WINTER IS COMING...

... And we're all terribly excited about it and anxiously ticking days off the calendar! I am of course, referring to the upcoming HBO mini-series, A Game of Thrones based on the Song of Ice and Fire books. Fans of the series will finally have something to look forward to, having spent years and years writing angry letters to the author, George R.R. Martin and angrier blog posts to get him to finish the series. Check out the HBO teaser clips: it is going to be E P I C.

For the uninitiated, A Song of Ice and Fire is a fantasy series written by George R.R. Martin, with 4 books out of far and is heavily influenced by medieval tales of errantry and Arthurian legends. Set in the land of Westeros, the series chronicles a deadly power struggle for the Iron Throne between all the powerful families in the land. Skulduggery, deceit, incest, betrayal, dark magic, omens and dragons are not uncommon, as we follow three separate plot lines as narrated by several POV characters. Now tell me that isn't going to make a bloody awesome mini-series.

As of now, HBO has committed to ten episodes. But here's the problem: GRRM wrote 4 books, ending the last one with MAJOR cliffhangers and hasn't written any sequels .... since 2005. He regularly promises to wrap up the series on his blog, but being part-magpie, he gets distracted easily and has now decided that choosing the actors who are to play minor, two-line roles in the mini-series is more important than finishing the goddamn book. One can only hope that HBO has threatened to erase him if he doesn't finish the series. WHY GEORGE, WHY? WHY DO YOU HATE YOUR FANS AND READERS OF YOUR (SOMEWHAT-MEDIOCRE-IN-RETROSPECT) BOOKS SO MUCH? ARGH.

Anyway.

Now, long before the series got greenlighted for production, the Amazing Archishman and I came up with our own dream cast. It' s a dream cast because some of the actors are now too old for the roles and others have shuffled off this mortal coil. Here they are along with the cast actually chosen for the mini-series. Think some of the actors are totally wrong for the role? You have someone better in mind? Rant and rave about it in the comments section.

The Official Cast:

Baratheon

Robert Baratheon - Mark Addy

Renly Baratheon - Gethin Anthony

Joffrey Baratheon - Jack Gleeson

Lannister

Cersei Lannister - Lena Headey

Jaime Lannister - Nikolaj Coster-Waldau

Tyrion Lannister - Peter Dinklage

Tywin Lannister -Charles Dance

Stark

Eddard Stark - Sean Bean

Catelyn Stark - Michelle Fairley

Arya Stark - Maisie Williams

Bran Stark - Isaac Hempstead-Wright

Robb Stark - Richard Madden

Sansa Stark - Sophie Turner

Jon Snow - Kit Harington

Benjen Stark - Joseph Mawle

Targaryen

Daenerys Targaryen - Emilia Clarke

Viserys Targaryen -Harry Lloyd

Others

Petyr Baelish - Aidan Gillen

Sandor Clegane - Rory McCann

Theon Greyjoy - Alfie Allen

Lysa Arryn - Kate Dickie

Barristan Selmy - Ian McElhinney

Loras Tyrell - Finn Jones

Varys - Conleth Hill

Walder Frey – David Bradley

Gregor Clegane – Conan Stevens

Maester Aemon - Peter Vaughan

Jeor Mormont - James Cosmo

Jorah Mormont -Iain Glen

Samwell Tarly - John Bradley-West

Our Awesome and Super-Duper Cast:

Baratheons
Robert Baratheon - Russell Crowe
Stannis Baratheon - Mark Strong
Renly Baratheon – Ben Affleck

Joffrey Baratheon – Will Poulter

Stark
Eddard Stark - Viggo Mortensen
Catelyn Tully-Stark - Lena Headey
Sansa Stark - Saorise Ronan
Arya Stark – Keisha Castle-Hughes
Bran Stark - Freddie Highmore
Robb Stark – William Moseley
Jon Snow – Skander Keynes
Lyanna Stark – Jennifer Connelly

Benjen Stark – Ed Quinn

Targaryen
Rhaegar Targaryen - Heath Ledger
Daenerys Targaryen – Natalie Portman
Aerys Targaryen - Ben Kingsley

Lannister
Cersei Lannister - Nicole Kidman
Tywin Lannister – Christopher Walken
Jaime Lannister - Hugh Jackman
Tyrion Lannister - Peter Dinklage

Tyrell
Margaery Tyrell – Emma Watson
Loras Tyrell – Ben Barnes
Garlan Tyrell – Joaquin Phoenix

Others
Joer Mormont – Jeff Bridges
Jorah Mormont – Liam Neeson
Mance Rayder - Brad Pitt
Ygritte – Franka Potente
Beric Dondarrion - Michael Fassbender
Jaqen H'ghar - Johnny Depp
Gregor Clegane - Ron Perlman
Sandor Clegane – Mickey Rourke
Roose Bolton - Hugo Weaving
Theon Greyjoy - Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Asha Greyjoy – Keira Knightley
Euron Greyjoy – Jeremy Irons
Maester Aemon - Richard Attenborough
Walder Frey – Michael Parks
Edmure Tully – Orlando Bloom
Lysa Tully-Arryn – Drew Barrymore
Brynden Tully – Sean Connery
Barristan Selmy – John Malkovich
Brienne of Tarth - Katee Sackhoff
Davos Seaworth – Antonio Banderas
Doran Martell – Ralph Fiennes
Oberyn Martell - Karl Urban
Melisandre – Angelina Jolie
Samwell Tarly – Sean Astin
Petyr ‘Littlefinger’ Baelish – Gary Oldman
Ser Adam Marbrand – Gerard Butler
Dolorous Edd – David Threlfall
Khal Drogo - Richard Armitage
Varys – Andy Serkis