Take a look at ten new pictures from HBO’s television adaptation of George R.R.Martin’s epic fantasy series Song of Ice and Fire, entitled Game of Thrones. The highly anticipated series is slated to debut on HBO in 2011.
HBO‘s take on George R.R. Martin‘s best-selling series chronicles the bloody fight for the throne of King Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy), who rules over the land of Westeros with the help of his right-hand man, Lord Eddard Stark (Sean Bean), while behind castle walls intrigue brews in the form of attempted murders, more than one incestuous liaison — and the dark backstory of Stark’s bastard son, Jon Snow (Kit Harington, pictured here at far left).
Armored soldiers on horseback are a typical sight on location in the Northern Ireland countryside. ”It’s time-consuming, shooting riding,” says Mark Addy, who mounts a black stallion regularly as King Robert Baratheon.
Mark Addy stands tall as King Robert, but, he says, ”it’s hard to portray a fearsome warrior who was merciless in his pursuit of power. The online speculation about the Full Monty actor’s casting didn’t help either. ”There was talk like ‘Why are they turning the king into a clown?’ because I’ve been in funny stuff before. But I think once they see it, the fans will love this.”
Queen Cersei Baratheon (Lena Headey) is known for her scheming ways. ”She’s really complex,” Headey says. ”She’s got a spiral down into a bit of madness.”
Danish actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau plays one of the more provocative characters: Jamie Lannister, a knight and a brother of the queen. Coster-Waldau says his horrible deeds are all the better for character development. ”He has the chance to go from being Darth Vader to being something quite different.”
Lord Eddard Stark (Sean Bean) is the Hand of the King, his closest adviser. ”The story is so different from what we’re used to seeing on television,” Bean says.
Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead-Wright, left) and Jon Snow (Kit Harington) share a father in Eddard Stark.
Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) is one of only two surviving members (along with brother Viserys) of the Targaryen family that once ruled Westeros.
Peter Dinklage‘s Tyrion Lannister, known as the Imp, is constantly getting into trouble because of his marauding ways.
Michelle Fairley (far right), who plays Catelyn Stark, says of the epic series, ”It’s not so much fantasy. It’s really gutsy and glorious. We just happen to be wearing costumes and armor.”
[Source] EW
