'Game of Thrones' prequel casts Naomi Watts as a 'socialite' with a secret
The prequel series to HBO's Game of Thrones has its first star: Naomi Watts.
Watts has signed on as "a charismatic socialite hiding a dark secret," though all other details, including her character's name, remain a mystery. The casting brings to an end to what Deadline describes as the "lengthy negotiations" that led to the show's first cast member signing on.
As we previously learned, the prequel series is set thousands of years before the events of Game of Thrones. It unfolds during the late stages of Westeros's so-called "Age of Heroes," a time that featured -- among other things -- humanity's first clash with the White Walkers.
Watts is the first and only cast member to be revealed so far. Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin is involved as an executive producer, alongside Jane Goldman, also the prequel's showrunner.
It's not clear when the series pilot will be shot or when anyone outside of HBO will get to see it. But given the topsy-turvy nature of Hollywood creative development, where projects can disappear in an eyeblink, this casting news is a good sign that HBO is moving forward with the prequel.
Topics Game Of Thrones HBO
Adam Rosenberg is a Senior Games Reporter for Mashable, where he plays all the games. Every single one. From AAA blockbusters to indie darlings to mobile favorites and browser-based oddities, he consumes as much as he can, whenever he can.Adam brings more than a decade of experience working in the space to the Mashable Games team. He previously headed up all games coverage at Digital Trends, and prior to that was a long-time, full-time freelancer, writing for a diverse lineup of outlets that includes Rolling Stone, MTV, G4, Joystiq, IGN, Official Xbox Magazine, EGM, 1UP, UGO and others.Born and raised in the beautiful suburbs of New York, Adam has spent his life in and around the city. He's a New York University graduate with a double major in Journalism and Cinema Studios. He's also a certified audio engineer. Currently, Adam resides in Crown Heights with his dog and his partner's two cats. He's a lover of fine food, adorable animals, video games, all things geeky and shiny gadgets.
