Filming/Locations/News

Game of Thrones filming in Ballintoy Harbour today!

Posted on by Sue the Fury
Ballintoy 2
Photo: Matthew Woodhouse/Twitter

Location shooting in Northern Ireland for Game of Thrones has returned to Ballintoy Harbour this week. Photos are popping up on Twitter, giving us a peek at what’s happening over on location.

The picturesque coastal area was used most notably by the show in season 2 to portray the Iron Islands. The beach close by has been used for other scenes, such as the beach where Melisandre burned people alive in season 4.

It’s officially unknown at the moment what scene is being filmed at Ballintoy Harbour. There is reportedly a lot of smoke involved, as you can see from the photos. It’s difficult for anyone to get a closer look at the set. We did learn yesterday that there would be scenes involving a new character that filmed this week, so the Iron Islands are likely shooting somewhere- is it perhaps a scene for this storyline?

Ballintoy 1

WotW reader Andrew Gillan shared this photo with us:

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While we tend to automatically think Ballintoy Harbour = Iron Islands, it’s good to consider other possibilities. Rising smoke, indicating something is burning a great deal, makes me think they might be filming part of a coastal attack, which would be set elsewhere, perhaps

the Reach
?

What do you think, readers?

 

Update: There’s conflicting info today about who is filming where. The source of confusion is that both Game of Thrones and the film Lost City of Z are reported to be filming in the area. Lost City certainly is, with pictures of cast members filming by the church turning up in the press.

However, we do also have the current GOT signs (shown above) posted around Ballintoy. We’re looking into the matter more.

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Sue the Fury
Susan Miller, Editor in Chief of WatchersOnTheWall.com

64 Comments

  3. I’ve been waiting for filming at this location, to see if it would provide more of a sense of what will be happening in the Iron Islands — though, as the article notes, it could be they are filming something else.

  6. Smoke, eh. I’ve figured it out. Stannis’ funeral will involve him being turned into a literal ham.

  8. Mawk:
    I have nothing to say, only posting so Hodor isn’t the first post.

    EDIT: DAMNIT! Next time.

    Sorry, I wanted to do that for a while. Oh if we only knew who is there to film scenes. I am looking forward to seeing new faces are get reacquainted with old characters. I don’t know, I might get the wrath of the Dany lovers out there. Her story started getting, dare I say it, stale (yes, even with dragons etc). I take bathroom breaks while her scenes are on.
    Little did I know she is one of the main characters when I binge watched the first three seasons. I was hoping for her to get killed off, LOL.

  9. Dornish Pastie:
    Smoke, eh. I’ve figured it out. Stannis’ funeral will involve him being turned into a literal ham.

    That’s the Dornish for you…no courtesy for the late king/

  10. Newbietothegame,

    Yeah Dany got a LOT more interesting when she was paired with Tyrion…but I’m not hyped for seeing her wandering through the Dothraki sea.

    Could be interesting to have Yara meet with sone characters in the North – possibly Sansa?

  13. I still can’t believe Euron Greyjoy is filming this week and we simply don’t know who’ll play him…

  15. Could be Stannis funeral if that is considered a relevant scene to include. The beach just below was used for Dragonstone beach for the scenes with Gendry leaving and where Salhador and Davos speak and from that filming angle on the headland you would be able to see the CGI’d island off dragonstone that theyve shown a few times.

  19. Dutch Maester:
    I still can’t believe Euron Greyjoy is filming this week and we simply don’t know who’ll play him…

    If that’s true, I’m really impressed that they’ve been able to keep it a secret at this point.

  20. Dutch Maester:
    I still can’t believe Euron Greyjoy is filming this week and we simply don’t know who’ll play him…

    Maybe he’s not some big name actor that anyone would recognize if they saw him. This show is known for putting unknown talent on the air (hell, half the cast was unknown talent). Euron could be a part of that trend. It wouldn’t surprise me if he wasn’t anyone “famous”.

  22. It’s fantasy mate,even if quotes like that can seem cheesy in normal life in readers imagination characters like that just bring awesomeness for some people.When I read fantasy scenes they are always over the top in my head,the sky is the limit.Characters like Darkstar or Euron Greyjoy can be extremely entartaining in a fantasy set-up,it’s all about how the reader sees the moment.

