Every Character That Was Recast In Game Of Thrones (& Why)

Every Character That Was Recast In Game Of Thrones (& Why)

With such a large rotating list of characters, it’s not surprising that plenty of Game of Thrones characters were recast throughout the series.

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In an eight-season-long show with many characters was recurred after years offscreen, it’s not surprising that many Game of Thrones characters were recast throughout the series. Adapted from the A Song of Ice and Fire novels by George R.R. Martin, Game of Thrones is one of the biggest TV shows in television history. While exploring the wars, allyships, and betrayals of families in Westeros as they vie for power and a seat on the Iron Throne, Game of Thrones featured an incredible and ever-changing ensemble cast.

With such a large variety of characters and plotlines during times of wars and violence, it wasn’t uncommon for actors to sign onto the series and expect their characters to die fairly quickly. For example, Game of Thrones was largely promoted with the image of actor Sean Bean for season 1, and his character Ned Stark was surprisingly killed off after only 9 episodes. Quickly showing that nobody is safe in the series, very few characters survived from the first episode through Game of Thrones’ divisive finale, with four of the six Stark siblings and Tyrion Lannister being the key exceptions.

The actors in the main cast of Game of Thrones were likely dreading or anticipating the script where their character is unexpectedly killed off, though it seems it was more common for the minor or secondary characters to be featured significantly for a few episodes and then drop off of the series along with their actors until several seasons later. Because of Game of Thrones’ estimated eight-year timeline with long gaps between appearances for supporting characters and the possibility for character expansion in later seasons, many notable roles were recast with different actors.

Daario Naharis

Most of the Game of Thrones recasts were somewhat unnoticeable because of the gaps between their characters’ focus, but Daario Naharis’s change in actors didn’t fool anybody. First appearing at the end of Game of Thrones season 3 as the lieutenant of the Second Sons, Daario was portrayed by Deadpool actor Ed Skrein. After appearing in the final three episodes of season 3 as Daenerys Targaryen’s new ally, Game of Thrones season 4 jarringly picks up the storyline with The Haunting of Hill House actor Michiel Huisman recast as Daario Naharis. For those who binged the series through, the change was clear, especially since Huisman plays the romantic interest role very differently from Skrein. Many suspected Skrein didn’t return because of filming conflicts with The Transporter Refueled, but the actor debunked this in 2015 when ambiguously telling EW that “politics” kept him from returning.

The Three-Eyed Raven

First appearing in a storyline that would affect the trajectory of Bran Stark’s character, the human Three-Eyed Raven debuted in Game of Thrones season 4 as portrayed by Chariots of Fire actor Struan Rodger. After being absent throughout season 5, the Three-Eyed Raven was recast with legendary actor Max von Sydow in the role for season 6 as he returned to assist in Bran’s journey. The reason for the Three-Eyed Raven’s recasting was never officially revealed by Game of Thrones’ team, but it’s likely that the series wanted a more notable and reliable actor in the role as the character took on a more significant presence. Similar to the Daario Nahaaris recasting, the Three Eyed-Raven’s overall appearance and personality shifted with the new actor as well.

The Night King

One Game of Thrones recast that was more difficult to detect under all of the prosthetics and CGI was the villainous Night King, who served as the underlying threat to the characters throughout Game of Thrones’ series. First introduced in season 4, the Night King was played by Richard Brake over a course of three episodes until his final appearance in season 5. When the character was reintroduced in Game of Thrones season 6, he appeared human as one of the First Men that was killed by the Children of the Forest. For this appearance, the Night King was recast with actor Vladimir Furdik, who then portrayed the villain in his White Walker form until being killed by Arya in the Battle of Winterfell. The reason for the Night King’s recast isn’t completely straightforward as many theorize Richard Brake left due to scheduling conflicts with The Bastard Executioner, though there’s no clear confirmation. Nonetheless, Furdik was already one of Game of Thrones’ key stuntmen and ironically portrayed the first White Walker that Jon Snow killed, so the executives asked him to take over as the Night King for season 6.

The Mountain

While plenty of heavies were recast on Game of Thrones, the most brutal villain fighter, The Mountain, was recast twice. The Mountain, whose real name is Gregor Clegane, was first introduced in Game of Thrones’ premiere episode as a violent fighter and the older brother of The Hound. He was first portrayed by Conan Stevens during season 1, before exiting due to scheduling conflicts with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. The Mountain was recast with actor Ian Whyte for three episodes in Game of Thrones season 2, but the actor had difficulty removing his emotions from the character’s gruesome brutality, so he was cast as wight and wildling giants like Wun Wun after season 2.

Since The Mountain’s face is typically behind a shield, the actor most commonly remembered for playing the character is Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, who was the one crushing Oberyn Martell’s skull in the climactic trial by combat. The Icelandic strongman took over the role in season 4 and remained The Mountain’s portrayer until his death in the highly-anticipated Cleganebowl fight in Game of Thrones’ penultimate episode.

Beric Dondarrion

The Lord of Blackhaven, Beric Donarrion was introduced to Game of Thrones in the season 1 episode “A Golden Crown,” where he was played by David Michael Scott. Tasked by Ned Stark to hunt down and execute The Mountain, Beric Dondarrion wasn’t seen again until season 3 when he was played by a different actor. Scott was credited as a “featured extra” for his season 1 episode as Dondarrion, which suggests the casting department was waiting to find the right actor for the role. Reappearing in his notable eyepatch and armor in season 3, Beric Dondarian was then played by Richard Dormer for the remainder of the series until sacrificing himself for Arya in the Battle of Winterfell.

