The cast and creators of HBO’s “Game of Thrones” made an appearance at San Diego Comic Con International, giving fans the first look at the new characters joining their lineup.
The panel consisted of author George R.R. Martin, showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, and cast members Gwendoline Christie, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Natalie Dormer, Kit Harington, Rose Leslie, Rory McCann, Pedro Pascal, Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams.
Fans were able to ask questions regarding the show, but most were deflected as the cast and showrunners didn’t want to give out too many details regarding season five. However, the HBO series premiered a video showing off the new additions to their cast after the panel.
The new “Game of Thrones” cast members include Alexander Siddig will play Doran Martell, Toby Sebastian will play Trystane Martell, Nell Tiger Free as Myrcella Baratheon and DeObia Oparei is taking on the role of Areo Hotah.
Enzo Cilenti is also joining the cast Yezzan, Jessica Henwick is Nymeria Sand, Keisha Castle-Hughes is Obara Sand, Rosabell Laurenti Sellers is Tyene Sand and Jonathan Pryce rounds out the newcomers as “High Sparrow.”
Some of the new cast members don’t necessarily fit the descriptions found in the Martin’s novels, but the author reiterated his views on book adaptations during the panel.
"The show is the show and the books are the books," Martin told the panel crowd, according to the show’s official blog. "I encourage people to watch the show and also, for people to read the books. Reading books is good."
Martin went on to use a Scarlett O'Hara analogy from “Gone With the Wind” to explain this thought process.
"How many children does Scarlett O'Hara have?" Martin asked, pointing out she had three in the novels but one in the film. "What's the true story? The answer is she has none. She never existed and is not a real person. That is the situation -- the show is the show and the book is book."
