Amazon’s Lord Of The Rings TV series has signed Game Of Thrones star Joseph Mawle as its villain.
According to insiders at The Hollywood Reporter, the actor, who played Benjen Stark in the HBO fantasy for eight episodes, will be swapping Westeros for Middle-earth and is set to play an antihero named Oren.
Joseph’s Game Of Thrones character was last seen in season seven’s Beyond The Wall where he valiantly sacrificed himself to save his nephew Jon Snow (Kit Harington) before being killed off by the army of the dead.
His exciting casting announcement follows Years & Years star Maxim Baldry, who will be playing a ‘significant role’ according to Collider.
The Revenant actor Will Poulter has also bagged a lead part in the production too, with details of his character being firmly kept under wraps for now.
Former Lord Of The Rings actress Robyn Malcom, who played a Rohirrim woman in The Two Towers, has lobbied the series’ makers to introduce a female Gandalf (played in the original trilogy and Hobbit trilogy by Sir Ian McKellan).
Only time will tell whether the showrunners have listened…
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom director J.A. Bayona will helm the first two episodes of the series, with the scripts written by JD Payne and Patrick McKay.
‘JRR Tolkien created one of the most extraordinary and inspiring stories of all time, and as a lifelong fan it is an honour and a joy to join this amazing team,’ Bayona enthused.
‘I can’t wait to take audiences around the world to Middle-Earth and have them discover the wonders of the Second Age, with a never before seen story.’
It was recently confirmed filming will take place in New Zealand, the home of Peter Jackson’s original Lord Of The Rings trilogy and the subsequent Hobbit movies.
Metro.co.uk has approached Amazon and Joseph’s rep for comment.
Lord Of The Rings is expected to go into production in 2020.
Got a showbiz story?
If you’ve got a story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk Entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE: Amazon’s Lord Of The Rings series casts Years and Years star Maxim Baldry
MORE: Former Lord Of The Rings worker jailed for murdering parents in row over dog
