So many things are flying around about season 6 Jimmy Fallon may as well turn it into a game show, “This Week in Game of Thrones Rumors!”
Let’s start with the newest speculation: George R.R. Martin has confirmed via his blog that there is no Game of Thrones movie in the works. The rumor surfaced after some offhanded comments from Martin that if a movie were being made he would not be a part of it. In today’s response he delightfully scolds the inquiry while setting the record straight, as his blog is a strict zone where he refuses to discuss the TV show.
Next: Is Jon Snow really dead? Rumors spurred by comments and actor sightings are popping up weekly but we bet that Thrones is doing everything they can to hold that card close to their vest until the season premieres. As fan I say no, he’s not dead, since I love R+L=J and want to see a Snow/Targaryan ruling court. As a writer I have to say yes, since there is zero real evidence Kit Harrington is coming back. I also think George R.R. Martin is just sick enough to screw with all of us by changing the ending he originally planned for his series out of spite.
However, this logic is really good:
Now, what is confirmed news is that Robert Aramayo has been booked for season 6 in an unannounced role. Deadline reported on the signing, noting that while the actor is a recent Juliard graduate he’s already scoring big roles. In 2015 he’ll be seen in the film The Tourist with Emily Atack and Stana Katick (Castle), as well as HBO’s miniseries Lewis and Clark. In addition to Game of Thrones he’s also landed a role in the upcoming film Nocturnal Animals, with Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Vanity Fair, in a great primer to help with “keeping track of all the white bearded guys on Game of Thrones next year,” pointed out that Aramayo bears an uncanny resemblance to Thomas Brodie-Sangster’s character Jojen Reed, so he may be playing Jojen’s father Howland. (Sangster departed the show after his character’s death last season and is currently appearing in The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials.)
Howland’s introduction in season 6 fits with fan reports of filming taking place on a scene set at the Tower of Joy, the site of a pivotal battle which included Howland, a young Ned Stark, and several others. The Tower is where Ned found his sister Lyanna, dying and under guard, and she roped him into a promise that may-or-may-not have included Jon Snow who may-or-may-not be dead, and who may-or-may-not be the real heir to the Iron Throne.
Fan site Los Siete Reinos – the seven kingdoms in Spanish – recorded distant footage of a fighting sequence at Spain’s Castillo de Zafra, the Tower of Joy location, which they say includes Arthur Dayne, one of the defenders of the tower. They’re speculating, since no casting news has been announced for Dayne, but the casting sheets for season 6 do include a role referred to as “Legendary Fighter” which fans assume means Dayne based on his description in the books. Some rumors (again, the rumors!) point to Reign’s Luke Roberts picking up Dayne’s sword. Fans have also been clamoring to find out who will play the young Ned Stark, with many hoping for Sean Bean in makeup, but the production is closely guarding that secret.
Based on the show’s trajectory it is assumed that this epic and important scene will be featured in flashback, probably involving Bran Stark’s developing skills with greensight. Isaac Hempstead-Wright, who plays Bran, has reportedly been sighted near the castle location though if he’s having his visions years in the future in another location we’re not sure why he’d need to be at the Tower of Joy for filming. After sitting out season 5 Bran is confirmed to return in season 6, along with Kristian Nairn’s Hodor, and Ellie Kendrick’s Meera Reed.