HBO’s “Game of Thrones” adapts a modern fantasy classic
George R. R. Martin’s lengthy A Song of Fire and Ice series is one of the foremost fantasy epics of our time. Its gritty atmosphere and debt to historical fiction has influence a number of modern writers. In 2011, fans of the series will see the story get the television treatment it deserves on the HBO channel. Meanwhile, new viewers will be introduced to a television universe that the creators refer to as “‘The Sopranos‘ in Middle-earth.”The television series is called Game of Thrones, as distinct from the first book in the series, A Game of Thrones. The adaptation is expected to follow the storyline of the overall book series rather than just the first book, even though only four of the proposed seven books have been published. The television series is set to premiere in April 2011.The plot of the series is complex, as you might expect for a fantasy epic. On its surface, the show will focus on the machinations of a number of noble families vying for the “Iron Throne of Westeros.” HBO programming chief Michael Lombardo was reportedly attracted to the storytelling over the fantasy element, although Language Creation Society member David J. Peterson was hired to create a fictional language for the show. The language now has over 2,500 words and a number of fan-created websites.Story is one thing. As every television viewer knows, it’s the actors who will make or break the series, which is currently slotted for a 10-episode first season run. English actor Mark Addy will be playing Westeros’s current king, Robert Baratheon. Previously, Addy played the father in the sitcom Still Standing and a detective constable in the UK police comedy The Thin Blue Line. Sean Bean, who is familiar with epic films from his work in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and in Troy, will be playing Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North.A number of talented actresses will also be appearing in the series. Michelle Fairley, who took over the role of Mrs. Granger from Heather Bleasdale in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, will be playing Catelyn Stark, wife of Eddard and mother of their five children. Lena Headey, the English actress who became popular for her role as Sarah Connor on the show Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, will be playing Cersei Lannister, wife of King Baratheon and queen of the Seven Kingdoms.
