What a great way to start off the week- with a Game of Thrones season 8 exclusive! Our sources have brought us another new batch of roles for the final season of the show, giving us a glimpse at what we have to look forward to.
In August, The Hollywood Reporter stated, contrary to early reports of filming from October to March, that Game of Thrones will be shooting all the way through August for the final season. The first casting notice listed today helps confirm that report, with filming running into June for the role.
According to our sources, GoT is looking for a Mercenary, aged 35 – 50. He’s described as an authoritative, fit, cool and charismatic military type. He’ll be appearing in 2 episodes of season 8. The role requires he be able to ride a horse- no surprise for a mercenary on Thrones! The actor will be rehearsing in October, filming the week commencing December 11th, and then once again in May and June of 2018.
Given that Euron Greyjoy ran off to fetch the infamous Golden Company at the end of season 7, it’s almost a lock that this mercenary is a member of that sellsword group, possibly its leader. He doesn’t sound like a match for the book’s sellsword leader Harry Strickland, so this may be the show’s own rendition.
Next up we have a few small roles for the North!
First, we have a Northern farmer, aged 25 – 35. He’s a straightforward honest man of simple tastes who works on the land. The role is currently scheduled to shoot the week commencing November 17th.
Second is a Sassy and attractive girl, aged 18 – 25. The character is a sexy and confident Northern girl playing a good, memorable one-scene part in one episode, playing opposite leading cast. Her part is currently set to shoot the week commencing November 6th.
Last up in the North we have a Northern sentry, aged 18 – 25. The show’s looking for a characterful young Northern actor with great timing to play a small part opposite leading cast. This role is currently scheduled to shoot the first week of December.
With the White Walker army moving south into the North, we anticipate seeing a ton of casualties up there and small roles like these may turn up as part of those scenes.
Elsewhere, we’ll be popping in to visit the Ironborn no doubt. GoT is looking for someone to play a Sailor, aged 35- 50. He’s a rough-and ready sea-faring type with a weathered face and strong presence. This part is scheduled to shoot the week commencing December 11th.
We’ll finish off today’s batch of new roles with two guards!
Guard #1 is in his 20’s, and is physically very fit, able to handle himself in any fight. He’s scheduled to shoot in the first week of December. His looks aren’t specified, coloring-wise, and there’s no mention of accents, so this character could pop up anywhere.
Guard #2 is in his 30’s. They’re looking for an actor that’s tall, and athletic with a military feel. The character is a professional clear-thinking guard who is dependable. The part has two days shooting on November 1st and 2nd in Spain and though it’s a small one-line part, he does interact with leading cast. It’s noted that the role is being cast with a white actor in this instance. But what this casting notice really does is confirm for us that Game of Thrones will be in Spain in November!
All in all, a nice variety of roles for the new season, with some interesting hints for the future- the Golden Company, filming in Spain and more!
Note: These casting notices are provided for our readers’ enjoyment only. Watchers on the Wall cannot assist with obtaining auditions/being cast on Game of Thrones.
The whore is pregnant!!!
Can’t wait to see what happens with these roles once the show airs!!!
HODOR! FOR THE WIN!!
Oh they really are filming until August.Rip 2019 here we come lol.Love all the White walker fodder.
When you consider how depopulated KL is at this point, I had figured we’d get a Golden Company leader to give Cersei more minions to bounce conversations off of, though the Mercenary role is two episodes, so if that’s the leader, he evidently won’t be present all that much.
While this all sounds great, I honestly can’t remember who any of the new roles from S7 turned out to be, except for Ebrose. Does anyone know?
I have to say that it’s a bit confusing to me that they’ll be filming all the way into next June. Even if the episodes are a bit longer it doesn’t seem likely that they’d be filming for 7-8 months straight… There has to be some down time in there to wait for appropriate expected weather conditions in certain locations or something…
Sam the Slayer,
Ebrose was the only new character of any consequence last year. The rest was just a smattering of minor guardsmen, etc.
I don’t really remember what they were either for certain. Wasn’t there one call for an infant that we never saw? I think there was one for a guard or two, which could have been for the parts that Gendry killed on the beach or those that stopped Arya entering Winterfell. Were Alys Karstark and Ned Umber a fit for any casting calls? I don’t know…
This is, among other things, why I adore this website: it has more juicy exclusives than even major outlets, and certainly more than any other GoT website in existence. Bless the day I discovered Sue & Co! (When they were still running the other site – took me a scared while to find them again here when they moved).
