HBO has picked up two excellent veteran actors that will join Game of Thrones Season 6 in small yet important roles. One is coming off of a part in J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, while the other is no stranger to the pay cable TV network having been the star attraction in Deadwood while the gritty western was on the air.
Entertainment Weekly broke both stories over the past couple days, starting with news that Ian McShane had joined the Game of Thrones cast in an undisclosed role. McShane, an Emmy-winning British actor, won’t be seen in the series much, but EW’s sources say his role is “of key importance” to the events of Season 6 that will extend beyond George R.R. Martin’s currently published books.
McShane will be joined by Max von Sydow, the latter of whom is already on-set and at work. Unlike McShane, EW has learned that von Sydow will be playing the humanoid form of the Three-Eyed Raven that Bran Stark briefly met at the close of Season 4, replacing the actor who briefly played the part. The Three-Eyed Raven is expected to train young Bran for the dangers that lie ahead.
Production on Game of Thrones Season 6 is already well underway with the latest season expected to premiere in March or April of 2016. HBO recently announced their intentions to let the series run for at least eight seasons, one season beyond the current seven-year deal that is in place.
