As filming approaches for the eighth and final season, and the cast convenes in Belfast for the read-through and rehearsals, we keep hearing about the extreme levels of security the Game of Thrones production is willing to go to in order to avoid leaks. And these measures may go even further than we thought: the company in charge of security for the production may go as far as using birds of prey to take down snooping drones.
Belfast Live reports on the new concerns drones have brought to security companies, such as the one in charge of protecting Paint Hall Studios, the show’s headquarters in Belfast. Drones have become cheaper and better at such a rate that now almost anyone could, for example, fly by the Game of Thrones studios and take some revealing photos. That’s why drones have been prohibited from flying over the Paint Hall since 2015 … but, as one may expect, threatening signs have proven to be insufficient.
Photo: Belfast Live
According to Noah Price, who is in charge of solving these challenges at one such company, G4S UK, they “are trying to keep up with the technology just like everyone else” — but the solution isn’t always to match the drone pilots technologically. Reportedly, eagles specifically trained to take down drones are now being seriously considered as a way to thwart Game of Thrones fans trying to spy on filming.
Apparently, Dutch and Turkish police are already testing these anti-drone eagles, so they are not a Game of Thrones innovation, as appropriate as that would be. Eagles are not dragons, and The Lord of the Rings isn’t Game of Thrones, but it’s still pretty close!
The season eight read-through has taken all the cast to Belfast, where many of them have been sighted — though, curiously, it appears that selfies are not allowed this time. Nevertheless, there are reports and a few photos as well, with Kit Harington, Emilia Clarke, John Bradley, Nikolaj Coster Waldau, Maisie Williams, Sophie Turner, Kristofer Hivju, Iain Glen, Isaac Hempstead Wright, Jacob Anderson, Ben Crompton (Edd is back!) and, next to Nikolaj, someone who looks very much like Pilou Asbæk:
On a flight to Belfast and half the Game of Thrones cast gets on board…should I be worried?
— Giles Smith (@Big_Gilo) October 8, 2017
Just walked past Samwell Tarly at Belfast city airport … this can only mean one thing! Eeeeek! @GameOfThrones #season8 #got #GameOfThrones
— Aidan (@aidaninwapping) October 8, 2017
ME AND JESS JUST WALKED PAST EMILIA CLARKE KIT HARRINGTON AND JOHN BRADLEY
— 🌙🍂✨🦇 (@crvptkeeper) October 9, 2017
Samwell Tarley & Daenarys Targaryen in Belfast today, thankfully no dragons @GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/8vAFGKJC4J
— Colin Reid (@gcolinreid7) October 9, 2017
Met @Maisie_Williams and @SophieT today 😁
— Ethan Hurl (@EthanTHFC) October 8, 2017
yea wouldnt take a selfie with me though maisie said they wernt allowed 🙁 pic.twitter.com/1qFmQ4vWuA
— Ethan Hurl (@EthanTHFC) October 8, 2017
Scotland blew it.
On the plus side I ran into Iain Glen and Kristofer Hivju in the Titanic quarter today.
Must have been filming #GoT
— Alan Smithee (@Anguscurran) October 8, 2017
Only the one my daughter took from the car.
They smiled and waived back – I was driving. pic.twitter.com/3qPMXOLA5P
— Alan Smithee (@Anguscurran) October 8, 2017
These were taken yesterday in Belfast. Hi, Kristofer. via https://t.co/qyb3h8Vkkf pic.twitter.com/RFyhKeP09c
— dragon’s daughter (@yeahclarke) October 9, 2017
