This summer, George R.R. Martin is revisiting beloved characters from Game of Thrones, and new actors will be taking on those famous roles.
Following the season 3 premiere of House of the Dragon on HBO and Max on June 21st, the world of Game of Thrones will expand again in August with a brand new prequel. This time, however, it won’t be a TV show. For the first time, the popular fantasy series is coming to the stage as a live play, titled Game of Thrones: The Mad King. Author George R.R. Martin is producing and helping to create the play.
I’m so excited for this new play! It’s all about the incredible tourney at Harrenhal – you know, the one that kicked off Robert’s Rebellion almost seventeen years before the events in Game of Thrones. It’s amazing to think we’ll finally see it brought to life on stage! The Royal Shakespeare Theatre is opening it on August 8, 2026, and they’ve promised appearances by so many of our favorite characters – Aerys, Rhaegar, Ned and Lyanna Stark, Tywin, Cersei, Jaime, Robert… it’s going to be epic! The show really talked about that tourney a lot, so it’s cool to see it finally explored in detail.
With the show’s opening night just around the corner, the Royal Shakespeare Company has announced the actors who will play the familiar characters from Game of Thrones in The Mad King. Here’s a look at who’s been cast:
- Michael Abubakar as Eddard “Ned” Stark
- Maxim Ays as Ser Jaime Lannister
- Islam Bouakkaz as Howland Reed
- Elizabeth Ayodele as Princess Elia Martell
- Miles Barrow as Benjen Stark
- Luke Brady as Brandon Stark
- Marty Breen as Catelyn Stark
- Sebastian Charles as Owen Merryweather
- Adrian Christopher as Prince Lewyn Martell
- Fred Davis as Qarlton Chelsted
- Edem-Ita Duke as Oberyn Martell
- Daisy Franks as Cersei Lannister
- Mariah Gale as Queen Rhaella Targaryen / Lady Shella Whent
- Richard Hansell as Grand Maester Pycelle
- Daniel Hawksford as Ser Barristan Selmy
- Tom Larkin as Lord Whent / Wisdom Rossart
- Kel Matsena as Ser Arthur Dayne
- Shaun Yusuf McKee as Ser Gerold Hightower
- Alexander Newland as Lord Rickard Stark
- Hughie O’Donnell as Lord Varys
- Huw Parmenter as Ser Oswell Whent
- Noah Ritter as Prince Rhaegar Targaryen
- Harmony Rose-Bremner as Lyanna Stark
- Michael Shaeffer as King Aerys II Targaryen
- Tanisha Spring as Ashara Dayne
- Marcello Walton as Lord Tywin Lannister / Ser Jonothor Darry
- Callum Woodhouse as Lord Robert Baratheon
This will be the first time many of these characters are portrayed by new actors in a significant production officially approved by George R.R. Martin, though some have appeared as younger versions in flashbacks. The prequel series will show us a young Jaime Lannister right before he joins the Kingsguard, and it will also explore the life of a young Robert Baratheon just as he’s about to start his rebellion against the Targaryen family.
The original cast of HBO’s Game of Thrones included Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister, Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister, Sean Bean as Ned Stark, Joseph Mawle as Benjen Stark, Charles Dance as Tywin Lannister, Mark Addy as Robert Baratheon, Ian McElhinney as Barristan Selmy, Conleth Hill as Lord Varys, Julian Glover as Maester Pycelle, Michelle Fairley as Catelyn Stark, and Pedro Pascal as Oberyn Martell.
The stage play Game of Thrones: The Mad King will be performed from August 8th to September 5th, and is adapted by Duncan Macmillan. After its debut this summer, Game of Thrones will return to HBO as a TV series in 2027 with season 2 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Season 4 of House of the Dragon will then air in 2028.
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2026-05-29 18:00