So far we have no evidence that the shooting will start in October?
Clob,
I think it is very likely. There will be large battles next season that will take weeks and weeks to shoot. And the episodes will be longer. I wouldn’t be surprised if the shooting is even longer. 10 months or more. That’s what HR said.
mau,
Other than multiple actors literally stating as much.
Sue the Fury,
I asked a question.
mau,
If you’ve heard about the October date at all, it’s only because NCW said it, which IS the “evidence.” So what’s the question, exactly?
Yup. In the very first season six casting call:
Sam the Slayer,
Lord Umber, lady Karstark, some minor characters in Oldtown. WF guards. That’s it I think. The rest didn’t have any lines.
First thought: at this point, pretty much every role is opposite the leading cast, isn’t it?
Second thought: so, two episodes for the Mercenary? I’m thoroughly OK with this.
Luka Nieto,
The question is do we have any evidence so far that the shooting will start in October, except that interview? Actor who plays Davos said that it will start in September and we know that wasn’t true.
mau,
Liam Cunningham said they would return to film season eight in September MUCH earlier, back in January, when they hadn’t even finished filming season seven. It was clearly an approximation. Meanwhile, Nikolaj Coster Waldau pointed to October a few months ago. And October fits with everything else we know. Is there any particular reason to disbelieve it? If any current news contradicted it (Cunningham’s guess from almost a year ago doesn’t count,) I’d get the skepticism, but as it stands, “October” is the best we have.
Mercenary 35-50 is Dario being recast again. Its the final season we HAVE to see what became of Dario…
Luka Nieto,
I’m not disbelieving it. I’m just asking Lol.
mau,
We have to wait and see if actors start arriving in Belfast, I guess, but we don´t know the exact date. There won´t be any announcement.
I don’t know, it still feels like a lot of overestimating by fans and word spread from possibilities.
It was said at Con of Thrones that the episodes COULD be around 80 minutes. If that ends up being the average for the season it’s still less than the average length of nine episodes in earlier seasons.
I’m also wary about expecting many large battles. Battle of the Bastards took 25 days to film and those involved said it was the hardest work they’ve done. Should we really expect a lot of battles on an even larger scale with tons of cgi? I realize HBO has been giving them an ever increasing budget but there are still limits I’m sure. I think people were expecting quite a bit more battle stuff in S7 than there was…
mau,
they are also going to give Miguel Sapochnik the amount of time he actually needs this time, too. At least I would think they would.
Clob,
Yea, I agree with this for the most part. I think fans are already assuming that every episode will be extra long despite the fact that there’s no evidence yet that this will
actually happen. It would be great, but I won’t start conjuring up expectations until there are more facts to go on.
Clob,
Of course I’m not attempting to say that the final season won’t be huge and epic. I’m sure it will be. I’m just saying filming for 8-9 months straight just feels like a looong time considering a majority of the scenes are still almost certainly going to be non-action as usual.
I’m also not really complaining about it either because if they’re filming for that long we’re likely to have stuff to discuss here during the entire time. 🙂
EW confirms sapochnik nutter returns
http://bit.ly/2y6VMjM
Awesome news! It’s always fun when the casting calls start to crop up in earnest.
The Mercenary is definitely a prominent member of the Golden Company, and likely its leader. Even though it’s only a two-episode role, he’ll also probably be the most prominent new character to join the cast, unless Howland Reed makes an appearance. And while people are certain to keep a vigilant look-out for a casting call that matches the crannogman’s description, that seems like kind of role that wouldn’t leak. To be honest, I’m growing increasingly skeptical that we’ll see him at all. With Bran and Sam in the know about Jon’s parentage, Howland stepping in to confirm it seems less necessary. To be honest, I’d be more keen to see Howland as a way to bring Meera back in to the story, but that’s just me.
The Golden Company Mercenary leader will probably be a new/composite character, since Harry Strickland is the textbook definition of “Generic”. Why not have some fun and add some more color to the role? Speaking of color, I’m extremely skeptical of the theory that Daario will have attached himself to the Golden Company (not impossible, though I don’t think it’s likely), but I especially don’t buy the theory that he’ll have somehow risen to become its leader. This new character should do the job nicely.