  26. You can get any character,you just have to be open-minded and discover what the author meant with it.Of course you will not like all of them or approve the authors work in some cases.But Darkstar it’s the type of character that I would have founded really cool when I was like 7 or 8.I agree he didn’t do much but even for that and I apreciate his presence.I always like to have moments when I get in touch with my inner child when I read fantasy.Could have been better,I agree,but I get what the author meant.From a certain angle.

  27. Presuming it’s the Kingsmoot and the smoke is purely for atmosphere? In my head the Kingsmoot wasn’t standing on a beach with blue skies but with plenty of grey mist etc. Of course I could be completely wrong!

    Could somebody remind me as to why everyone is so certain that Ian McShane is not playing Euron? Was it the number of episodes he is due to appear in?

  28. Ian McShane it’s just a small part when it comes to screen time,it was officially stated.Euron was the first character in the first casting call list and it said it’s a big part this season.

  29. My page a day calendar quote for 31-August:

    Any act can be a prayer, if done as well as we are able.
    Isn’t that a lovely thought?
    -Lady Smallwood- A Storm of Swords

    Bonus: Weekend Quote;

    If you need help, bark like a dog.
    -Gendry- A Clash of Kings

  33. Of course I would love for this to be an I.I. related scene, but who knows! Can anyone good with tech get high res zoom ins on the pics?

    Daeryssa,

    Yeah that is an interesting thought. If the “smoke” is just an industrial sized fog machine it could be generating atmosphere. As much as I like that idea, I’m a little wary of it. If you watch some of the CGI reels (particularly from later seasons) it’s pretty amazing how much atmosphere they can create with just CGI. I think the “making of Hardhome” video is probably a good example.

  36. Lion of Night,

    On the first picture it looks like a wall with a window in it. There appears to be a tall blond person, looking out into the smoke/mist. Another shorter character standing next to her. Off to the right a bit it looks like a woman with long hair. Brienne, Pod and ???

  38. I personally cannot glean anything from the photos other than a scene was filmed! XD
    The smoke could be smoke from a raiding party or funeral pyre or just setting proper atmosphere. The people standing there could be actors or crew as far as I can tell. XD
    Shrug

    If it is involving the rugged pirate from yesterday perhaps it is an Ironborn raid or Kingsmoot, but I cannot tell form the photos.

    Still interesting though! XD

  42. Ser Gerold Dayne,

    Count me in as a Darkstar fan.
    I found him no more cheesy than any other character in the books and far less than many.

    I found the mystery of why GRRM included him intriguing. There seemed to be more to him than was on the page and I expect something interesting to happen concerning his character in upcoming books. Something more than just his death as well. Why include him if only to be killed early in the next book? I think he has a part to play….

  43. Darquemode: I expect something interesting to happen concerning his character in upcoming books. Something more than just his death as well.

    I agree. Although I not getting my hopes up, maybe he will show up to serve some supporting role. Given that we should get Arthur Dayne in S6 (as a flashback perhaps), it would be quite interesting to have the current “Dayne”ish perspective of things. May answer a few lingering questions as well…especially if he shows up in Oldtown/Highgarden.

  48. i want to know about the characters.

    Who will play Euron?
    Who will play Randil Tarly?
    Who will Play Khal Jaqho? ( if he is in)
    (i don really care who will play the nortrners lords, or the rest off the sam family, i just expect they are great actors)

    im assuming Bran, 3 eyed crow, meera, hodor, Osha, Rickon, Walder frey, Yara, The hound will come back with the news. So the others who i want/think can come back…

    will balon come back?
    will Gendry come back?
    will Edmure come back?
    will Blackfish come back?)
    Will Beric come back?
    Will Thoros come back?
    will Black frey and lothar frey come back? ( I Need they killed)
    Will sallador sahn come back
    will benjen come back?

    i dont think i forgot someone.

  49. There seems to be a deal
    of uncertainty over this at the moment as the lost city of Z is also being filmed in Ballintoy today.

  50. Mister Stoneheart,

    Sue clarified that they were wrong about the “army” part. She didn’t ask her sources about LSH.

    “Army” sounds like an exaggeration of what may just be the BWB.

  51. Clearly, all we’re seeing here is where they’re holding this season’s BBQs and outdoor raves, featuring….. DJ Hodor (House Monster).

