Toot your ram's horn, light the pyres, and watch your back, because HBO has just announced that THE CRYING GAME and SLEEPY HOLLOW alumna Miranda Richardson has been cast as a series regular for the upcoming GAME OF THRONES prequel pilot.
As a master of her craft, Richardson has enjoyed a storied career as a memorable presence on screens both big and small. In 1993, Richardson won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical thanks to her performance as Rose Arbuthnot in Mike Newell's ENCHANTED APRIL. She also earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1995 courtesy of her part as Charlie Maguire in the TV movie FATHERLAND. For the GAME OF THRONES prequel pilot, Richardson will join Naomi Watts, Josh Whitehouse, Naomi Ackle, and Denise Gough for the upcoming series created by Jane Goldman and Game of Thrones scribe George R.R. Martin. Goldman will also serve as showrunner of the highly-anticipated project.
The long-gestating project for the untitled prequel is said to take place thousands of years before the battle for the Iron Throne, as chronicled by HBO's award-winning swords and sorcery drama GAME OF THRONES. The newest story from Goldman and Martin is said to highlight the departure from the Golden Age of Heroes, when an looming darkness consumed some of the world's greatest warriors. Make no mistake that when the new series arrives, only one thing is certain: 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.
If you're unfamiliar with Richardson's acting chops, might I suggest a rewatch of HARRRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 1, in which she gives a stellar performance as the vindictive tabloid reporter Rita Skeeter. Or, for something more current, you can catch Richardson as Lou Collins for Sky’s 10-part street-racing TV series CURFEW. In the show, a group of amateur drivers from all over the world compete in an illegal night-time street race. GAME OF THRONES alum Sean Bean, Robert Glenister, Billy Zane, Jason Thorpe, Jessye Romeo, Elijah Rowen, Guz Khan, and Andi Osho also star, among others.
Meanwhile, the eighth and final season of GAME OF THRONES kicks off less than a month from now, on April 14th via HBO services.