This file image released by HBO shows Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister in an episode of “Game of Thrones.”
Game of Thrones star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau was so amused by a fan petition demanding a redo of the controversial series finale, he “almost wanted to donate” to the cause.
The Danish actor is famed for his role as Jaime Lannister on the cult fantasy drama, and his character was killed off in the penultimate episode of the eighth and final season, when Jaime and his twin sister and lover, Cersei, were crushed to death as King’s Landing was destroyed.
Many fans were disappointed with the way their characters’ dramatic storylines had ended, while viewers were left even more dissatisfied with the last-ever episode, prompting die-hard devotees to launch an online campaign, urging creators D.B. Weiss and David Benioff to overhaul the finale and reshoot the episodes.
Coster-Waldau previously defended the manner of the Lannisters’ demise, and in a new interview with Variety, he admits that although he didn’t pay much attention to the fan uproar, he was intrigued by how producers at U.S. network HBO would have responded, had they given in to the public pressure.
“I didn’t follow it (backlash) at all. Obviously, I heard about it,” he said. “I was aware of the petition for a new ending, which I thought was hilarious. I almost wanted to donate to that petition (to hear) HBO saying, ‘You’re right, so many people want it, we’re going to do it.’”
However, the star believes those upset by the way Game of Thrones ended last year were really just struggling to come to terms with not having any more episodes of the long-running show to tune into.
“I find the world of fandom really interesting,” Coster-Waldau continued. “Everyone wanted something specific and different from what they got. It’s a combination of – you imagine an ending; but also, I think if you’re a hardcore fan, it was really upsetting that it ended. You lived with this for eight seasons. There is still a massive community dedicated to Game of Thrones. I think there was a real fear that was going to go away. It had to end.”
