Sean Bean (The Lord of the Rings) has been cast as the lead in HBO’s adaptation of “A Game of Thrones” the first book in George R.R. Martin’s fantasy series “A Song of Ice and Fire”. The series consists of four books with three more in the works.

Tom McCarthy, The Station Agent, is directing the David Benioff and D.B. Weiss screenplay. The writers are also executive producing.

Nark Addy, Kit Harrington, Jack Gleeson and Harry Lloyd have also joined the cast.

In The Game of Thrones two ruling families vie for control of the Iron Throne that will give whoever possesses it survival of a forty year winter. The battle for the throne takes place among seven kingdoms. Bean will play the lead Lord Eddard “Ned” Stark . The character values honor and justice and is the adviser to King Robert, Mark Addy.

The bastard son of Bean is played by Kit Harrington while Harry Lloyd is cast as Viserys an impotent ruler who is trying to make a match between his sister and a powerful king.
Jack Gleeson plays Joffrey, King Robert’s son.

The pilot will shoot in Ireland this October.

Hey, fans of Martin’s epic fantasy series! How does the casting of Sean Bean strike you?