Sean Bean plays HBO's 'Game of Thrones'

'Lord of the Rings' star joins Peter Dinklage in HBO's George R.R. Martin adaptation

By HitFix Staff Monday, Jul 20, 2009 12:15 PM

Sean Bean

Credit: Luigi Costantini/AP

"Lord of the Rings" star Sean Bean is one of several new stars to join the cast of HBO's "Game of Thrones."

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Mark Addy, Kit Harrington, Jack Gleeson and Harry Lloyd are also expected to join the adaptation of George R.R. Martin's beloved fantasy series.

"Game of Thrones" is the first book in Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series and explaining the plot here would take more space than we're allowed. It involves the conflict between several ruling families in the Seven Kingdoms, all trying to control the Iron Throne.

Addy ("The Full Monty") will play King Robert, with Bean as Ned Stark, the king's close advisor.

The trade paper says that Harrington will play Jon, Ned's son, Gleeson will play the King's son Robert, and Lloyd will play Viserys, a bitter former heir to royalty.

Peter Dinklage was previously cast in the pilot as Tyrion Lannister, a sarcastic dwarf.

Tom McCarthy ("The Visitor") is directing the pilot, which was adapted by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.

Bean's most recent TV project was NBC's "Crusoe." He's best known as Boromir from the "Lord of the Rings" films, or from movies including "Flight Plan," "GoldenEye" and "Patriot Games."