Looks like we will be seeing more of the originalGame of Thrones castas children in the upcoming season. Last year onGame of Thronesmarked the first time that the show’s producers used a flashback scene, at the very beginning of theSeason 5premiere,“The Wars to Come”, featuring a young Cersei Lannister. It seems that fans are in store for even more flashbacks inSeason 6, withWatchers on the Wallreporting that the hit HBO series has cast 13-year-old British actorSebastian Croftas a young Ned Stark. We haven’t seen Ned Stark (Sean Bean) onGame of Thronessince the ninth episode ofSeason 1, when young King Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) ordered his death by beheading.
Back in May, acasting breakdownsurfaced revealing that theGame of Thrones castfor Season 6 will include three young boys. One of the roles called for the actor to specifically have green eyes, and it was also mentioned that the character speaks with an Northern accent. Many fans speculated that this character would be a young Ned Stark, sinceSean Beanalso has green eyes. That casting breakdown noted that the boy was to be 7 years of age, but if this report is true that 13-year-oldSebastian Crofthas been cast, then it seems that the show decided to go a bit older for this role.
The initial casting report also noted that this young green-eyed boy would be sparring with one of the other boys mentioned in this breakdown. It isn’t known who that character may be at this time, and we also don’t know when this flashback scene may take place inGame of Thrones Season 6. We also don’t know if this flashback will have anything to do withBran Stark(Isaac Hempstead-Wright) and his training with theThree-Eyed Raven(Max von Sydow).
Once Bran found the Weirwood Tree at the end ofSeason 4, he began his training to hone what is known as Greensight, where he can see the past, present and future through powerful visions. It’s possible that this flashback of a young Ned Stark could help propel Bran Stark’s story forward, but we don’t know for sure at this point.Watchers on the Wallalso reports thatFergus Leathemhas signed on for an undisclosed role on the series.
If this news is confirmed, then 13-year-oldSebastian Croftwill be making his TV acting debut onGame of Thrones. The actor is quite accomplished in London’s theater scene, though, starring in London West End productions ofMatildaandLes Miserables. He played young Martius inCoriolanusat the Donmar Warehouse and starred as the title character in a UK national tour ofOliver!He also played the title role in the new musical version of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾ at the Leicester Curve. What do you think of a young Ned Stark coming back toGame of Thrones?