  52. R. Strong,

    The problem is someone on Reddit linked to a quick tweet of mine instead the actual post on here where I explained.
    http://watchersonthewall.com/spoiler-country-game-of-thrones-casting-for-a-rugged-type-character-confirmations-and-an-intriguing-nikolaj-coster-waldau-rumor

    Commanding an army is a pretty powerful image- that’s not a subtle accidental shift from hanging around with the BWB, you know? I think the person who told them the rumor was just making shit up.

  53. Your right, that does appear to be Brienne (short blond hair and correct blue armor) with Pod looking through a window; so apparently they travel to the sea this season.

  54. Laura: I don’t think anyone cares or expects him to be famous. Pedro Pascal certainly wasn’t. We just want a name – ANY NAME.

    You’re in luck then.

    It was just announced that Carrot Top will be playing Euron Greyjoy, and Septon Meribald will be played by the guy who voiced Jar-Jar Binks.

  55. I t does make me wonder if indeed it is GOT filming there today how much longer they will keep the Greyjoy casting under wraps

  56. tyjon:
    Your right, that does appear to be Brienne (short blond hair and correct blue armor) with Pod looking through a window; so apparently they travel to the sea this season.

    Thanks, for a moment there I thought I “was seeing things” that were not there. You were not able to make out the person to the right of them either?

  57. Tywin of the Hill:
    Hodoreo,

    mau,

    I’ve never understood the popularity of that quote. I find it as hammy as “Men call me Darkstar, and I am of the Night”

    Can’t beat this exchange, though:
    “Who are you?”
    “YOUR DEATH”. *lowers helm*

    C’mon, am I the only one who burst out laughing happily at that? It’s a cheese and ham sandwich.

    For Sullied and people who don’t care about the books being spoiled: this was dialogue between some random on a ship and Victarion Greyjoy.

  58. Newbietothegame: I don’t know, I might get the wrath if the Dany lovers out there. Her story started getting, dare I say it, stale (yes, even with dragons etc). I take bathroom breaks while her scenes are on.

    I agree with you on Dany. I love her character, and the dragons most of all, but ever since she settled down in Mereen I’ve been bored with her storyline.

  59. Lion of Night,
    Unfortunately these photos are nothing like the kind of resolution you need to be able to zoom in and see anything useful (pictures taken at that distance without a professional 3 foot long lens very rarely are).

    I zoomed in on the most interesting part of the top picture in Photoshop but it just starts becoming really blurred, as do the others. The blond(ish) person ends up looking like the tin man from The Wizard of Oz as you get closer. Anyway, I stuck the top photo close-ups here if you’re interested, but we really need eyes on the ground with some very expensive camera equipment.

    I’m intrigued what the giant black ‘keyhole’ is but haven’t seen one mentioned in any of the s6 spoiler talk, so guessing it probably won’t appear on screen, although tin man might be a WOTW exclusive 😉

  60. Euron Greyjoy = Rufus Sewell.

    I will keep repeating it until casting is announced. Casting hasn’t let me down yet, so Rufus or no, I am sure we’ll all be happy. But he is my dream cast.

  61. Alfie Allen has posted this photo on Instagram. Someone in comments asked him if it was the Bayview in Port Ballintrae.

    https://instagram.com/p/7DyPpMNdiq

    Bigger version of the photo:

    https://igcdn-photos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/t51.2885-15/e35/11909101_119908211692570_639414252_n.jpg

    I checked- the room does match the Bayview’s premier rooms. Port Ballintrae is about 20 mins from Ballintoy Harbour, and not too far from other beaches the show has used like Portstewart and Downhill Beach. I don’t know if that means he’s going to be filming in Ballintoy or what, but it sure is interesting.

  63. Sue the Fury:
    Alfie Allen has posted this photo on Instagram. Someone in comments asked him if it was the Bayview in Port Ballintrae.

    https://instagram.com/p/7DyPpMNdiq

    Bigger version of the photo:

    https://igcdn-photos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/t51.2885-15/e35/11909101_119908211692570_639414252_n.jpg

    I checked- the room does match the Bayview’s premier rooms. Port Ballintrae is about 20 mins from Ballintoy Harbour, and not too far from other beaches the show has used like Portstewart and Downhill Beach. I don’t know if that means he’s going to be filming in Ballintoy or what, but it sure is interesting.

    Whether he is in on vacation or filming GOT, that is a very nice room.

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