As for the others, I agree that the Sailor is probably Ironborn. The Northern sentry – perhaps Sansa took Arya’s advice and hired some “better guards”. The sassy and attractive girl sounds more like a commoner or a prostitute than a noble lady – the description reminded me a bit of Ros, to be honest. Maybe our favorite lady of the night had a long-lost sister …
And filming extending into June lends further credence to the prospect of a 2019 premiere. May it be spring and not summer.
Sassy girl makes me think of Wylla Manderly
From an actor’s perspective, “starting” might mean the date on which they receive their scripts and have to start practicing their lines for the first read-through – not necessarily the date on which the cameras start to roll.
Sean C.,
There’s only what … six episodes left? Two episodes is 33% of the season.
I hope that our trusty WotW friends are keeping their ears pricked for rumors of Amy Dawson reappearing: the actress who played the sea captain’s daughter who wanted to become Theon’s salt wife in Season 2. Very curious to discover if the rounding-off of Theon’s redemption arc will include the discovery of a potential heir to the Seastone Chair/Salt Throne.
Clob,
The casting call for a Mercenary who is supposed to be filmed in December and in May-June 2018 strongly implies that there might be some spring/summer-time action like the final battle for the IT or similar. The very least, the story will wrap up in a warmer period and/or in the southern region.
So, we can expect at least two battle-type sequences: one in and around Winterfell (if it’s a siege it may streatch through several episodes) and one somewhere in the south in spring-time involving the Golden Company. There should be some clash between Euron and Theon, too.
On the other hand there were misleading casting calls, especially for extras (as far as I recall there was one for women who were told that they would be slaves, but they ended to play KL citizens in Euron’s arrival sequence). This year we can also expect a lot of mischief.
I wouldn’t mind some “In Production” Trailer, though.
There were also casting calls for a prostitute and a man that worked in a inn (or was it brothel?), and a military leader who sounded like a Dothraki (I think it was different from the Lannister soldier we saw in the finale). All season long I kept waiting for the baby, the prostitute, and the innkeep to make an appearance. I still can’t figure out exactly which storylines they would have fit into.
Dee Stark,
Interesting that D&D have decided to direct the series finale! That is understandable, even though a surprise. So Nutter and Sapochnik will be the only other directors for the season, with a likelihood of Sapo directing 3 episodes. That’s awesome news!!
Jared,
I like your idea about the Norther girl being a prostitute: the North remembers Tyrion and someone has to refresh his memories about the quality of the Norther brothels.
BunBunStark,
The prostitute and the inn-keeper could have appeared in the inn, where Arya met Hot-Pie, or the prostitute could have been used in the scene with Littlefiger in Ep 5. The Lannister general most probably appeared in Ep 7. But the infant fits nowhere indeed.
I wonder if the sassy Northern girl could be a prostitute from the Molestown brothel, either fleeing southward or hiding with the remnants of the Watch. In the books the brothel is almost entirely underground, though I don’t recall it being depicted as such in the TV version. Unless the wights are programmed to sniff out and exterminate any living human, it’s conceivable that such a subterranean structure might be a relatively safe place for a handful of survivors to wait for the Army of the Dead to pass southward. Holding out precarious hope here that Dolorous Edd will get at least one more scene!
Firannion,
No one lives in Mole’s Town anymore. Everyone but Gilly and little Sam were killed by the Free Folk in season four. We saw it, still abandoned, in season six; it’s where Sansa and Littlefinger met in the mid-season.
Do we know for certain that it was entirely and permanently abandoned, that no one else managed to escape? Maybe LF just thought it an easy place to find a private spot for a meeting. In the books, a bunch of Molestown people make it to Castle Black ahead of the Wildlings; one of the whores actually turns out to be quite competent with the longbow and helps to “man” the Wall thereafter.
Sassy Northern Girl: What if there is a push in the North to have Jon marry a northern girl instead of Dany. Maybe it takes an episode for some of these dynamics to play out. I got to imagine Jon and Dany have some marriage alliance in the books with that to show unity. Maybe the North rejects this, we get some dealings in the first episode before Bran informs them, only for a drove of refugees show up claiming the Wall is down/ walkers invaded Last Hearth.
I definitely see the opportunity to make some parallels with Northern refugees fleeing south and our real world consequences war. Maybe the North is lost right away with everyone fleeing south. Maybe a small hold out force in Winterfell; Bran, always a Stark in Winterfell, with close access to the Tree. Final battle around Harenhall, the Gods Eye, and the Isle of Faces adds some great symbolism to the closure of the story of the Whites.
