Game of Thrones is the title of a television adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire. The adaptation is being produced by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, closely based on the novels. George R.R. Martin is serving as producer and creative consultant, and plans to write one episode per season depending on his workload. The series is being developed and produced by HBO and co-financed by the BBC. Currently, the first season has aired and the second is in production.Filming of a pilot episode was completed in Belfast in Northern Ireland and is the largest and most expensive television production ever mounted in the province. Additional filming also took place in Scotland and Morocco. The pilot was directed by Thomas McCarthy.

The plan is for each novel to be adapted as a single television series of 60-minute episodes, with 10 episodes in the first season. On 2 March 2010 HBO officially greenlit the full series, which will entered production in June 2010 for transmission commencing between March and May 2011. The pilot was not screened separately to the series. The series debuted on April 17, 2011.

The cast includes Sean Bean as Lord Eddard Stark, Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister, Mark Addy as King Robert Baratheon, Kit Harrington as Jon Snow, Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister, Harry Lloyd as Viserys Targaryen, Alfie Owen-Allen as Theon Greyjoy, Rory McCann as Sandor Clegane, Iain Glen as Jorah Mormont and Jason Momoa as Khal Drogo.

Jennifer Ehle was initially cast as Catelyn Stark, but after filming the pilot HBO decided to recast the role with Michelle Fairley. No further details have been given for the reason behind this decision, except that it was amicable.

In a similar manner, Tamzin Merchant was initially cast as Daenerys Targaryen, but after filming the pilot she was replaced by newcomer Emilia Clarke.

The full pilot cast list, including what HBO described as 'minor' guest roles for the pilot episode only (though some are expected to recur based on the characters' fates in the books) was announced on 19 October.

George R.R. Martin clarified at a con that some characters appear in the pilot with non-speaking roles, such as Myrcella and Tommen Baratheon, and that it is likely these roles will be filled with extras for the pilot and then recast with speaking actors for the series itself.

Location filming for the pilot began on 24 October 2009 at Doune Castle in Scotland, which stood in for part of the exterior of Winterfell. Filming wrapped on 19 November 2009 at Ouarzazate, Morocco, which served as various locations in and around Pentos.

Filming on the remaining episodes and pilot reshoots began on July 26, 2010, again in Northern Ireland and Morocco.

On April 19, 2011, the series was picked up for a second season. Casting began in May 2011 and filming began on July 25, 2011. The second season will cover the events of the second novel, although it will also include some scenes from the third novel.

CastEdit

Season 1 CastEdit

• Sean Bean as Eddard Stark.
• Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister.
• Michelle Fairley as Catelyn Stark.
• Mark Addy as Robert Baratheon.
• Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister.
• Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister.
• Harry Lloyd as Viserys Targaryen.
• Alfie Owen-Allen as Theon Greyjoy.
• Iain Glen as Jorah Mormont.
• Rory McCann as Sandor Clegane.
• Jason Momoa as Khal Drogo.
• Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen.
• Richard Madden as Robb Stark.
• Isaac Hempstead-Wright as Bran Stark.
• Kit Harington as Jon Snow.
• Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon.
• Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark
• Maisie Williams as Arya Stark

Season 2 CastEdit

• Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister.
• Michelle Fairley as Catelyn Stark.
• Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister.
• Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister.
• Alfie Owen-Allen as Theon Greyjoy.
• Iain Glen as Jorah Mormont.
• Rory McCann as Sandor Clegane.
• Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen.
• Richard Madden as Robb Stark.
• Isaac Hempstead-Wright as Bran Stark.
• Kit Harington as Jon Snow.
• Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon.
• Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark
• Maisie Williams as Arya Stark
• Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth
• Stephen Dillane as Stannis Baratheon
• Liam Cunningham as Davos Seaworth
• Natalie Dormer as Margaery Tyrell
• Carice van Houten as Melisandre of Asshai
• Gemma Whelan as Yara Greyjoy
• Oliver Ford Davies as Maester Cressen
• Nonso Anozie as Xaro Xhoan Daxos
• Tom Wlaschiha as Jaqen H'ghar

