Plans for the highly-anticipated Game of Thrones [1] prequel are moving right along, to the point where we've already gotten a few exciting casting announcements. In addition to Naomi Watts joining the cast [2], a Poldark alum has also signed on, though not much is known about either of their characters. What we do know, however, is that you shouldn't expect anyone from the current series to appear on the show.
The pilot for the prequel is set thousands of years before the events [3] featured in author George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series. According to HBO's description of the project, the series "chronicles the world's descent from the golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour, and only one thing is for sure: from the horrifying secrets of Westeros's history to the true origin of the white walkers, the mysteries of the East to the Starks of legend . . . it's not the story we think we know."
HBO ordered the pilot over the Summer and filming began this year [4] in Belfast. As we patiently wait for more information — like the prequel's title and additional plot details — check out the cast ahead.
Naomi Watts
According to Variety, Watts has officially been tapped to star [6] in the pilot. There isn't much known about her character, except for that she is playing "a charismatic socialite hiding a dark secret." Can't you see her nailing an icily complex character like Cersei?
Josh Whitehouse
Josh Whitehouse, who plays Hugh Armitage in Poldark, will star in some capacity. Although he isn't a household name quite yet, the series has proven adept at launching the careers of relatively unknown stars, like Maisie Williams, Sophie Turner, and Kit Harington.
Naomi Ackie
Ackie is set to appear in Star Wars: Episode IX in December, and recently had a role in Yardie.
Georgie Henley
Henley made a name for herself by playing Lucy in The Chronicles of Narnia film franchise, and will play Meg Tudor in the upcoming TV series The Spanish Princess.
Jamie Campbell Bower
You'll likely recognize Bower for his work in the Twilight [7] movies, as well as TNT's short-lived Will or AMC's The Prisoner.
Toby Regbo
Regbo had Reign fans swooning for a few seasons of The CW's historical drama, but most recently played Young Dumbledore in November's Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindewald.
Alex Sharp
The British actor has been in everything from To the Bone to How to Talk to Girls at Parties, and will appear in the upcoming comedy Nasty Women alongside Anne Hathaway [8] and Rebel Wilson.
Ivanno Jeremiah
Jeremiah already has a link to Game of Thrones through Lena Headey and Iain Glen, who he'll star with in The Flood. If you want to get a taste of his work before that comes out, however, watch his guest spots in Doctor Who or his heartbreaking performance in AMC's Humans.
Sheila Atim
Atim won an Olivier Award for her role in Girl From the North Country and Othello, so you know she has the dramatic chops to pull off whatever the prequel throws at her.
Denise Gough
Gough is also an Olivier Award winner, thanks to her performance in the play People, Places, and Things. You might also have seen her with Keira Knightley [9] in Colette, and playing opposite Chris O'Dowd in Juliet, Naked.
Richard McCabe
You might have seen McCabe in Notting Hil, Collateral, and Vanity Fair.
John Heffernan
Heffernan has a vast list of theatre credits, including appearances in The Crown and Collateral.
Marquis Rodriguez
Marvel fans will recognize Rodriguez from Netflix's Luke Cage and Iron Fist.
Miranda Richardson
Richardson is a familiar face for any Harry Potter [10] fan, having played Rita Skeeter in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1. The Golden Globe and BAFTA-winner has also appeared in Sleepy Hollow, The Young Victoria, and The Phantom of the Opera.
John Simm
Simm is another actor with credits from both the screen and stage, including appearances in Doctor Who, Collateral and Life on Mars.