Plus it gives Bran a way to warg into the undead dragon 🙂
Didn’t Dany put Daario in charge of the Golden Company? Or are his people called something else?
I still think Daario has a part to play in bringing Cersei down.
trarecar,
Daario is in charge of the Second Sons.
Groan. Do all Northern girls have to be “sassy” now? It’s almost becoming a cliche, lol. I wonder who the “leading cast” will be? Jon? Dany? Bran?… Probably male as she’s described as sexy.
The only other two described as interacting with “leading cast” are the Northern sentry and Guard #2, which makes me think the Northern farmer will be someone we grow to love in just a few minutes, only to become WW fodder (like Karsi in Hardhome).
The Mercenary just screams Golden Company, but it’s a bit odd interacting with leading cast isn’t mentioned. Guard #2 also sounds like could be GC because of the filming location, Spain. Guard #1 is anybody’s guess. Sailor immediately makes one think Ironborn but it could be, for instance, the first mate of the Love Boat, who later helps in some way, I dunno.
The only ones who have matching filming dates are the Northern sentry and Guard #1, but they might shoot in different locations so it doesn’t necessarily mean anything. Oh, sorry, the Mercenary and the Sailor also match, week of Dec 11. And it could make sense for them to interact.
I like this kind of low-level detective work and speculation but hope I won’t get too spoiled by inevitable leaks. Gotta be careful around the interwebs from now on until sometime in 2019 when the series finally finishes – I mean, if they’re still filming in the summer of 2018, what with all the post-production, the final season won’t air until 2019.
Daario’s sellsword company is the Second Sons.
I’m looking forward to seeing the Golden Company. I doubt we’ll get the colorful cast from the books, as there simply isn’t enough time, but I’m sure we’ll get one or two that perhaps even share the name of a book character.
Yes please!!! 🙂
I do think (as some have suggested) there is the possibility that this part refers to a serving girl or prostitute, but I would love it to be Wylla! Her book part in A Dance with Dragons is completely inapplicable to where we are in the plot now, but someone with her sass and Stark loyalty would be great to see – and Dany and Jon are sailing to White Harbor.
“Second is a Sassy and attractive girl, aged 18 – 25. The character is a sexy and confident Northern girl playing a good, memorable one-scene part in one episode, playing opposite leading cast. Her part is currently set to shoot the week commencing November 6th.”
Say hello to Mrs. Tormund Giantsbane.
I remember a casting call for a’ lovely lady who was prepared to do full frontal nudity’ in series 7, but don’t remember seeing one. Also discussing filming, in our paper this morning it told us that Emilia Clarke had ‘wrapped ‘ in Hans Solo film.
talvikorppi,
The leading cast interacting with a sassy/sexy northern girl may be Tyrion, Bronn, and even Jaime now after he broke with Cersei – I can fully see Tyrion taking his elder brother to some establishment or maybe some northern girl will be simply eyeing them during the feast of victory (hopefully)? I don’t think the showrunners will be using this girl as a potential love interest to Jon. Jon – sorry, Aegon Targaryan – already has his aunt and two cousins to interact with and Melisandre is comming back too.
This is what I think. For actors this job “starts”, they go back to work on GoT, from when they have to keep certain dates clear. There’s all kinds of pre-production stuff, they don’t just turn up on the first day of filming, and many have other projects too, so they need to know well in advance to plan their calendars. Fans and actors are looking at it from a different perspective, which can result in these little “misunderstandings”.
Good catch. It’s quite a popular theory among book readers on some forums. Maybe the show included that scene just to show what an arrogant macho masculine prick Theon was, especially to social inferiors (plus nuuuuddiiittyyy!), but what if it really has sort of happy consequences?
Lots of great news today. Filming (& Winter) is coming!
Inga,
I wasn’t trying to list off all possible, or even most probable, “leading cast”. How do the casting people define “leading cast” for these casting calls, anyway? Does, for instance, Rory McCann (Sandor) qualify now, for the purposes of a casting call? He’s one of the S1 alumni, one of the best known characters, a firm fan favourite.
Casting calls aren’t written for us fans, anyway, they’re written for actors’ agents.
I don’t think this sassy, sexy Northern girl will be a love interest to anyone. She only has one scene, albeit a memorable one. I’m speculating the “leading cast” may be more likely to be male(s) because “sexy” is specified.
