Filming of Game of Thrones season 5 is moving along nicely, and we thought now would be a great time to take stock of what we know so far, as we head into the busy shooting season.
Season 5 will be written by David Benioff and D.B Weiss, and Bryan Cogman as in previous seasons, with the new addition of Dave Hill. George R.R. Martin will not be writing an episode for the first time, due to his commitment to The Winds of Winter.
This season we have only one returning director, David Nutter. We have four new names on the roster: Michael Slovis (episodes 1 and 2), Mark Mylod (3 and 4), Jeremy Podeswa (5 and 6), and Miguel Sapochnik (7 and 8).
The highlights of what we know about season 5:
- Game of Thrones has been renewed for Seasons 5 and 6. They were renewed simultaneously on April 8th, two days after the premiere of season 4.
- On next season, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss commented in Entertainment Weekly, “There will be Dorne, and we’re excited about it. Who wouldn’t want to hang out in Dorne? They have admirable values and priorities.” When it comes to the book adaptation, Benioff noted, “We’re not going in strict order because we can’t. We can’t adapt Feast and leave out half our characters. We’ll be drawing heavily from Feast and Dance in season 5.”
- Season 5 will largely feature the Martells, the family of the recently killed Prince Oberyn, including his brother Doran and his fierce daughters, the Sand Snakes.
- Season 2 cast member Tom Wlaschiha, who played Faceless assassin Jaqen H’ghar, is rumored to be returning based on news posted by his agency.
- Leaked audition tapes for Obara and Tyene Sand point to unexpected changes with familiar GoT characters heading south to Dorne to tangle with the Sand Snakes.
- Filming has begun! Pink GOT signs were spotted July 19-22nd near Scrabo Tower, west of Newtownards in Northern Ireland. No crew was seen, however.
- The major new players of season 5 have been introduced in a video at San Diego Comic Con, leading off with Alexander Siddig, a fan favorite for the role of Doran Martell, and finishing with the highly respected Jonathan Pryce revealed as the High Sparrow. The descriptions provided list Doran’s son Trystane as his heir, leading some to speculate that notable book character Arianne Martell may have been cut.
- We’ve learned that the show is looking to cast several more minor characters: a fierce Dornish horse rider for an important scene, an Unsullied fighter, the Unsullied’s brothel worker companion, a captured vigilante referred to as a “Son,” a ship captain, an old woman who befriends Brienne, and a shrewd financially-minded man. Back in June, my sources told us GoT is also casting Varamyr Sixskins and two young girls, a blonde and a brunette. It’s speculated that the girls may be part of a flashback scene for Cersei.
- WatchersOnTheWall sources report that the Walk, a highlight of A Dance with Dragons (don’t google this if you don’t want major spoilers!) will be filmed in Dubrovnik with several hundred extras, starting at the Dubrovnik Cathedral and ending a short distance away at the entrance of Sponza Palace. With the Walk planned and Pryce’s casting, the Faith storyline looks to be a major one in season 5.
- On July 28th, Carice van Houten shared a photo of a soldier hinting that Castle Black scenes are being filmed. Belfast sightings of Kit Harington, John Bradley, and other cast members stationed at the Wall, along with Harington’s SDCC mention of filming on the 28th, points to the Night’s Watch actors having scenes the same day, possibly with Melisandre.
- Locals have tweeted photos of a small castle set being built in Moneyglass, Northern Ireland, on a site used by the show several times before. The purpose of the castle is unknown at this time.
- Production has returned in full force at Linen Mill Studios, in Banbridge, Northern Ireland. A photo of a ship with a prominent figurehead, back by a huge green screen, has found its way online.
- Production crews have been spotted in Sallagh Braes, filming two separate scenes: one involving Gwendoline Christie and Daniel Portman, and another with several Knights of the Vale. A lucky fan spots the crews and snaps photos from a distance.
- Game of Thrones will be filming in Iceland for a limited amount this season, and with no actors. The focus of filming this fall will be landscape shots only. Initially a large battle was planned for shooting in the country but had to be relocated due to lack of daylight hours in the fall.
- Filming in Sibenik, Croatia will occur September 18th through the 23rd, according to Sibenik.in, with about 200 local extras needed. It’s believed that GoT will be filming around the town’s forts, and that they’re interested in the Cathedral of St. James, though the local diocese hasn’t yet allowed permission to film there.
