In one of the more bemusing rumours to surface recently, attendees of Czech SFF convention Tricon have reported that Steven Erikson, author of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, will be appearing in the Game of Thrones TV series as an extra. According to the reports, Erikson will be playing a horse-rider and will briefly appear in the background of a scene, possibly waving. The reports seem unclear on whether Erikson was directly invited to appear by Martin (who befriended Erikson at the World Fantasy Convention a few years back) or if Erikson auditioned on a whim due to his horse-riding skills.
Still trying to get official confirmation on this, but intriguing news if true.
In other Game of Thrones-related news, filming on the series, now a month old, proceeds apace. The Hand's Tourney was filmed last week and scenes set in Winterfell will begin filming next week. This week saw a number of scenes at the Crossroads Inn being filmed as well, including some scenes set in the book elsewhere (the sequences set at Castle Darry in the book appear to have been relocated to the Inn for cost reasons).
Update: Apparently Erikson was unable to take part in the project after it initially appeared to be on the cards, which is a great shame. Of course, there's always next year. Maybe we could get a rotation of UK-based epic fantasy authors appearing in cameo roles in the series? Joe Abercrombie as a wizened old warlock in the House of the Undying in Season 2, anyone?
It could be fun to have some writers as extras in that series. Melinda Snodgrass could do some horse stunt; she's an accomplished dressage rider. And Scott Bakker should be in, too, he and Martin has such a blast in Spain.
ReplyDeleteAnd Brandon Sanderson should play one of the Jordan homage characters. :)
WOAH!!!!!!
ReplyDeletenot to diss him, but can he ginuinely act his role pefectly (if he has speaking lines?). but then again he did write a butt-kickin 10 volume epic fantasy so who am i to doubt the master.
Well, he's said to be an extra, so by definition he would have a non-speaking role.
ReplyDeleteI'm the source of the news about Steven Erikson so I hope I can clear the report. Steven Erikson told my friend that he was invited by GRRM to share his experiences with writing long saga so quickly. :-)
ReplyDeleteDuring this ocasion he did the casting. It was regular open casting for men 20-60 years with horse-riding skill (possibly it will be a group of horsemen? bannermen?). It should be really minirole, just few seconds of wawing to someone.
That's be funny, but weird.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I and a few other fans had dinner with George and Parris last night which was a total blast, I could talk to Parris for hours and hours. Drinks afterward was, erm, very drunken.
Watched GRRM talk about the road to the HBO series being made today, was really interesting and funny and he apologised beforehand as he was not allowed to show us anything about the show that hasn't already been seen before. :(
Dance With Dragons reading and signing tomorrow along with the BWB party in the evening, should be great fun.
This rumor has been debunked by Erikson himself. He contacted the folks at Winter Is Coming and let them know it had only been a wish on his part, but he missed the open tryouts due to scheduling.
ReplyDeleteNot true. He'd love it ... but was too late to apply as a mounted extra.
ReplyDeletehype is a marketing device with which this reviewer has no problem. Titanic was hyped: I enjoyed it anyway. Men in Black was hyped: I liked that too. But A Game of Thrones? Well...
ReplyDelete