Valyrian Steel, producers of replica swords based on the A Song of Ice and Fire, have posted concept art for Ice. They explain how the design process works—GRRM is the final arbiter of how it should look—and some interesting details are provided about it. However, the sword is not going to be produced for sale sooner than late 2010. A Damascus steel version is also planned.
Valyrian Steel has examples of Longclaw and Needle available for purchase from their on-line store.
A quick update from GRRM on Game of Thrones, revealing that the third and final member of the trio of characters featured in the prologue has been cast. He provides no clues, however. He indicates that in three weeks or so he’ll be leaving for Ireland to see some of the shooting, and he will also travel to Morocco to watch some of the Daenerys shooting before returning to the U.S.
George R.R. Martin provides an update on the status of A Dance With Dragons. He indicates he’s now surpassed the page count of Game of Thrones and A Feast for Crows, although he hopes he won’t end up reaching the page count of A Storm of Swords. That counts only chapters more or less completed; he indicates he has “considerably more” in rough or partial form.
He’s completed a Jon chapter, and hints that he may stay around the Wall for the next day or two of writing, “and maybe visit Winterfell.” Finally, the “Meereenese knot”—the central structural problem that has refused to be solved so far—will be tackled again soon.
Some smaller pieces of news concerning HBO’s pilot adaption of George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire”. First up, the 7’+ actor Conan Stevens provides an update (scroll towards the bottom) to an audition he first posted about in September. Providing more details, it seems almost certain that he auditioned for the role of Drogo, primarily with an eye towards having the casting directors see him so that they’ll remember him if the series goes forward and they need to find an actor for Gregor Clegane. He indicates that someone else has been chosen for the role he auditioned for.
Via Twitter, we came across tweets from Marisa Clayton, indicating that she will be working on post-production for Game of Thrones starting in February. An employee of post-production specialists Modern VideoFilm, she is listed as a digital intermediate producer in most of her entries at IMDB. Modern VideoFilm is a well-established, leading post-production company with extensive credits in both film and television, offering a range of post-production services. They also provide visual effects services, so it’s possible that they’ll handle digital effects for the pilot.
Adam Whitehead of the Wertzone points out that a costume designer for the pilot seems to be set: Michele Clapton (IMDB). She’s coming off a recent BAFTA victory in costume design for her work in “The Devil’s Whore”, and has also won acclaim for costuming a recent Sense and Sensibility television production and a Casanova TV series.
George R.R. Martin provides some clues to another of the trio of actors cast for HBO’s Game of Thrones pilot, and it’s quite quickly solved thanks to the actor having the news on his own website already. Bronson Webb is a young actor with roles in a number of U.K. productions, and who has been involved in larger films such as a small role in Kingdom of Heaven. Given the title of the post, he’s playing the ranger Will, who viewers will be introduced to at the start of the pilot episode.
George R.R. Martin provides clues for another actor cast in a role for HBO’s Game of Thrones pilot that will begin filming this month. Given his previous item of news concerning “poor doomed souls” and the title of this post, the role that has been cast must be Gared, a veteran ranger of the Night’s Watch.
George R.R. Martin’s sale on hardcover copies of the first of the new “Wild Cards” series, Inside Straight (US, UK), signed by almost all the contributors is in its last day. It’s a fun read, multiple authors (including GRRM) writing stories within one particular narrative, something which the Wild Cards Consortium have mastered when many other shared-world series have fallen by the wayside.
George R.R. Martin teases the fact that two of three roles have been filled, and contracts are waiting on the last. Given the title, “Poor Doomed Souls Department”, it seems a safe bet that a certain trio of early characters are being discussed.
Dark Sword Miniatures have posted Tom Meier’s amazing sculptures of Ser Gregor Clegane and Prince Oberyn Martell locked in combat. Meier’s one of the best in the business, and the detail he’s able to squeeze into figures just over 54 mm tall (or about 2.1 inches—although the Mountain, being to scale, would be nearer to 3 inches) is remarkable. These are part of Dark Sword’s continuing series of George R.R. Martin Masterwork miniatures. In Dark Sword’s newsletter, it’s noted Meier is hard at work on two more “A Song of Ice and Fire” figures in Wave 2 of the series, Robb Stark and Brienne of Tarth.
Via a new post at “Not a Blog”, GRRM provides hints for a supporting role that has been cast. The post, titled “The Old Knight”, must refer to Ser Rodrik Cassel, the master-at-arms of Winterfell.
According to Not a Blog, one more of the two remaining major roles has been cast. He also noted that the Norwegian movie wolves that people have speculated would be the direwolves are not intended for those roles, because UK law makes it impossible. Our speculation is that the law doesn’t allow children and wild animals to work together. GRRM has also posted some cryptic hints to the persons identity.
Extras NI—an agency that gathers extras for film and television productions in Northern Ireland—is looking for extras for Game of Thrones. They place particular emphasis on confident male horsemen between 16 and 60. As was reported earlier by Irish extra rimshot, the call confirms that those extras who’d grown their hair and beards for the Your Highness filming are in good position to participate as extras for the HBO pilot. Finally, the notice ends with “URGENTLY”, emphasizing just how close to production we now are: almost exactly one month.
Thanks to Winter is Coming for turning this one up.
George R. R. Martin has confirmed that the Hound will be played by Scottish actor Rory McCann. While this wall but certain shortly after GRRM’s clues were cracked, it took until today for there to be an official confirmation from HBO, by way of Jay Tomio of BSC Review. GRRM goes on to add why McCann was selected over other actors, citing both his imposing size, physicality, and his terrific readings.
The BBC has released a two-part news feature covering various angles of the filming of Your Highness in Northern Ireland. The film is currently being filmed at the Paint Hall studio where Game of Thrones will be primarily based. The video report includes discussion on the quality and variety of crews and independent businesses that can be drawn on for a production, and the first part of the feature mentions the HBO pilot in passing at the 2:15 mark.