I still think Howland has a role to play. What is Jon’s evidence?
* His weird brother/cousin. I mean, maybe Bran can convince Dany by pulling some weird “You looked so pretty when Khal Drogo made you try anal for the first time…” routine, but Bran’s visions aren’t going to convince anyone.
* Sam, who is Jon’s best friend AND whose father and brother were killed by Dany? Not a conflict of interest there.
* Littlefinger may have known or suspected, but he’s dead. Varys isn’t trusted and who knows if he even knows?
No, the claim must be backed up…
WorfWWorfington,
I don’t see why Howland would be a meaningfully more persuasive witness than Bran. Dany doesn’t know either of them from Adam, but Bran can easily convince people that he has visions; indeed, he was already able to do that with the Northern/Vale lords. Howland could only say “yeah, I saw this”.
WorfWWorfington,
Sean C.,
Yeah, I can see the problem of proof as to Jon’s parentage and even more so his legitimacy = rightful Targ heir. Even if Howland Reed turns up (yes, please! with Meera!). The people vouching for Jon’s Targ parentage and legitimacy would all be Jon’s family, friends or loyal Stark bannermen. The eyewitness being a crannogman most of Westeros look down on…
There was that Jon/Drogon moment, though, and it might not be the last dragon moment. Dany would probably believe her two remaining dragons more than any Jon/Stark family and friends. They can provide an explanation after the fact, so to speak.
Clob,
Well, maybe the DREAM of SPRING 😉
When death falls and winter melts, I suppose maybe they’ll need sunny shots of life after death.
Maybe…
(hoping this is all BS)
Maybe the sassy girl is Tysha. It is the last season, after all.
Maybe we’ll finally find out where whores go?
Maybe we’ll hear the end of the honeycomb/jackass joke?
Maybe we’ll see where the lemon tree is?
Maybe Euron will be killed quickly in episode 1 so he doesn’t ruin yet another season with his cheese (PLEASE?)?
AAA,
Careful Ned, careful now.
Jenny,
It pains me to hear confirmation that I might not be alive to see the end of this show.
Rhaegar is the only other role of significance I can recall, unless you count the new Dickon.
How do I put myself forward for the roles? My casting type would suit some of these!
So how do you apply for these roles then? Woukd be a fun thing to do!
How do I apply?
Why would they bother with Tysha now after they ignored what Tywin really did to her in the show?
Essos I think? I don’t think Tysha stayed in Westeros much less went to the North.
The Braavos story for the show is done at this point I think so we probably won’t learn about the lemon tree.
Yes, please. Let Euron die in the first scene. But on screen so there’s no more bs “theories”.
Will there be any information about auditions and casting coming out soon?
If they are looking for extras in mallorca i am interested
Wait filming through to August 2018?!! That pretty much says we won’t get S8 until November at the earliest then, not the news I was hoping to hear as I was expecting a September/October release date until now based on wrapping filming in March.
As for the casting it sounds like the Golden Company will be in two episodes then quite interesting as I assume one will be an action sequence and the other an introductory. It’s the Sassy and Sexy northern girl which interests me, the age here is quite telling too, I was thinking someone to play off Theon or Tyrion perhaps.
I believe it’s due to the length of time battle scenes take, I think they spent 3 months on Battle of the Bastards so two big episodes like that will take a lot of production and they have all the other stuff whilst using two production crews.
Whom Should I contact?
Does anyone have any info on how the auditions are going to be held?
daen erys,
To be cast in a role in Game of Thrones, you really need to already have an agent who submits you for roles. They’re not open calls.
mau,
And Dickon/Rickon 2.0.
Soooo, where does one nordic male apply?
Hello!
I can be the sailor boy after a long time in the merchant navy.
Rgrds
Anders
I want to search a part! Confident girl, yes I am. How do I do? Please 😊
I can play one of the two character’s. Farmer or the guard. I’m nordic, and I live in Norway.
en nordisk man som hade kunnat spela nordlig lantbrukare. är 29 år gammal.
maila så kan ni få bild o mer info om mig 🙂
Whom should I contact if I want to audition for a role??!!!!
I am from Sweden and kan play that sassy girl!!
ON AN OPEN FIEEELD
the two guards sounds like they’re most likely part of cerseis queens guard
Milord!
Tall blonde Nordic looking farmer: check!