CreditsEdit

• David Benioff - writer/executive producer.
• D.B. Weiss - writer/executive producer.
• George R.R. Martin - writer/executive producer.
• Guymon Cassidy - executive producer.
• Carolyn Strauss - executive producer.
• Ralph Vincinaza - executive producer.
• Vincent Gerardis - executive producer.
• Frank Doelger - producer.
• Mark Huffam - producer
• Thomas McCarthy - director (pilot).
• Sean Bobbitt - director of photography.
• Sean Guest - 1st assistant director.
• Tatiana S. Riegel - editor.
• Gemma Jackson - production designer.
• Michele Clapton - costume designer.
• Marisa Clayton - digital post-production.
• Julia Frey - production supervisor/location scout.
• Robert Stromberg - VFX supervisor.
• Buster Reeves - stunt work (pilot).
• Corvus Corax - music (Winterfell feast scene).
• Nina Gold - London casting director.
• Amy Berman & Carrie Frazier - Los Angeles casting directors.
• Michelle Taylor Spellman - Los Angeles casting associate.
• Kerry Barden & Paul Schnee - New York casting directors.
• Allison Estrin - New York casting associate.

WritersEdit

• David Benioff & D.B. Weiss: episodes 1-3, 5, 7, 9-10
• Bryan Cogman: episode 4
• Jane Espenson: episode 6
• George R.R. Martin: episode 8

Filming locationsEdit

Northern IrelandEdit

• The Paint Hall Studios in Belfast is being used for all primary interior sets.
• Location filming for the prologue took place at Tollymore Forest Park near Newcastle in County Down.
• Location filming for some exteriors near Winterfell, including the execution of Gared and the discovery of the direwolf cubs, took place at Cairncastle in County Antrim.
• Location filming for some courtyard scenes at Winterfell, including Tommen and Bran's practice bout, took place at Castle Ward in County Down.

ScotlandEdit

• The Clanranald Trust's 'Combat International' team have confirmed they will be taking part in the production for some scenes that will be filmed at a castle in Scotland. Doune Castle, used for some scenes in the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail, is being used for some scenes involving guardsmen displaying the livery of House Lannister, suggesting that it will be used to depict the courtyard of Winterfell. Filming of the pilot began at Doune Castle on 24 October.

MoroccoEdit

• Morocco was used for the filming of the scenes involving Daenerys and Viserys Targaryen in Pentos. Some of the castle sets constructed for the movie Kingdom of Heaven were also reused for the project.
• Atlas Studios and some other locations at Ouarzazate are the primary locations where filming took place in Morocco.

Filming datesEdit

• The pilot was originally expected to be filmed between 12 October and 6 November 2009, but there was a two-week delay in pre-production. A read-through of the script was held on 12 October 2009. Production and on-location rehearsals began on 24 October. Filming commenced on 26 October and concluded on 19 November.
• Scenes at Doune Castle were filmed on 26-27 October 2009 and are believed to include the Winterfell feast to celebrate King Robert's visit. Some filming was also done in the courtyard.
• The prologue was filmed on 29 October 2009 at Tollymore Forest Park.
• Filming at Cairncastle took place on 2 November 2009, including the scene of Gared's execution and finding the dead direwolf in the snow.
• Filming of the scene between Ros, Tyrion and Jaime in King's Landing was filmed on or prior to 3 November 2009, possibly at the Paint Hall studios.
• Filming at Castle Ward took place on 5 November 2009, including the scenes of Tommen and Bran sparring and Sandor and Joffrey insulting Rodrik and Robb.
• The UK filming bloc was expected to last for 18 days, suggesting that it would finish around 12 November 2009. George R.R. Martin confirmed on his blog that after this date production would move to Morocco for the remainder of the shoot.
• Daenerys and Khal Drogo's wedding was filmed on 16 November 2009.
• Production of the rest of Season 1, including reshoots on the pilot, commenced on 26 July 2010.
• Filming of Season 2 commenced on July 25, 2011.

External LinksEdit

• Winter is Coming - a blog dedicated to covering all developments on the production as they happen.
• Westeros.org - a subset of the Westeros.org website which covers developments on the series.
• Game of Thrones Quotes - A collection of quotes from season one of the T.V series.