- Dubrovnik location filming will occur late-September through mid-October, according to the Dubrovnik Times. It’s expected for the Walk to filmed in this period, along with the usual exterior location shots along the city’s walls and streets.
- House Martell has found its home in Spain. Filming will take place at the Real Alcázar in Seville from October 14-22, after which Game of Thrones production will move to Osuna. The water gardens of the Real Alcázar will be in use, as the show has obtained permission to temporarily dye dark blue the water around the Mercury Fountain.
- The show has their eye on several locations in Osuna, Spain, including a bull ring. The bull ring would most likely feature in Daenerys’s storyline as Daznak’s Pit. The activities of the Pit are part of the growing tensions in the city of Meereen.
There, now we’re all caught up. Filming intensifies in Belfast as more cast members turn up in the city, and every day we learn something new. So for now, fans, keep watch. There’s more to come!
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Awesome roundup. Just btw, the Walk happens in Dance, not Feast, I’m pretty sure.
Great summary, thank you so much 🙂
The walk is in book 5 right? Sorry to pick nits.
[edit] Also sorry didn’t see someone else had already mentioned it.
Yeah I know. I knew someone would manage to comment on that before I got in to fix it LOL.
Nice to have a summary in one place and be able to take it all in at once!
Any thoughts on the ship photo?
Arya’s boat for Braavos. The figurehead is the same.
direhound,
The figurehead looks very similar to the one in Arya’s ship
EDIT: zod was quicker than me 😛
I saw some think it will some Vale castle being built for Sansa & LF’s storyarc. Am curious if anyone else thought
like me.
Thank you for the summary!
Watchers on the Wall,
Just curious, who of the writers is posting under “Watchers on the Wall”? – Or is it all of you and the nick name is only for general information, were it’s not important who posted it?
Abyss,
Great question… depends on who is at the Dash. It is general information and site announcements for the most part!
Abyss,
The latter, but so far Sue 🙂
We also know that Gendry, Yara, Benjen Stark, the Blackfish and Quaithe will form the Westeros Avengers and then all die while revealing who ordered Bran’s assassination in season 1 to tie up loose ends
direhound,
Arya. Braavos.
Strider,
Could be.
Do we know if they still have the old Winterfell sets? If they took them down this castle is probably Winterfell.
Great stuff.
Will this be added to as more stuff is discovered or will you just do separate updates?
Not entirely. The new-contributor introduction post was a collaborative effort, though I am the one who typed most of it up. But yes, the Watchers name is for general announcements, site news-type things, intended to be from all the writers/founders.
Down the line, I’d probably just do a new post as Part 2.
TheTouchOfFrost,
That might be a good idea. But then this should be a full feature of the site rather than an article. Maybe out it on the sidebar “season 5 news summary”?
Strider,
The way CGI can shape a building or landscape anything is possible!
Maybe if we get photos once the structure itself is complete we will be able to have a better idea, but right now it is so nondescript… Just a boxy castle shape.
However, that boxy shape combined with the tree did make me think of Pennytree in Brienne’s and in Jaime’s arc… Right now it could be Winterfell, Duskendale, something in the Riverlands, something in the Vale, or Deepwood Motte… or anything really.
There’s bound to be a scene early on as per the book to remind everyone where Arya is off to, plus if they need the ship for any other sea journeys that may or may not be done it’s not that hard to make it look different.
jentario,
I’d imagine most of the regulars will be checking in and not miss anything so it would be for the benefit of those who have just found the site so may be good to keep it prominent until Season 5 begins.
jentario,
Maybe a monthly summary of production news?
I think you forgot to mention the waif and Maggy the Frog that were also on the casting calls provided by your sources ! 😉
I’ll probably link this post in the FAQ, now that I think of it.
As for the ship figurehead, I agree it looks like the one on Arya’s ship to Braavos. We already know the ship captain is coming back with the same actor, so it makes sense we’ll see that ship.
