Game of Thrones

Let’s hope that Richard Madden has an easier time wearing a crown in “Cinderella” than he does in “Game of Thrones.” Madden, who plays King in the North Robb Stark in the hit HBO series, has been cast as the glass slipper gal’s prince in Disney’s upcoming live-action “Cinderella” film, the studio announced Wednesday. “Cinderella,” slated for a 2014 release, is set to star “Downton Abbey” actress Lily James as the rags-to-riches heroine and Cate Blanchett as Lady Tremaine, her evil stepmother. Kenneth Branagh is directing, and the screenplay was penned by Aline Brosh McKenna (“The Devil Wears Prada”). Simon Kinberg, who was recently recruited to write a stand-alone “Star Wars” spinoff film, is a producer on “Cinderella.” Kinberg and McKenna (the two are friends) hatched the plan for a live-action update of the classic fairy tale. PHOTOS: ‘Game of […]

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau made an appearance over the weekend on “Saturday Night Live,” turning up at the end of a sketch that saw host Zach Galifianakis dressed in a dragon costume in a parody of the obsessive nature of the “Game of Thrones” fandom. In the skit, “The Hangover Part III” star played one of three fans competing on “Game of Game of Thrones,” a quiz show with categories devoted to such topics as the Lannisters, the Night’s Watch and, also, geography — correct answers earned 10 silver stags. Actual fans of the HBO series adapted from George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” saga most likely would have had no trouble answering such questions as “Who killed Qhorin Halfhand behind the Wall?” The faux contestants certainly had no trouble either. But when it came to real-world facts, like, say, […]

The Hound is alive and well in the North. At least for now. Rory McCann, known to fans of HBO’s “Game of Thrones” as Sandor “The Hound” Clegane, strolls into the parking lot of a popular climbers’ haunt in the heart of town. The large Scotsman looks every bit the rugged outdoorsman coming in from a Highland winter, dressed in layers of wool, goose down and tweed. Yet his demeanor warms when he smiles, explaining the morning’s adventure in his native Scottish brogue. “My car won’t start. I had to park it back there on a hill so I can get it going on the roll,” he said. “I may need a push.” Born and raised in Glasgow, McCann, 44, is home in the northern Scottish Highlands, even mooring his sailboat in a region known as Wester Ross — almost […]

Fans of HBO’s lavish fantasy series “Games of Thrones” all seem to love plucky Arya Stark for her fearlessness and her brash, outspoken ways. But Maisie Williams, the 16-year-old British actress who plays the youngest daughter of House Stark, says she thinks that if her screen alter ego really wanted to survive the brutal world of Westeros and make it back safely to her family home of Winterfell, she perhaps should be just a bit more strategic about her behavior. “Her ability to tell people what she thinks gets her into trouble a lot, and it’s kind of unnecessary, but it’s the way she is,” Williams said in an interview last month. “That’s one of the things I don’t like about her. Her ability to just tell people what she thinks, it makes her a likable character but it doesn’t mean […]

Jaime Lannister’s fortunes changed forever in Sunday’s episode of “Game of Thrones.” Readers familiar with the events in George R.R. Martin’s “A Storm of Swords,” the third novel in his “A Song of Ice and Fire” saga, thought it quite likely that Jaime would be, well, transformed, this season, but it was still shocking to see the act itself. (And, spoiler warning, if you missed the episode, this would be a good time to stop reading.) But the moment in the narrative when the Kingslayer loses his sword hand is the moment where his evolution as a character truly begins, a fact that “Game of Thrones” show runners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss made sure to note even when they were casting Danish actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau to play the role. “One of the challenges was this was a character who in the first […]

Michelle Fairley is more than happy to talk about Catelyn Stark, the character she plays on HBO’s epic fantasy saga “Game of Thrones” as the show picks up its third season. Just don’t ask her about specifics, please. It’s not details you’ll be met with, but a modest demurral and a simple explanation — were she to divulge too much information about future events, show runners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss would have her head. For devoted readers of George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” novels, Catelyn Stark’s fate isn’t exactly the world’s best kept secret, but the series’ cast and creators always have been cognizant that not everyone who watches the HBO series, which returned March 31 to record ratings, is familiar with the novels. Even Fairley has only read as far as the third installment, “A […]

The chilly breeze blowing through a restaurant patio sent “Game of Thrones” actress Michelle Fairley reaching for her blazer and her television daughters, Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams, reaching for the ominous tagline that’s become so associated with HBO’s big-budget fantasy series. “Winter is coming,” chimed the teenagers in their lilting English voices, the trio laughing at the notion that a bracing March wind would attend a reunion of the women of House Stark, even on a seasonably pleasant Los Angeles spring day. In the world of Westeros, seasons can last for years, making the approach of a bleak and bitter winter a fierce proposition indeed. But even in the sunniest of days, the fantasy realm first created by author George R.R. Martin in his “A Song of Ice and Fire” novels can be an unforgiving place where acts of […]

“Game of Thrones” fans can return to Westeros on March 31, when the hit HBO series launches its third season. For those who can’t wait for more drama from Houses Stark, Lannister and Targaryen, we’ve assembled a look at some of the most intriguing characters and the actors who play them. Based on the bestselling fantasy series “A Song of Ice and Fire” by George R.R. Martin, “Game of Thrones” is perhaps the most massive production on television, with some 30 main characters and a sprawling ensemble cast of more than 200. Season 3 is primarily taken from the first half of “A Storm of Swords” — the third book in Martin’s saga. “We’re splitting the third book into two seasons,” series co-creator David Benioff told Hero Complex. “But it doesn’t necessarily map along so neatly where if you split […]

HBO’s lavish fantasy “Game of Thrones” returns March 31 to once again transport audiences to the land of Westeros, where the fight for control of the Iron Throne continues and death lurks around every corner. To help test your Westeros know-how, we’ve put together a “Game of Thrones” quiz — what better way to help you brush up on your High Valyrian? The series’ third season will be loosely drawn from the first half of “A Storm of Swords,” the massive third book in George R.R. Martin’s long-running “A Song of Ice and Fire” series, which takes the sprawling narrative in some surprising, unexpected directions. For their part, show runners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss are keeping plot details close to the boiled leather vest, but in a recent interview with Hero Complex, they did drop a few hints about […]

Westeros came to Hollywood on Tuesday night with “Game of Thrones” stars Emilia Clarke, Peter Dinklage, Richard Madden and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, among others, walking the red carpet for a lavish premiere celebrating the show’s third season, which is set to begin March 31. Based on the bestselling fantasy series “A Song of Ice and Fire” by author George R. R. Martin, “Game of Thrones” has been a massive success for HBO, drawing an average of 10.4 million viewers last season with its unique mix of character drama, cutthroat political intrigue and supernatural elements. QUIZ: Test your “Game of Thrones” knowledge That same combination was on display in the premiere episode, which the show’s creators, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, introduced at the TCL Chinese Theatre (formerly Grauman’s) by describing their initial meeting with Martin. During that first conversation, Benioff and […]