Leaf

Even though the character was only featured in a total of five episodes throughout Game of Thrones, Leaf was still recast. Leaf was introduced alongside the Three-Eyed Raven in Game of Thrones’ season 4 finale as a Child of the Forest who helps save Bran. For the season 4 episode, Leaf was played by actress Octavia Alexandru, who was 12 years old when the episode premiered. After being absent during season 5, Leaf returned to assist Bran during season 6 as portrayed by Kae Alexander, who will star in the upcoming The Wheel of Time series. Since Leaf took on a much more significant and intense role in season 6, it makes sense why Game of Thrones recast the character with a more mature and established actress.

Rickard Karstark

When Rickard Karstark was first introduced in season 1, the character had a fairly minor role compared to what was to come when Robb Stark assumed leadership of the North. In the Game of Thrones season 1 finale when Rickard Karstark is the second to name Robb king, the character is portrayed by Steve Blount. When the character returned for season 2, Richard Karstark was played by actor John Stahl, who maintained the role until his final on-screen appearance in season 3. Since Karstark’s character would be expanded and serve as a core supporter and critic of Robb Stark, Game of Thrones likely wanted a more established and versatile actor in the role to truly score Robb’s ascent into leadership.

Lothar Frey

While Lord Walder Frey had too many children to remember, the one son that actually had a semi-present role in Game of Thrones was Lothar Frey. The character was introduced in season 3, where he played an integral role in planning the shockingly brutal Red Wedding, which would end in the murders of Robb, Catelyn, and Talissa Stark. In his two-episode arc in season 3, Lothar was portrayed by Tom Brooke. After being absent for seasons 4 and 5, the Freys reappeared in Game of Thrones season 6 to fight alongside Jaime and make the Blackfish surrender. During these episodes, Lothar is portrayed by Daniel Tuite. It’s unclear why Lothar was recast, but the two-season hiatus of the character likely meant Brooke was unavailable. Lothar’s final appearance was in season 6, unless counting the pie he was baked into for season 7 when Arya killed all of the Frey men and left House Frey nearly extinct.

Dickon Tarly

The favored younger brother of the lovable Samwell, Dickon Tarly was first seen in Game of Thrones season 6 when Sam returned to Horn Hill on his way to the Citadel. Dickon is portrayed by Freddie Stroma (Cormac in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) during the episode in which he eats dinner and chats with Sam and Gilly, and isn’t season again until season 7 where he’s played by The Umbrella Academy actor Tom Hopper. Stroma was originally supposed to reprise his role as Dickon, but scheduling conflicts with Time After Time got in the way, leading Hopper to play the character when executed by Daenerys.

Myrcella Baratheon

Although her family plays one of the largest roles in the series, the eventually recast Myrcella Baratheon played the smallest part in the Baratheon/Lannister family. Cersei’s (and Jaime’s) daughter Myrcella Baratheon was largely a background character in seasons 1 and 2 of Game of Thrones, who was played by child actress Aimee Richardson when first sent to Dorne by Tyrion Lannister. Myrcella doesn’t return until Game of Thrones season 5, where she is now a teenager and has clearly fallen in love with her fiancé Trystane Martell. For Myrcella’s final four episodes in seasons 5 and 6, the character was portrayed by actress Nell Tiger Free. An official reason for the recast was never given, but Richardson apparently found out she wouldn’t be returning alongside fans during the San Diego Comic-Con. Since Myrcella’s role was expanded with a lot more emotional tension and drama, Game of Thrones likely wanted an actress who could bring more nuance to the long-removed princess.

Tommen Baratheon

Like Myrcella, Tommen Baratheon was also recast in season 4 when the role was expanded and required more experience. Tommen was portrayed by Callum Wharry in Game of Thrones seasons 1 and 2 as a young child who was primarily a background character. It’s not clear why Tommen was absent during season 3, but when he returned in season 4 as the new king after his brother Joffrey Baratheon’s death, he was played by the more mature Dean-Charles Chapman. Game of Thrones writer Bryan Cogman revealed on the Game of Owns podcast that Tommen was recast because he was going to be king, meaning more heavy and intensive acting for the character required an experienced actor. Similar to the Night King’s recasting, Chapman had previously worked on the series when portraying Tommen’s murdered cousin Martyn Lannister in season 2.

Selyse Baratheon

Whether Stannis’s wife and young Shireen Baratheon’s mother Selyse was truly recast or not is up for debate since the first actress was uncredited, but it seems likely it was the case of a place-holder casting like other Game of Thrones recasts. When Stannis’s family is first introduced during season 2, Stannis extends his hand to a woman who stands next to him at the funeral pyre, suggesting it’s his discussed wife Selyse. The uncredited role was played by Sarah Mac Keever, but when Selyse Baratheon returned as an expanded and more intensive character in season 3, experienced actress Tara Fitzgerald took over as the queen. The reasoning seems to follow that Game of Thrones wasn’t ready to hire an actress for such a minor role in season 2, so they waited until Selyse was a full-blown character to cast a permanent actress in season 3.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/game-thrones-characters-recast-new-actors-every-why/

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