I just summarized the highlights, otherwise the post would be insanely long. That’s alright, we know it wasn’t Fansided’s people who discovered we’d be seeing Maggy and the Waif too. 🙂
Sorry to nitpick, but you forgot to add on the list the characters from the first leaked casting call that didn’t make it to the SDCC video. (The Waif, Yezzan, Septa Unella, Maggy the Frog and Lollys)
Btw, loving the new site =)
ETA: just saw someone commented it while I typed lol
D&D’s comment that the Dornish have “admirable values and priorities” keeps me hopeful for genderless primogeniture… I’m going to cling to that comment.
Cian,
“Admirable values and priorities” that will be ignored in favor of more male focused criteria, D&D? Trystane as Doran’s heir, D&D?
(Sorry for the negativity. I’m holding only the tiniest thread of hope Arienne has yet to be cast, otherwise this season will be tainted with my bitterness and I’m doubtful I’ll enjoy it as much as I would have if Arienne was included.)
The Walk will destroy me. I’m so ready.
Looking forward to the Vale scenes this season, especially. I wonder what Brienne and Pod will have to do and whether it will conflict with the LF/Alayne storyline? In one of those horse riding pictures, the figure at the front looks a bit like Sophie/Sansa if her hair’s braided back? I may be looking too far into it though…
It’s fine, I’m pretty bitter about it too! Unfortunately we’re probably clinging to false hope; Indira Varma definitely wasn’t cast solely for her minimal screentime last season.
What of these characters you guys think will reapear in season 5?
1) Rickon Stark
2) Osha
3) Kevan Lannister
4) Lancel Lannister
5) Kovarro
6) Qaithe
7) LSH
8) Gendry
9) Jaqen H’ghar
10) Thoros of Myr
11) Anguy
12) Xaro Xhoan Daxos
13) Brynden Tully
14) Edmure Tully
15) Walder Frey
16) Steelshanks Walton
17) Beric Dondarrion
18) Ilyn Payne
19) Marillion
20) Armeca
21) Balon Greyjoy
22) Benjen Stark
23) Syrio Forel
24) Greatjon Umber
25) Rattleshirt
26) Illyrio Mopatis
27) Hallyne
28) Lothar Frey
29) Black Walder Rivers
30) Shagga
31) Morag Craster
32) Roslin Frey
33) Violet (Ramsay’s friend)
34) Razdal mo Eraz
I personally think that will return 3, 4, 6 (in a Dany’s dream and replacing Moqorro if Victarion appears), 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, 19 (being one of Margaery’s “mistress”), 21, 26, 28 and 34 (replacing Yurkhaz zo Yunzak)
If they truly are doing flashbacks for Cersei, I’m really excited. It’ll add something new to her character, I think.
Does anyone know if Indira Varma is confirmed to return for Season 5? I hope she (and her costume designer) does return. I guess we might not hear for sure until the fall when the Dorne filming happens in Spain.
STARKIDwheeler,
They’ve been pretty adamant about not doing flashbacks. Only way they could get around that would be to do it as a dream, which if I remember correctly, they have done. So my money is on a dream sequence for
AA,
Ellaria is in the script so unless she got recast (and I am sure she wasn’t) we’ll be seeing a lot more of her.
Do you think the “Doran’s heir” part may have been a mistake on HBO’s part? Perhaps it was meant to be one of his heirs. Or it could be subterfuge.
Darquemode,
I saw your post in the Belfast casting thread but did not comment on it. I gave up for a bit
You also eliminated all the other possible spots based on their coastal location! lol
Cian,
That comment cheered me up a bit!!! I hope they keep that Dorne law, even if it made more sense to me if they had showed it (by casting a female heir, which I rather liked as a character itself), rather than talk about it
direkrikit,
No, they just cut Arianne. There were a dozen signs pointing at it before HBO even announced Trystane is the heir.
How likely is it that the scenes being filmed in Iceland relate to the Battle in the Ice ?
clk,
I’m fairly certain show Xaro Xhoan Daxos is dead
clk,
I think that for streamlining they’ll have Pycelle take Kevan Lannisters role as the trying to keep Cersei calm/logical ( he may be a grey sunken c*nt but he’s not stupid!). This would also work when
I imagine Lancel will get some sort of closure and I can see him
Qaithe I can see taking the role of the Green Grace as Dany’s advisor if they bother with the role at all.
I think Balon
The Brotherhood without BAnners returning will depend on what they have Brienne do. Hopefully they’ll return
.
Blackfish could side up with
but again I don’t think they can just leave him hanging and he’ll feature to some degree as will Edmure and his bride and perhaps the Freys.
