After a relatively quiet 2018, with no new episodes and very little details on what’s going on with the future of the franchise, the new year brings with some major news for fans of HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” Not only do we get new episodes in a few short months, but we also know who is starring in the new spin-off, probably titled “The Long Night,” but now we know who is going to direct the pilot.
According to Deadline, filmmaker S.J. Clarkson has been signed to direct the pilot episode of the highly-anticipated new HBO series. Clarkson, for those who have been keeping score, was most recently attached to the upcoming “Star Trek 4.” However, with contract statuses in question, Paramount has seemingly put that project on the back burner, leaving the director open for new assignments. And wow, talk about landing on your feet! She will now helm the beginning of what HBO hopes is a successful continuation of the “Game of Thrones” franchise, after the main series ends later this year.
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Joining Clarkson is a new group of cast members that will no doubt be wearing their best furs and leather. Naomie Ackie, Denise Gough, Jamie Campbell Bower, Sheila Atim, Ivanno Jeremiah, Georgie Henley, Alex Sharp, and Tony Regbo have all signed on for roles in the series. While none of these actors are currently household names, that’s nothing to be concerned about at all. Going into the first season of “Game of Thrones,” you’d be hard-pressed to name anyone in the cast other than Sean Bean. Lena Heady was known for “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” and Peter Dinklage was the actor from “Elf” and “The Station Agent.”
That being said, Naomie Ackie seems to be the biggest name of the current crop of actors being cast. Recently, she was seen in “Lady Macbeth” and “Yardie,” as well as the TV series “The Bisexual.” However, her big break is expected later this year, when she is said to be one of the stars of J.J. Abrams upcoming “Star Wars: Episode IX.”
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HBO hasn’t released a ton of information about the series just yet. We know it’s being spearheaded by Jane Goldman and George R.R. Martin and will take place thousands of years before the current events of “Game of Thrones.” Other than that, not much is known. However, it’s a safe bet that the series will probably be picked up for a full season and will debut sometime in 2020.