If you’ve been enjoying Prince Oberyn Martell and Ellaria Sand in the current season of HBO’s Game of Thrones, good news! You’ll be getting more Dornish men and women for Season 5. And we’ll give you one guess where they’re already scouting to film.
Non-spoilery business first. Entertainment Weekly reports HBO is looking to…you guessed it – Spain.
“The HBO fantasy hit is currently scouting locations in the Andalucia region of the country and is deep in talks with a local film commission,” writes EW. “If all goes according to plan, Spain will mark the seventh country (the seventh kingdom, if you will) where Thrones has shot on location.”
EW says they can’t reveal which part of George R.R. Martin’s fictional world the country will stand in for but it’s a safe bet to say Dorne, home to Oberyn and friends. What makes us so sure? A recently leaked list of new characters HBO is looking to cast.
WinterIsComing.net posted the list with descriptions. Non-book readers will probably want to avoid this. First up, folks connected to Oberyn:
- Prince Doran Martell – Doran is described as the major new player this year, appearing in multiple episodes. The fiftysomething prince uses a wheelchair, is reclusive and rules wisely. It appears the show is looking to continue the trend it started with Pedro Pascal, and cast Latino actors for the Martell clan.
- Prince Trystane Martell – Trystane, the handsome fiance of Princess Myrcella, is being aged up to 18.
- Areo Hotah – Doran’s personal bodyguard will appear throughout the season, assisting the prince with his duties. The show is particularly looking for a black actor to fill the role.
The Sand Snakes, Oberyn Martell’s bastard daughters (with ages ranging 18-25):
- Obara Sand – The eldest and most athletic Sand Snake will be having a major fight scene with a series regular character- not one who crosses her path in the books. This is an interesting change.
- Nymeria Sand – Nymeria is described as “mixed race,” with her father being the fairer Oberyn and her mother being darker skinned. The second oldest of these Sand Snakes, she’s beautiful, emotional and very strong.
- Tyene Sand – The youngest of the Sand Snakes that we meet uses her wits and seductive powers, and is less of a physical fighter than the other Sand Snakes. She is just as deadly as her sisters, however, but her weapon is poison.
WinterIsComing makes a note about a name missing from this list, Arianne, the woman who’s heir to the throne of Dorn. Yes, a woman. It’s possible she’s already been cast and that’s why she’s not on the sheet but we really, really, really hope she’s not being left out. Plus, she’s a POV character in the book so leaving her out would be a strange call.
Here are a few non-Dornish additions:
- High Sparrow – The books’ pious head of a religious movement will be appearing in several episodes in season 5.
- Septa Unella – The show is looking for a character actress to play the imposing and unrelenting septa who spends a lot of time with a major series character next year.
- Maggy the Frog- A fortune teller in A Feast for Crows, she’ll be in one episode next year.
- Lollys Stokeworth – Just last week in “Mockingbird,” Bronn announced his intention to marry Lollys, whom Tyrion considers “dimwitted.” It looks like the sellsword will still be around next year.
- Yezzan – A sleazy Meereenese slave owner.
- The Waif – The strange child from the books that Arya encounters will likely be played by an older actress, one in her later teens, and we understand the show is specifically looking for a woman of East Asian descent for the part.
This also may not be a complete list of additions for Season 5.
WinterIsComing also recently took a stab at casting the Martell roles and I’m loving most of their choices. Anyone you’d like to see play a Martell?
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