10 Actors Who Jumped Between Major Fantasy Franchises
Fantasy is a genre that an actor can easily be pigeonholed into. Once a performer plays a well-known character in an enormous franchise, it's difficult to shake off this association. However, plenty of actors have managed to tackle more than one fantasy universe and do so with ease. Many of the best fantasy shows are based on books, allowing them to blossom into franchises thanks to the rich source material they draw their stories from.
The best fantasy TV and movie franchises are widely consumed by audiences and critics. Unsurprisingly, many of the actors have been in one particular fantasy franchise: Game of Thrones. The long-running and enormously popular fantasy series, often described as the best of the modern era, has employed practically every actor who's forayed into speculative fiction. However, it's a testament to the actors who have been able to make their mark in such recognizable projects and still manage to disappear into new roles.
Kit Harington
Game of Thrones and Harry Potter
It seems that Kit Harington can't stay away from HBO fantasy TV shows. The actor who rose to prominence thanks to his role as Jon Snow in Game of Thrones also joined the cast of the Harry Potter TV series. All these years later, it's impossible to imagine anyone but Harington playing the idealistic and complicated Jon, who was one of the show's main protagonists. However, now that Harington is older, new roles have opened up for him.
HBO's Harry Potter TV show will feature Harington as Gilderoy Lockhart in season 2 of the series. Though season 1 has yet to premiere, with its release confirmed for December 25th, 2026, preparation and production have already begun on the second installment. This might seem like a risk for HBO, but there's little doubt that the new Harry Potter show is going to be one of the streamer's biggest hits in the coming years.
Jim Broadbent
Game of Thrones and Harry Potter
When Professor Slughorn is introduced in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, it's Jim Broadbent's performance that immediately makes the character unforgettable. Years later, his time in the massive fantasy film franchise paid off, as Broadbent was brought into the world of Game of Thrones to play Archmaester Ebrose. A later addition, joining the cast in season 7, Ebrose is a maester of the Citadel whom Samwell Tarly meets.
The relationship between Sam and Ebrose is a highlight of season 7, and a relief after the harsh treatment that Sam faced for so many seasons. Ebrose is a very different man from Slughorn, as he's a genuine healer and teacher who wants his students to learn and cares less about fame and power than many of the other maesters in Game of Thrones.
Sean Bean
Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings
Honorable to a fault and a tragic figure until his end, Eddard "Ned" Stark and his character arc set the tone for the entire series and kick off a chain of events that can never be undone in Game of Thrones. Sean Bean's performance as Ned isn't the only reason that audiences wish his shocking death hadn't happened at the end of season 1. However, Bean's portrayal of Ned radiates goodness and determination to do what's right, which is a sharp contrast to the other characters in the show.
Before taking on the pivotal role of Ned, Bean was synonymous with an even more iconic fantasy franchise, The Lord of the Rings. His character, Boromir, attempts to be as honorable as Ned, but falls short throughout The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, not because he's bad, but because he's human. It's Boromir's final act that redeems him and sets the stage for Bean's later work as Ned in Game of Thrones.
David Bradley
Game of Thrones and Harry Potter
Argus Filch is a less-than-flattering character for any actor to portray, but it's clear in every installment of Harry Potter that includes David Bradley that the actor is having fun with the role. Leaning into the curmudgeonly ways of the Hogwarts caretaker, Bradley gives texture and depth to the magical school. However, in Game of Thrones, Bradley isn't just a nuisance, but one of the most notorious villains in the series: Walder Frey.
Any fan of Game of Thrones knows the pain caused by Walder Frey at the Red Wedding, one of the most brutal slaughters of the entire series. Bradley lives up to the challenge of making Walder as cruel and irredeemable as possible leading up to the horrible twist of the Red Wedding. On a lighter note, Doctor Who, known for its science fantasy adventures, has also tapped Bradley to portray the First Doctor in special episodes like "The Power of the Doctor."
Peter Dinklage
Game of Thrones and The Hunger Games
Peter Dinklage gives one of the best performances in Game of Thrones, anchoring the series as Tyrion Lannister. Tyrion is one of the few characters in the books and show who sees the story's world frankly for what it is, and is wise enough to learn from his mistakes and grow within the narrative, eventually taking his place by Daenerys' side in the final seasons. While it can be painful to watch everything Tyrion goes through in the series, Dinklage is breathtaking in the role, stealing every scene he's in.
