The political games played among English royals on The Crown aren’t as intense as the ones played by the Lords of Westeros, but there’s still common ground.
Game of Thrones is a show about people fighting and grasping to sit on the throne, and then doing whatever they can to defend it once they get it. Over on Netflix, The Crown is kind of about the same thing, only way more polite.
The Crown explores the latter days of Great Britain’s royal family, and it’s an indisputable hit. Over the years, there’s been more than a couple Game of Thrones stars who have crossed over to appear in this kinder, gentler royal yarn. We thought we’d go over all of them, including one yet to come.
Stephen Dillane: Stannis Baratheon on Game of Thrones, Graham Sutherland on The Crown
On Game of Thrones, Stephen Dillane played the hard-nosed Stannis Baratheon, a king who was always chasing a crown he was never quite able to wear. On The Crown, he played the much gentler painter Graham Sutherland, who had the difficult task of creating a portrait of Winston Churchill. That was a tough job, but definitely easier than convincing Westeros you should be king when almost no one likes you.
As different as the characters were, Dillane played both with his trademark stoicism. You get the idea that Stannis and Sutherland might have gotten along, which is to say they’d be comfortable sitting in a room together and not talking.
Gemma Whelan: Yara Greyjoy on Game of Thrones, Patricia Campbell on The Crown
On Game of Thrones, Yara Greyjoy is a force to be reckoned with. A warrior of the Iron Islands, she fights until she rules the place at the end of the series, dealing with difficult fathers, treacherous uncles, imprisonment and battle on the high seas along the way.
She’s a little more buttoned down as journalist’s assistant Patricia Campbell on The Crown, although she’s still involved in an attack on the queen for giving a tone-deaf speech.
Tobias Menzies: Edmure Tully on Game of Thrones, middle-aged Prince Phillip on The Crown
Edmure Tully is one of the more hapless royals on Game of Thrones. His marriage to one of Walder Frey’s daughters was a trap that led to the infamous Red Wedding, and when he later tried to talk himself up as a candidate for Lord of the Seven Kingdoms in the series finale, he was politely shut down.
On The Crown, Prince Phillip is a little more assertive, but also continually frustrated by playing second fiddle to his wife, Queen Elizabeth II.
Charles Dance: Tywin Lannister on Game of Thrones, Lord Mountbatten on The Crown
Charles Dance, on the other hand, is a boss no matter who he plays. Tywin Lannister was the hardest of hard-asses on Game of Thrones, a political mastermind who made all the right moves except being nice to his children, one of whom killed him. Meanwhile, on The Crown, Lord Mountbatten conspires with the Queen to torpedo Prince Charles’ changes at teen romance, and seemingly tries to mount a conspiracy to overthrow the British government.
Rupert Vansittart: Bronze Yohn Royce on Game of Thrones, Cecil King on The Crown
Bronze Yohn Royce is a noble lord of the Vale, and eventually becomes a staunch ally of the Starks, particularly Sansa Stark.
On The Crown, journalist Cecil King isn’t as dependable. He’s involved in Lord Mountbatten attempted coup. It’s the closest we’ll ever come to Tywin and Yohn Royce teaming up.
WINDSOR, UNITED KINGDOM – JULY 22: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (wearing the regimental tie of The Rifles) attends a ceremony to mark the transfer of the Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles from him to Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall at Windsor Castle on July 22, 2020 in Windsor, England. The Duke of Edinburgh has been Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles since its formation in 2007 and has served as Colonel-in-Chief of successive Regiments which now make up The Rifles since 1953. The Duchess of Cornwall was appointed Royal Colonel of 4th Battalion The Rifles in 2007. (Photo by Pool/Max Mumby/Getty Images) — Image: Game of Thrones/HBO
Jonathan Pryce: The High Sparrow on Game of Thrones, Old Prince Phillip on The Crown
Finally, we’ve recently learned that Jonathan Sparrow, who played the clever religious leader the High Sparrow on Game of Thrones, will be playing Prince Phillip once Tobias Menzies vacates the role. The Crown rotates in a new cast every new season as the characters age. Pryce will be part of the final set.
Look out for the fourth season of The Crown to land on Netflix sometime later this year. Game of Thrones, on the other hand, is over, but HBO has something else up its sleeve:
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