I can see the Greatjon taking
place and I hope that the pie scene still happens!
I’d love to see Wilko Johnson back as Ilyan Payne and the prognosis for the radical cancer surgery he had is good which is hopeful. Even if it’s a cameo it would be a nice touch. On a sidenote, Going Back Home is an excellent album he did recently with Roger Daltry if you get to check it out!
clk,
I’m fairly certain a few of them are already dead!
Although I’ve heard that doesn’t always matter in this story…
Jaime’s festering hand,
Strider,
True! XD
I guess I wasn’t thinking of CGI when I eliminated any coastal locations. They could CGI a coast if they wanted I guess..
So back to square one? XD
I do think at some point Brienne
, I think it is an inevitability that those two will cross paths again!
direkrikit,
Elio and Linda from Westeros.org contacted HBO for clarification about that bit of information because apparently Trystane was referred to as Doran’s youngest son in season 2. HBO declined to comment on their inquiry.
Morgan,
Retcon, probably.
see above
Annnnnd we’re back up. Sorry the server glitches. It looks like a ton of sites went down at the same time who use the same company. I think some of the images are still not loading quite right, and that should sort itself out in a bit.
Thanks for making this! It’s a nice refresher of all of the news we’ve gotten.
I agree that a monthly update would be great as well.
This post just made my friday alot easier so I can start my weekend drinking about an hour early. Once again, the best site ever.
The three main questions concerning returning characters are:
1. Will we see the BwB again?
– Yes, with or without LS (I still suspect with), given Brienne’s storyline
2. Will we see Kevan and Lancel again?
– I would like to, and they could easily be re-introduced at Tywin’s funeral. However, they can easily be cut, with Lancel’s part omitted entirely and Kevan’s part given to Mace and Pycelle.
3. Will we see the Riverrun Siege?
– I think we will.
The Riverrun story has the advantage of being quite small, contains some familiar characters ánd brings back the (memory of the) Red Wedding in a big way.
Morgan,
Thank you and jentario for the responses.
Great recap. More importantly though, great work on having all this info already that could be recapped. This site is easily the best GoT related news resource out there.
That’s what we’re about.
Thanks for the great summary. It’s great to see someone make a suggestion, have someone like the idea, and then see that idea realized the next day! I appreciate the links embedded within the summary, too. What I loved most, though, what got me really excited, was the picture you included of the location for the Water Gardens.
We are back up and running. Apparently this was a global issue with our host. There could be a few more bugs throughout the evening, but we have been informed that it should be mostly resolved. However, we do apologize for the outage.
Occasionally, there will be cracks in the Wall. Thank you for your patience!
It’s the warm summer. That’s when the Wall Weeps.
(Much more poetic than the cinematic Scythe…)
This is a great post! Thanks WotW! Great start to the weekend!
Still holding out hope for an Arianne casting…:'(
Lavignac,
But not as f’n badass to see!
ALSO! Fat Walda. Cuz we all love Fat Walda.
We also know Michael Huissman and Nathalie Emmanuel are returning. And I want to say David Bradley?
Like I said, these are just the highlights. I don’t think I need to include unsurprising returning regulars, or really minor roles.
David Bradley isn’t confirmed yet. He talks like he thinks he will be back eventually, but we don’t know when, really. He said the same things before season 4.
Thanks for the Bradley clarification! And for the record, I just love me some Fat Walda. I also remember the Huismann/Emmanuel confirmations being intriguing because they were contracted super early. I in no way expect you to list all returning cast, because my Lord.
I think their idea of admirable values is that MORE MEN CAN RULE. In fact, that’s the tagline for season 5. Women ruling is so 2014… and seemingly the plot of the books but hey, never mind that.
GeekFurious,
I remember you having more of an open mind as opposed to the other knee jerk reaction type of people,just because Arianne is not cast doesn’t mean they eliminated that element of the books and yes i know they said that Trystane is the heir but if he has Quentyn’s fate from the books, maybe they can put a Sand Snake in that role since they are expanding them in the show anyway .
While I was watching the preview for The Children on youtube before the episode aired, there was this blonde girl who was going all apeshit about that she was going to be Young Cersei and didn’t have much information because she’d start to film on October or November (don’t remember exactly). Then I’ve seen her commenting on other comments questions about some storylines and stuff. Well, I don’t know if that can be true, I’m just letting you know.
