A 'Harry Potter' Star Was Just Cast in the 'Game of Thrones' Prequel

Photo credit: Tim P. Whitby - Getty Images
Photo credit: Tim P. Whitby - Getty Images

From Harper's BAZAAR

As Game of Thrones Season 8 slowly makes its return, its prequel spin-off show is also taking form. HBO has already announced a number of stars slated to appear in the upcoming series, and we're tracking them all right here.

Naomi Watts

The King Kong and The Ring star was the first actor announced for the upcoming spinoff show. All that was said about her lead role is that she'll portray "a charismatic socialite hiding a dark secret."

Photo credit: Stephane Cardinale - Corbis - Getty Images
Photo credit: Stephane Cardinale - Corbis - Getty Images

Josh Whitehouse

The actor and Burberry model was also announced as a lead. He most recently starred as Hugh Armitage in the period TV series Poldark.

Photo credit: Matt Winkelmeyer - Getty Images
Photo credit: Matt Winkelmeyer - Getty Images

Naomi Ackie

She'll appear in the upcoming Star Wars: Episode IX and currently and her TV credits include Doctor Who, according to Variety.

Photo credit: Dave J Hogan - Getty Images
Photo credit: Dave J Hogan - Getty Images

Denise Gough

She was in Colette, starring Keira Knightley, and will appear in the upcoming film, Monday, opposite Sebastian Stan.

Photo credit: David M. Benett - Getty Images
Photo credit: David M. Benett - Getty Images

Jamie Campbell Bower

Twilight fans may recognize the actor from New Moon, where he played Volturi leader, Caius. You might've also seen him in Sweeney Todd, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (parts one and two), and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.

Photo credit: David M. Benett - Getty Images
Photo credit: David M. Benett - Getty Images

Sheila Atim

She's primarily a stage actress with credits in the West End, The Royal Shakespeare Company, and more, but she's also appeared on the small screen in Hulu's Harlots, per Variety.

Photo credit: Ian West - PA Images - Getty Images
Photo credit: Ian West - PA Images - Getty Images

Ivanno Jeremiah

The actor will appear in the film The Flood with GoT stars Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister) and Iain Glen (Jorah Mormont), Variety reports. He's also in the sci-fi show Humans (co-starring Crazy Rich Asians' Gemma Chan) and has appeared in Black Mirror, Doctor Who, and more.

Photo credit: Danny Martindale - Getty Images
Photo credit: Danny Martindale - Getty Images

Georgie Henley

Remember Lucy Pevensie in the Chronicles of Narnia film series? Henley played her. She's also starred in a number of indie flicks, including Perfect Sisters with Abigail Breslin.

Photo credit: Roberto Ricciuti - Getty Images
Photo credit: Roberto Ricciuti - Getty Images

Alex Sharp

The Juilliard alum starred in the stage adaption of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and the film How to Talk to Girls at Parties with Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning.

Photo credit: Gary Gershoff - Getty Images
Photo credit: Gary Gershoff - Getty Images

Toby Regbo

Like Bower, Regbo appears in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. He was also in the CW period drama series Reign. You can also catch him on Netflix in The Last Kingdom, according to Variety.

Photo credit: David M. Benett - Getty Images
Photo credit: David M. Benett - Getty Images

Miranda Richardson

The actress is best known as Rita Skeeter in the Harry Potter franchise, but she's also appeared in Sleepy Hollow (1999) and The Hours (2002). Her role is simply described as a "series regular," according to Entertainment Weekly.

Photo credit: Rich Polk - Getty Images
Photo credit: Rich Polk - Getty Images

SJ Clarkson

She'll direct the pilot and serve as an executive producer. You know her work from Netflix series Orange Is the New Black, Jessica Jones, The Defenders, and more. She's also slated to helm the next installment in the Star Trek film franchise.

Clarkson's involvement in the Game of Thrones prequel marks a shift for the HBO franchise, which has been accused of lacking women writers and directors behind-the-scenes. Indie Wire previously pointed out that only one of the show's 19 directors have been women.

Photo credit: Stephane Cardinale - Corbis - Getty Images
Photo credit: Stephane Cardinale - Corbis - Getty Images

In the vein of typical Game of Thrones production, details on the actors' roles remain secret. However, we do know the general premise of the show. HBO said of the prequel:

"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. 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, only one thing is for sure: It’s not the story we think we know."

Watch this space for updates as more cast members are announced.


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