Sci Fi Alert

The Live Feed has posted a complete cast listing (so far) of HBO’s adaption of A Game of Thrones. Once again, I find myself not too thrilled with some of the casting choices.

Who works for me (and this is based solely on how I’ve pictured these characters while reading the books):

• Sean Bean as Ned Stark
• Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister (perfect casting)
• Kit Harrington as Jon Snow
• Mark Addy as Robert Baratheon
• Tamzin Merchant as Daenerys Targaryeon
• Rory McMann as Sandor Clegane
• Jason Momoa as Kal Drogo

Who doesn’t work for (at first glance):

• Jennifer Ehle as Catelyn Stark
• Lena Headey as Cersei
• Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Jaime
• Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheron (seems too young)

As for the rest, I guess time will tell.

Hell, when it gets right down to it, I’m going to watch. HBO will have to butcher this story for me not to like it.

After the somewhat disappointing A Feast for Crows, I have been eagerly awaiting George R. R. Martin’s follow-up, A Dance with Dragons.  However, with it’s ever-changing publication dates and the author’s insistence that he’ll get it done when he damn well wants to, I’m starting to wonder if we’ll ever see the damn book. 

OK, I get what Martin is saying, but here’s the problem with living in an Internet world where you boast about all the other projects you’re working on.  Martin has written many posts about other writing projects he’s been working on an completing, so it’s no wonder fans are getting a little pissed at having to wait forever for this novel.  Yes, yes, art cannot be rushed and all that bullshit, and this is Martin’s work, his creation, so he should have the right to whatever process is necessary.  However, whether Martin or any other author wants to admit it, they owe more to their fans this snide comments and one-off paragraphs.  Martin, nor any author, would not have the success they enjoy without the fans.  Of course, that’s what also allows them to take their sweet damn time and basically flip off the fans because they also know the fans will still be waiting.  Personally, my interest is starting to wain.

And I can’t say I’m all that thrilled.  Lena Headey, former lead of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, has been cast in the pivotal role of Cersei Lannister.  I was never a fan of Sarah Connor and I’m not a particular fan of Lena Headey.  She doesn’t fit the description of the actress and she doesn’t have the acting chops to inhabit such an important character. After some really great casting choices I’ve been really disappointed in the choices of Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and now Lena Headey.  Hopefully, Peter Dinklage and Sean Bean will make up for this.

HBO announced the addition of several actors to its adaptation of A Game of Thrones.  Among them are Tamzin Merchant as Daenerys and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister. Merchant seems a pretty good choice for the role of Daenerys but I can’t say I’m all that thrilled about Waldau.  He just doesn’t fit the description of this character and I don’t particular like him as an actor, but he could surprise me.

The blog Winter Is Coming, currently the place to get updates on HBO’s proposed Game of Thrones series, has put together a nice informational post on the status of the series. One thing they note that doesn’t necessarily appeal to me is the number of episodes per book (if it goes all the way to 7 seasons), which WiC states will be 12 episodes. You might be able to present A Game of Thrones in twelve 45-minute to one-hour episodes, but as this series progresses each book gets larger, with A Storm of Swords approaching 1,000 pages in hardcover. Granted, there are certainly characters that could be dropped or combined without truly harming the overall story, but cramming some of the later books into this format may mean even larger cuts. Still, done right, this could to be one heck of a series.

Well, she’s no Gillian Anderson, but I’ll reserve judgment until I actually see her in action.

GRRM made it official; Sean Bean has been cast in the role Ned Stark. In addition, Mark Addy (A Knight’s Tale, Still Standing) has been cast in the role of Robert Baratheon. I think this is again great casting news. People may discount Addy because of his work on the lame CBS sitcom, Still Standing, but he’s actually a very good actor and really almost perfect for the role of Robert Baratheon. Other roles have been cast, as well, including Joffrey Baratheon, Viserys Targaryen, and Jon Snow. I’ve also read some rumors on the ‘net that Gillian Anderson of X-Files fame is being courted for the role of Catelyn Stark, and that would be another perfect actor choice.

I have to give HBO some credit. They are gathering together some very talented people for this pilot. Done right, I think A Game of Thrones could be their next breakout hit.

According to the site Winter Is Coming, Sean Bean has been cast as Ned Stark in HBO adaptation of A Game of Thrones.  As actors go, I think this is a really good choice.  Most people probably remember Bean from his memorable role as Boromir in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, but Bean has had a long career with roles in National Treasure and the British series of movies based on the “Sharpe” novels of Bernard Cornwell.  For some reason, I’ve always seen someone like Colin Firth in my head when I think of Ned Stark, but Sean Bean should be great in the role.

Since HBO announced Peter Dinklage would be playing Tyrion Lannister in their adaptation of A Game of Thrones I’ve been waiting to hear more.  So far there’ve been no further annoucements, but in checking the IMDb page for the series, Holly Marie Combs is listed as playing the important role of Catelyn Stark.  Fans of Charmed will remember Combs as one of the series three witchy sister.  Personally, I can’t think a worse choice to this pivotal role.  When I think of actresses who have the chops to play Catelyn Stark a name like Polly Walker comes to mind, not someone like Combs.  Hopefully, the remainder of the casting is of a higher caliber.

A Song of Ice and Fire author, George R. R. Martin, has posted his take on the new Star Trek film and he’s less than happy with it.  Now if he could only get this worked up about completing the long awaited follow-up to A Feast for Crows.

Sci Fi Wire is announcing Peter Dinklage has been cast in HBO’s series based on George R. R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones as Tyrion Lannister! Talk about perfect casting (not that I’m trying to foster a stereotype). Ever since seeing Dinklage in the underrated Threshold he’s always been my idea of Tyrion Lannister. When I first heard HBO was going to make a series of A Game of Thrones Dinklage was the first person who came to mind. I am official psyched about this series.

George R. R. Martin announced on his website today that HBO is moving ahead with the pilot for their adaptaion of his first Ice & Fire novel, A Game of Thrones.  The pilot will film in Northern Ireland starting October, 2009.  That means we probably won’t see the series, assuming it goes beyond the pilot, until mid 2010.

Back in January, George R. R. Martin, announced that HBO had optioned the right to the first book in his A Song of Ice and Fire series, A Game of Thrones.  At the time he cautioned this did not mean HBO was going to film the book, only that they were locking in the rights to do so.  Well, today the autor announced one more step on the road to a Throne series with an press release from HBO that a pilot has been ordered. Again, Martin cautions this does not mean there will be a series because all the money issues will have to be worked out, but given HBO doesn’t have much else to offer its viewers they would be fools to pass on this.  Done right, Throne could potentially be a huge hit for the network.  Now, if only author could spend less time watching Jets games and more time completing the next book in the series, which is about 2 years overdue.

Back in January, George R. R. Martin, announced that HBO had optioned the right to the first book in his A Song of Ice and Fire series, A Game of Thrones.  At the time he cautioned this did not mean HBO was going to film the book, only that they were locking in the rights to do so.  Well, today the autor announced one more step on the road to a Throne series with an press release from HBO that a pilot has been ordered. Again, Martin cautions this does not mean there will be a series because all the money issues will have to be worked out, but given HBO doesn’t have much else to offer its viewers they would be fools to pass on this.  Done right, Throne could potentially be a huge hit for the network.  Now, if only author could spend less time watching Jets games and more time completing the next book in the series, which is about 2 years overdue.

Today is the 60th birthday of author George R. R. Martin.  Is it terrible of me to wish that he’s taking care of himself so he’ll be able to finish the Song of Ice and Fire books?  Of course, at the rate he’s going I’ll be 60 before he finally gets to the last book.