Ironborn,
No respectable actress or actor would divulge their role in a big series or movie on fucking youtube comments no matter how small that role may be, the most recent example would be the new actress playing Myrcella who was tight lipped about it on twitter until the casting video at comic con was revealed .
TaviColen123,
1. Take it down a notch.
2. The new Myrcella wasn’t that tight-lipped- she spilled to a bunch of people about her role, which is ultimately how I was able to find out and post the story about her casting at WiC. It’s not that weird that a teenager cast as young Cersei might not be wise enough to keep quiet. Though it’s also quite possible the girl was lying.
I dont know if they will remove the whole women right thing I think we have to wait and see but in the show when the dornish party arrived in kings landing there was no women with them + Oberyn tells tyrion that he came to castrly rock with his father instead of pointing that he came with his mom who was the ruling princess in dorne at that time
Sue the Fury,
I just used the word “fucking” sorry i did not know it’s forbidden to cuss on this site,i wasn’t insulting him btw also how i was supposed to know about that considering i don’t have the sources that you do ?
What about the battle of Mereen and battle for Winterfell ?
If that doesn´t take place next season and were stuck with Dorne boredom, sons of the Harpy boredom, High Sparrow boredom …. the show will get canceled
Ser Dosser,
Disagree strongly with that sentiment!
I have been looking forward to Dorne since the show began, I found the Sons of the Harpy plot to be some of my favorite Dany material, and while the Sparrows were not as interesting as most of the King’s Landing arcs, the pay off is incredible! All 3 of those arcs will be very strong arcs in Season 5 and two of them could have the finale climax in them. Nevermind the fact that last renewal was for two seasons……..
Apologies for feeding the troll, but seriously!
A little more shooting info here. They’ll film here. And apparently the fellow tweeting saw Nikolaj.
EDIT: Which is awesome because my Irish forebears came from Derry.
Darquemode,
Sorry, I’ve not been able to navigate to your disqus site since the first time I went there (which may be something to do with the fact my laptop has obsolete software and I’m holding off replacing (both laptop and software) until I have a bit more in my piggy-bank). Off-topic slightly, but considering the characters that were on the leaked sheet, I thought perhaps Jessica Gunning might make a suitable Lollys Stokeworth (she may not be known in the USA – she was in a British show called “What Remains” last year – Indira Varma was in it too). There are a number of older actresses with presence who could play Septa Unella but if they went left-field Josette Simon might suit (though she’s not like book Septa Unella, being neither white nor large-boned). June Brown might make a suitable Maggy the Frog, but she’s probably too busy (and rather wasted – but a lady has to eat) in “Eastenders”. Though again, that is a part that many older actresses could play. I’d like Aimee Richardson to play young Cersei but it’s unlikely – gone is gone seems to be the mantra in the “Game of Thrones” TV universe. I hadn’t realised the fact – but Alexander Siddig had distanced himself from the second series of “Atlantis” at least two months ago – I can’t remember what he said but he was polite and diplomatic. “Atlantis” is not the best show the BBC ever broadcast though hopefully the second series will improve.
TheTouchOfFrost,
Is your online name a nod to the old David Jason police drama? If only there was a part DJ could play in GoT but I think most of the significant parts for which he might have been physically suitable have been cast (if indeed he would have liked to be in it – which I have no way of knowing).
what do you think the Scrabo Towe is for ? I dont think its for the
I dont see that happening ! so did anyone else think what I`m thinking about ?…………………………………….promise me Ned .
Greenjones,
That confirms what that WIC user said in the Scrabo Tower article. IIRC he said they never shot at Scrabo Tower but at a nearby castle (Quintin castle or something like that) and that they were later filming at Portstewart. So no ToJ 🙁
Dame of Mercia,
Hi there!
Some good ideas… I like Jessica Gunning for Lollys a lot!
If they do a Maggy the Frog flashback I wonder how old they will cast her… Old viewed through a young girl’s eyes is not the same as a more mature person thinks of “old” I guess. Like you said, a number of actresses could excel as Unella.
zod,
You sure about that? I was thinking more along the lines of something else… something people have been speculating would be cut from the show…
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