Читать книгу Games of Thrones A-Z: An Unofficial Guide to Accompany the Hit TV Series - Martin Howden - Страница 11

In May 2009, Peter Dinklage signed on to star as Tyrion Lannister. Author George R. R. Martin and co-creator of the series David Benioff wanted Dinklage, and also Sean Bean, early on. ‘Peter and Sean were the exceptions to the long, drawn-out casting process because we knew we wanted them from the beginning,’ he said, ‘so, we obviously didn’t ask either of them to audition.’

It was then a case of going after the two actors. ‘I had met Peter before, socially. We have a mutual friend, so I got his email address and sent him an email that just said, “I don’t know if you have heard of these books, but there is a character named Tyrion Lannister and I think you would be fantastic. Maybe we could talk about it at some point.” So, we started emailing, and then he came out to LA. We sat down with him and had a great conversation, where he basically said, “I am really interested in this part, but don’t give me a beard. Dwarves in fantasy movies always have big beards. It’s the cliché of fantasy.” So, we promised him that he wouldn’t have to have a beard, and that went well.’

And with Bean it was even easier. ‘I had actually worked with Sean before and was just a huge admirer of him, as a professional and as a person. We had lunch with him in London and talked to him about the part, and we managed to get him.

‘With Peter and with Sean, we just knew from midway through reading the first book that those were the actors we wanted.’

In July, more names were cast. Kit Harington landed the role of Jon Snow; Jack Gleeson won the part of Joffrey Baratheon; and Mark Addy was cast as King Robert Baratheon.

August saw Jennifer Ehle confirmed as Catelyn Stark, with Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Tamzin Merchant, Richard Madden, Iain Glen, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams and Alfie Allen all heading to the magical world of Westeros. Lena Headey joined the cast in September and Jason Momoa was hired for the part of Khal Drogo in October.

Michelle Fairley would replace Ehle as Catelyn after the pilot had been shot, with Emilia Clarke replacing Tamzin Merchant as Daenerys Targaryen.

Author Martin played an integral part in the casting process. While he wouldn’t be present, the screen tests would be filmed and he eagerly viewed them every morning in the hope he could find the right person. Despite having an involvement, he knew the final decision rested with Weiss and Benioff.

With casting announced, Martin faced a problem common to writers who have their work adapted to the screen. Would his style change because he now knew what the characters looked like in the flesh? ‘It does affect me when watching adaptations of other books by other writers,’ he told Empire. ‘For example, I recently read The Hunger Games and saw the movie, and I think if I go back and read that book now I will see those actors; but it doesn’t happen with my own work. I’ve been living with these characters since 1991 in some cases; their images are fixed very strongly in my head, and it would be very difficult to replace them with our actors, good as they are. Also, I’ve seen dozens of other versions of these characters in the comic books, the card game, the book covers. These are characters that change over and over again, so there are a wealth of characterisations to choose from.’

Benioff said of the casting decisions in season two, ‘You decide if you absolutely need somebody who is well known to play a role. And you have that cost-cutting analysis. I sound like an accountant but, honestly, it’s something we never came up against this year. It wasn’t like we said, “We need Daniel Day-Lewis to play Stannis.” [The new actors’] performances were so compelling and so overpowering that we decided that this person is far and away the most interesting person we saw for this role. Like Gemma Whelan came in for the role [of Theon’s sister] and I seem to remember her not looking the same as the character in the book. But she is the character now and so overpoweringly great that I can’t imagine anybody else being the character.’

For series three, Dame Diana Rigg will play Olenna Tyrell, the Queen of Thorns. Of the part, she said, ‘I am thrilled, it’s an absolutely wonderful part.’ While Office star Mackenzie Crook will play wilding raider Orell. Crook said, ‘It’s a monster of a show, but it’s a real privilege to be a part of this massive cast.’

Other key and new cast members include Waking the Dead’s Tara Fitzgerald as Stannis’ wife, Selyse Florent, Clive Russell as Brynden The Blackfish Tully, who promised fans that the show will be as ‘sexy, spectacular and violent as it has been up till now’, and Nathalie Emmanuel will play slave-trader translator Missandei.

Tobias Menzies stars as Catelyn Stark’s younger brother Edmure Tully. The role of Qyburn will be played by Anton Lesser. Paul Kaye will star as Thoros of Myr, a member of the outlaw band the Brotherhood Without Banners; Love Actually star Thomas Brodie-Sangster will play Jojen Reed, a mysterious young man who aids Bran Stark; and Richard Dormer portrays Beric Dondarrion, the Brotherhood Without Banners leader. The eldest daughter of Howland Reed, Meera, a fervent Stark loyalist, will be played by Ellie Kendrick. Kristofer Hivju is playing Tormund Giantsbane, while Philip McGinley will be seen as Anguy, a key member of the Brotherhood Without Banners. Finally, Misfits star Iwan Rheon has landed a major part in the series, believed to be Ramsay Snow – the bastard of Roose Bolton.

It was announced in May 2012 that the character Mance Rayder would feature in season three, too. He had been mentioned several times during the series, but Entertainment Weekly confirmed he would finally appear on screen. As the King-Beyond-the-Wall, Rayder is a fan favourite, and there had been much talk about who would play the character, with a host of names including Lost’s Henry Ian Cusick, Star Trek’s Karl Urban and Casino Royale’s Mads Mikkelsen.

James Purefoy, however, remained the favourite for the role of Rayder, with the actor having expressed an interest in appearing on the show, saying, ‘If it was the right role on Game of Thrones, definitely. Of course! It’s a terrific series. It’s a great series of books. I love HBO. I’m on record saying that HBO is the best television company in the world, and I believe they are. I think they absolutely understand how to make television that is really, really vital and interesting and visceral, and all the things that television really should be.’

The Wire star Dominic West revealed in August 2012 that he turned down a major role in Game of Thrones because it would have involved being ‘in Reykjavik for six months’ – with many believing it was that of Mance. He told the Huffington Post, ‘I was offered something on Game of Thrones and unfortunately I hadn’t seen it, but my nephew and his father said, “Gosh, Game of Thrones is the only great show on!” And I felt terrible because I’d just turned them down; it was a lovely part, a good part. I’m going to regret it. My problem is, I’ve got four kids and, at the moment, I’m reluctant to be away from home for a long time. I can get a lot of work in London and still be at home.’

The actor who would play the part of Mance Rayder was finally announced on 17 August, and it was Rome star Ciaran Hinds who had won the role.