HBO announces cast and director for unnamed ‘Game Of Thrones’ spin-off
There is still one final season of Game Of Thrones to go, but the bosses at HBO are already planning the spin-off, set to debut in 2020, which according to George R R Martin may be called “The Long Night”.
The prequel will take place 8,000 years prior to the events of GOT. And what is the Long Night? According to Fandom, “a winter known as the Long Night descended upon the world, which lasted an entire generation. Thousands starved as the crops and fields lay buried under dozens of feet of snow. In the darkness and cold of the Long Night, the White Walkers descended upon Westeros from the farthest north, the polar regions of the Lands of Always Winter. The conflict that arose from the Long Night is known as the War for the Dawn as the White Walkers sought to bring an end to all life and to cover the world in an endless winter.”
But here’s the official blurb for the show: “Taking place thousands of years before the events of Game of Thrones, 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’ 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.”
Jane Goldman wrote the pilot and will serve as showrunner, while SJ Clarkson will direct and executive produce.
Clarkson’s resume includes some of TV’s biggest shows, such as Marvel’s The Defenders, Orange Is the New Black, Jessica Jones, Bates Motel and Banshee.
Additionally, it was announced that Naomi Ackie, Denise Gough, Jamie Campbell Bower, Sheila Atim, Ivanno Jeremiah, Georgie Henley, Alex Sharp, and Toby Regbo have been added to the cast as series regulars, joining Naomi Watts and Josh Whitehouse.
Ackie’s film credits include several U.K. television shows such as The Bisexual, Cleaning Up, and Doctor Who, as well as the crime film The Corrupted and the upcoming blockbuster, Star Wars: Episode IX.
Gough has recently appeared in The Kid Who Would Be King. Her recent U.K. TV resume includes Paula and Guerrilla.
Bower is a British actor and musician, most noticeable to American fans for his role in the Twilight film series. He has also appeared in Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd and The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones. His TV roles include TNT’s Will and Starz’ Camelot.
Atim has not appeared in movies, but she is known for her role on the West End stage. She won an Olivier Award for her role in Girl From the North Country and made her streaming TV debut on Hulu’s Harlots.
Jeremiah has appeared in Doctor Who, Black Mirror, The Jury, and Injustice.
23-year-old Henley is most known for her role as Lucy Pevensie in The Chronicles of Narnia film series.
Sharp also comes from the stage and is most recognized for his role in Broadway’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
Lastly, Regbo made his mark in The CW’s Reign but has also appeared in The Last Kingdom on BBC 2 in the UK.
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Game Of Thrones airs its final season in April 2019 on HBO.