Games

This one is about war : Season 3 begins airing on 31 March in the USA and the day afterwards in the UK.

HBO have released an extended version of last week's Game of Thrones trailer. This version contains a few more shots and some additional dialogue, as well as glimpses of more characters (established and new). Look out for Paul Kaye as Thoros of Myr intoning the R'hllor speech and our first glimpse of the 'bear and maiden fair':

Eight of the ten episode titles for Season 3 of Game of Thrones have been announced. These are as follows (with airdate and writer/director information): Paul Kaye as Thoros of Myr 301: Valar Dohaeris Written by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss Directed by Daniel Minahan Airdate: 31 March 302: Dark Wings, Dark Words Written by Vanessa Taylor Directed by Daniel Minahan Airdate: 7 April 303: Walk of Punishment Written by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss Directed by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss Airdate: 14 April 304: And Now His Watch is Ended Written by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss Directed by Alex Graves Airdate: 21 April 305: Kissed by Fire Written by Bryan Cogman Directed by Alex Graves Airdate: 28 April 306: tbc Written by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss Directed by Alik Sakharov Airdate: 5 May 307: The Bear and the Maiden Fair Written by George R.R. Martin Directed by Michelle MacLaren Airdate: 12 May 308: tbc Written by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss Directed by Michelle MacLaren Airdate: 19 ...

HBO have finally released a 'proper' trailer for Season 3 of Game of Thrones : The trailer has a lot of great bits in it, but my favourites were our first proper look at Dragonstone in the daylight: And this shot of Tormund Giantsbane (Kristofer Hivju) climbing the Wall is quite impressive: Meanwhile, Entertainment Weekly has reported that the second season has sold more than 241,000 copies on its first day on sale in the USA, a 44% increase on the first season. More than 350,000 episodes were also bought from digital vendors, more than twice that of the first season. This bodes well for the Season 4 renewal (which is expected after the first few episodes of Season 3 airs, but pre-production has already started).

HBO have released another promo video for the third season of Game of Thrones . This one is a general look at Season 3 from the actors and producers, and features glimpses of new characters and actors:

HBO has aired a preview of the third season of Game of Thrones , which will start airing on 31 March 2013. The video gives us our first good glimpse at a number of new characters in costume and make-up (screencaps from Westeros.org ): Clive Russell as Ser Brynden 'the Blackfish' Tully, Catelyn's uncle.  Tobias Menzies as Ser Edmure Tully, Catelyn's younger brother and heir to Riverrun. Nathalie Emmanuel as Missandei, a translator from Astapor. Dame Diana Rigg as Lady Olenna Tyrell, the 'Queen of Thorns'. Richard Dormer as Ser Beric Donarrion (replacing David Michael Scott, who played the character in one episode of Season 1). Ellie Kendrick as Meera Reed, whose father was one of Ned Stark's oldest and closest friends. Another shot of Meera, this time with her brother Jojen, played by Thomas Brodie-Sangster. Looking pretty good so far. The promos also confirm that, after a lot of hand-wringing last season, Daenerys looks like she'll be kicking some backsi...

British actor Dominic West - known to millions as Detective Jimmy McNulty on the HBO series The Wire - has turned down a role on Game of Thrones . Lena 'Cersei Lannister' Headey and Dominic West in 300 . West was unfamiliar with the series when he was offered the role during casting for the third season. Unwilling to spend 'six months' away from his family to film in Iceland, he turned down the role and was immediately berated for it by his nephew for not being in "the only great show on". West notes that it was a great part and already partially regrets turning it down, but not the time spent away from home. Based on West's description of the role, which was substantial and part of the storyline beyond the Wall (which are filmed in Iceland, although only in blocks of six weeks per season), he was almost certainly up for the role of Mance Rayder, the King-beyond-the-Wall and the leader of the wildlings, frequently mentioned in the first two seasons. As ...

Gary Lightbody, the lead singer of British band Snow Patrol, has announced via Facebook that he has filmed a cameo appearance in the third season of Game of Thrones . He also included a picture of himself in costume: I gather this is more of a 'featured extra' thing than any more substantial role. It seems to be in thanks for Lightbody and his bandmates being huge fans of the show and frequently mentioning it on their webpages. During the filming of the previous two seasons, the band (half of whom are from Northern Ireland and sometimes use Belfast as a base of operations) hung out with castmembers and crew on several occasions. Lightbody with producers D.B. Weiss and David Benioff in Belfast. Interesting news. Thrones still has a very low profile in the UK, due to its transmission on a satellite channel with a tiny audience (although Thrones is by far the most popular show to ever air on it, it's still very obscure here). This has changed a little bit as more magazines ...

War has gripped the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. As Robb Stark, the King in the North, leads his armies into the Lannister homelands, so Renly Baratheon leads a vast host out of the Reach, planning to take King's Landing and depose the boy-king Joffrey. A new player has also entered the game, with Renly's older brother Stannis claiming the Iron Throne and gathering allies to his banner. As the Seven Kingdoms slip into chaos, the Night's Watch mounts a large expedition into the lands north of the Wall, investigating reports of wildling forces gathering and White Walkers on the march. Thousands of miles to the east, Daenerys Targaryen and her newly-hatched dragons seek refuge in the fabled city of Qarth, but there finds betrayal and deceit waiting for her. The second season of Game of Thrones picks up where the first season ends and - somewhat loosely in places - follows the events of the second novel in the Song of Ice and Fire series, A Clash of Kings . For those who enjoy...

A round-up of news regarding Season 3 of Game of Thrones (note: one minor spoiler if you haven't read A Storm of Swords ). Season 3 will likely feature less massive fleet-destroying subnuclear explosions. Season 3 started shooting today in Northern Ireland. Director Daniel Minahan - returning from Season 1 after a break last year - was the first director to set to work. Season 2 directors Alik Sakharov and David Nutter are also returning (the latter will handle the final two seasons of the season, which will allegedly be the most ambitious the show has attempted to date). Producers David Benioff and Dan Weiss will also try their hands at directing. Two very high-profile directors are also joining the team: Alex Graves, a producer and director on The West Wing , and Michelle McLaren, a producer and director on both Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead , are lending their considerable talents to the series. The writing roster is unchanged from last year: David Benioff and D.B. Weiss...

HBO have announced that a companion book for the Game of Thrones TV series will be released in the autumn. Inside HBO's Game of Thrones is a volume that mixes fictional background details with behind-the-scenes information, maps, family trees and interviews with castmembers. The book is 192 pages long and will feature over 300 colour photographs and illustrations, along with eight gatefold images. The book is written by Bryan Cogman, the show's 'keeper of the mythos' and writer of two episodes of the TV series. George R.R. Martin supplies a preface and showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss an introduction. The book will be published on 19 September this year by Chronicle Books in the USA. It will be available in the UK via the British HBO merchandise site . The book should not be confused with The World of Ice and Fire , an in-universe companion volume to the book series, which will likely be published in 2013.