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Game of Thrones Has Cast Its Mance Rayder

by Alanna Bennett | 11:45 am, August 17th, 2012

No, Game of Thrones isn’t back on your television yet. And yes, we’re still pining for it like a certain blondie pines for her dragons. But there is news! The HBO show is still doing some casting for season three, and the newest addition to the already massive cast? It’s Mance Rayder. King of the Far North. The Big Guy Behind the Wall. And he’s going to be played by Rome star Ciarán Hinds.

Having played Julius Caesar in Rome for two years, Hinds is no stranger to the world of huge ensemble HBO shows. And having played Aberforth Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2, he’s no stranger to acting in more magical worlds.

For those unfamiliar with the character, Mance Rayder is the Wilding leader, and he’s united the clans of the Far North behind the unifying goal of attacking The Wall protected by the Night’s Watch. We’ve heard many a reference to him in the show so far, but have yet to actually bear witness to him.

The season finale of the show, however, left our own Jon Snow of the perpetual pout undercover and being taken to meet the Far North’s king.

Hinds was born in Belfast, where primary production for Game of Thrones is based, so that must be nice for him when he gets to work there. Season three is also filming in places like Croatia, Iceland, and Morocco.

More recently, Hinds can be seen in the Sigourney Weaver-starring mini-series Political Animals, as well as in recent films Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, John Carter, and Munich.

It’s also worth noting that Hinds skews a bit older than we were expecting for the casting of this role; one of the previous actors the show was reportedly thinking of was The Wire‘s Dominic West, who’s at least fifteen years younger than Hinds. But upon seeing Hinds, it actually seems like kind of the perfect fit.

What do you think of the casting?

(via Entertainment Weekly)

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Alana Beltzer

In a word: Perfect.
Jenny Cabotage

I LOVE Ciarán Hinds! omg I can’t wait to see him in the show! :D
Alexandra

OMG YESSSS!!!! I LOVE HIM!!! Why, oh Why does this series have to make it so hard to wait so long for the next season.
Alexandra

… and I must say, I had no idea he played Aberforth. Must go watch HP now…
Anonymous

I actually squeed out loud when I saw this, he is AWESOME.
John Wao

I was thinking the same thing, he’s a bit older than I expected, but he’s a decent actor and Nina Gold hasn’t made a casting mistake yet.
Anonymous

Like the article notes, it does seem a little older than I’d initially imagined Mance, but I think Hinds is a good choice to nail the righteous indignation and charisma of Mance. Plus, who’s to say how he’ll look in makeup and costume? The show hasn’t made a casting mistake yet, so I’m looking forward to seeing how Hinds portrays Mance.
http://twitter.com/RebeccaPahle Rebecca Pahle

YESSSSSSSSSSSS.
Meaghan Cary

I LOVE Hinds, and thought he was the best Caesar ever. But I’m inclined to think he has a bit too much… gravitas for Mance. I think West would have been perfect.
Anonymous

He’s a little older than I pictured, too, but…Captain Wentworth can do no wrong.
http://twitter.com/massiveartattak Kate Morgan

Ladies (and probably some gents?) if you are inclined to enjoy Ciarin Hinds, then you really need to check him out when he was a young beast in this 1997 A&E version of Ivanhoe. Look into it.
Anonymous

My old school’s most famous past pupil!
Anonymous

I really liked Hinds on Rome, and I do enjoy his performance on Political Animals, but I’m having trouble seeing him as Mance Rayder…
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_MYC65UZW7OMSYCL4YRFH4XKKKQ Brian

He’s actually just the age I imagined, but on the flip side, I had no idea Hinds was so comparatively young. I’ve mostly seen him playing older types.
Anonymous

And he is wonderful as Joe in “Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day,” opposite Frances McDormand.