The same is true in The Hunger Games: A Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, the prequel film that sees Dinklage step into the role of Casca Highbottom. The Hunger Games walks the line between sci-fi, fantasy, and dystopia, creating a unique blend of genres and a singular fictional world that Dinklage was able to make an impact on. Dinklage fans will also remember that he worked in a third fantasy franchise, The Chronicles of Narnia, in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian as Trumpkin.
Ciarán Hinds
Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Image courtesy of MovieStillsDb
Game of Thrones has been compared to The Lord of the Rings many times over since A Song of Ice and Fire began in 1996. While it's easy to say that Game of Thrones is the modern Lord of the Rings, it isn't fair to either franchise to say that they're the same because they both belong to the high fantasy genre. However, it makes sense that Ciarán Hinds would be cast in both Game of Thrones and the recent Lord of the Rings prequel series, The Rings of Power.
In Game of Thrones, Hinds plays Mance Rayder, the leader of the Free Folk beyond the Wall, one of the most interesting characters in the series. In The Rings of Power, Hinds portrays the Dark Wizard, a new villain who was introduced in season 2. With The Rings of Power season 3 fast approaching, it will be interesting to see where Hinds' character is heading and how his legacy will stack up against the prominence of Mance Rayder in Game of Thrones.
Natalia Tena
Game of Thrones and Harry Potter
Something about Natalia Tena makes her frequently cast in roles that are a little off-beat in the fantasy realm. Her role as Nymphadora Tonks in Harry Potter heralds a new era in the film series, marking the transition into young adulthood and a more serious tone. As part of the Order of the Phoenix, Tonks opens Harry's eyes to what his life could look like after he leaves school, and Tonks is one of the warmest characters to join the franchise in the later years.
In Game of Thrones, Tena's Osha takes on a larger role in the TV series than in the books, helping Bran and Rickon after they have to escape Winterfell. Thanks to the writers' interpretation and Tena's compelling take on the character, Osha grew into a character who represented some of the most interesting magical mysteries in the show. She's a darker, more tortured character than Tonks, as the Game of Thrones universe is more sinister and grueling, but this gives Tena more opportunity to shine as a performer.
Freddie Stroma
Peacemaker and Harry Potter
Today, fans might be more likely to recognize Freddie Stroma for his work in Peacemaker, the fantasy superhero action series starring John Cena. As Adrian Chase AKA Vigilante, Stroma gets to flex his comedic chops and has quickly become a fan favorite character. His chemistry with Cena makes for some of the most fun moments on the series. Though Peacemaker is more action-oriented than anything, it's still part of the extended fantasy genre.
Stroma is only in the final three Harry Potter movies as Cormac McLaggen, Ron's rival for Hermione's affections. However, he makes quite an impact as the delightfully slimy McLaggen, who becomes a nostalgic addition to the final movies. He also made a brief appearance in Game of Thrones as Dickon Tarly before being replaced by Tom Hopper, but it's his contributions to Peacemaker and Harry Potter that are most memorable.
Julian Glover
Game of Thrones and Indiana Jones
The legacy of Julian Glover's contribution to the fantasy genre will continue to inspire new series and films as the years progress. In 1989, Glover played Walter Donovan in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, the third movie in the beloved fantasy adventure series starring Harrison Ford. Donovan is a compelling villain, driven to horrible acts and betrayals fueled by a desire to achieve immortality. He's an excellent foil to Ford's Indy, who actually succeeds in finding the Holy Grail.
As Grand Maester Pycelle in Game of Thrones, audiences got to see a new side of Glover. There were plenty of veteran actors who lent their talents to Game of Thrones over the years, but Glover was one of the best. Pycelle is a prominent character in both the books and TV show. Like the rest of the people in power in King's Landing, Pycelle is willing to do whatever it takes to maintain his position and keep his desired ruler on the Iron Throne, making him not too different from Donovan.
Michelle Fairley
Game of Thrones and Harry Potter
As Catelyn Stark in Game of Thrones, Michelle Fairley made her mark on the fantasy sphere. Though Fairley had been working for many years prior to being cast in Game of Thrones, it was the HBO series that catapulted her to fame. However, Jennifer Ehle originally played Catelyn in the unaired pilot of Game of Thrones and was replaced by Fairley. It's hard to imagine how different the Stark family would be without Fairley's version of Catelyn.
Fairley is featured only briefly in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One as Hermione's mother, Mrs. Granger, but it's an important role, and she elevates an emotional moment in the film series. Though it's not quite fantasy, Fairley also appears in the recent magical realism mystery series, How to Heaven from Belfast, from the creator of Derry Girls, Lisa McGee. Fairley will always be recognizable as Catelyn, but it's impressive how easily she's been able to disappear into other fantastical worlds.
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