a total of seven books.

The series is compared by fans to the likes of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, although Martin's writing is somewhat more cynical, dark, and adult in tone and subject. There is intrigue, violence, tragedy, chivalry, and magic - all the things a fantasy enthusiast could ever hope for. What's missing are the cliched trappings (elves, orcs, goblins) of fantasy novels. Instead, A Song of Ice and Fire plays out like a historical fantasy interpretation of the War of the Roses. The plot follows political feuding in a land called Westeros between two major noble families, the Starks and the Lannisters. Hints of magic in the series are worked in as teasers of the larger plot - that in a world where summer lasts for decades, a winter is coming that could last a lifetime. And with winter comes the ice-cold magical race known as the Others, sliding silently out of the dark to overcome everything in their path. The only thing standing between the Others and Westeros is the Wall, a huge blockade of ice stretching across the northern reaches of Westeros. A militia known as the Night's Watch stands guard at the wall against the Others - but resources are scarce and the kings of Westeros are more interested in politicking than a wall of ice. As each book unfolds and we follow the dramatic rise and fall of various families, it's clear that Winter is coming...and with it, a long night that may destroy mankind.

As far as casting and production for the series goes, the pilot will begin filming October 2009 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Catelyn Stark (Jennifer Ehle) and Ned Stark (Sean Bean) are confirmed for the principal characters of House Stark and rulers of the North and Winterfell. Fantasy fans will know Bean as Boromir in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) and Ehle is most recognized for her portrayal of Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice (1995). Other confirmations are Mark Addy (The Full Monthy, 1997) as King Robert Baratheon, Peter Dinklage (The Station Agent, 2003) as Tyrion Lannister, stage actor Kit Haringtonas Jon Snow, Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon, and Harry Lloyd (BBC's Robin Hood, 2006-2007) as Viserys Targaryen.

Hollywood Reporter: Announcement for Ehle and Bean

Martin's "Not a Blog" Casting news from the author, George R. R. Martin

Northern Ireland's Government News Site Location for pilot confirmed as Belfast

Winter is Coming Blog dedicated to ASoIaF series news