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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 […]

“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 […]

Secrets are perhaps the most prized currency in all of Westeros, so it makes a certain amount of sense that David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, the show runners of HBO’s lavish series “Game of Thrones,” are reluctant to divulge too many details concerning what audiences might expect from the show’s third season. Ominous hints are OK, though. “I think we’re heading into the negative population growth phase of the show,” Weiss said. That tidbit hardly will come as a surprise to readers familiar with George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” novels, the elaborate fantasy series that inspired the intricate, eye-popping show and chronicles the masterful manipulations and wars that break out over who will control the Iron Throne. QUIZ: Test your “Game of Thrones” knowledge The third book, “A Storm of Swords,” forms the spine for the […]

“Game of Thrones” fans, HBO has a message for you: Don’t take your downloading tips from director David Petrarca. The premium pay channel issued a terse statement Wednesday morning countering Petrarca’s comments suggesting that “Game of Thrones’” distinction as the most pirated show on TV is actually a good thing. “’Game of Thrones’ is sold worldwide, available legally on a large variety of viewing platforms and is one of HBO’s most popular series,” the statement said. “With that kind of success comes a great amount of social media chatter so can’t say we see an upside to illegal downloads.” QUIZ: Test your “Game of Thrones” knowledge Petrarca comments were pinging around the blogosphere this week after he suggested that piracy can contribute to a show’s “cultural buzz” and added: ”That’s how they survive.” The comments were documented by the Sydney Morning Herald […]

This post has been updated. See the note below for details. Were you — or your “friends” — feeling a tiny bit guilty about illegally downloading HBO’s “Game of Thrones”? Probably not. But if you were, banish the thought. Director David Petrarca downplayed the series’ unusual distinction as the most pirated show on TV, suggesting that illegal downloads help create “cultural buzz” around shows and adds to their word-of-mouth cachet. “That’s how they survive,” Petrarca was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald. Petrarca, who has directed several episodes of “Game of Thrones,” was making an appearance at the University of Western Australia for the Perth’s Writers Festival. The notion that piracy is not only not detrimental, but also might actually be instrumental to a show’s success stands in sharp contrast to Hollywood’s party line — that piracy is devastating to […]