Recasting Game Of Thrones For 2026: All 10 Main Characters
Felipe Rangel is a Movie and TV Journalist ScreenRant. He has been writing about movies and TV since 2021. Felipe joined ScreenRant in 2022, working across different teams, covering everything from breaking news to features to reviews and more.
Felipe is a writer who is an avid film and TV fan, with superhero movies and series being his biggest passion. He graduated from college in 2019, having studied Journalism. Before college, he spent a month studying at the Oxford English Centre. His superhero knowledge expands to the comics, with his undergraduate thesis being "Politics Reflected In American Comics."
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Game of Thrones is one of the biggest TV shows of all time, and a lot of that comes down to the excellent work put in by the fantasy series' casting department, and these actors would be perfect if the show were to get a 2026 reboot. Game of Thrones had a daunting task. After all, it was based on A Song of Ice and Fire.
The George R. R. Martin series of fantasy novels was already popular with genre fans before the hit HBO series was released. As a result, the show had to cast stars that fit characters many fans had already fallen in love with, rather than create characters from thin air. Game of Thrones succeeded by mixing major stars with unknown actors at the time.
For instance, Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke, and others were not the globally known stars that they have since become after Game of Thrones' release. Then you had actors like Sean Bean, who previously starred in the biggest fantasy movie franchise of all time, The Lord of the Rings, to balance it out. Game of Thrones' casting was pitch-perfect.
The Citadel · Maester’s Examination How Well Do You Know Westeros? “When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die.”
🐺StarkWinter is Coming
🦁LannisterHear Me Roar
🐉TargaryenFire and Blood
🦌BaratheonOurs is the Fury
🐙GreyjoyWe Do Not Sow
01
The Lannisters are the wealthiest family in Westeros, ruling from their ancestral seat. What is the name of their castle?
✓ Correct! Casterly Rock sits atop gold mines in the Westerlands and has been the seat of House Lannister for centuries. The gold beneath it is the source of the family’s legendary wealth — though as Tywin once noted, the mines ran dry years ago.
✗ Dracarys! The answer is Casterly Rock. Highgarden belongs to the Tyrells, Storm’s End to the Baratheons, and The Eyrie to the Arryns. Casterly Rock has been the Lannister stronghold since Lann the Clever swindled it from House Casterly.
02
Jon Snow rises through the ranks of the Night’s Watch to eventually hold what title — the highest position in the order?
✓ Correct! Jon Snow was elected the 998th Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch by his sworn brothers. He was one of the youngest men to ever hold the title, following in the footsteps of legends like Jeor Mormont.
✗ Dracarys! The answer is Lord Commander. While Jon started as a steward, he was elected Lord Commander after the death of Jeor Mormont. Warden of the North is a different title entirely — one held by the Stark family.
03
Daenerys Targaryen hatches three dragons from petrified eggs. Which of the following is NOT one of her dragons?
✓ Correct! Balerion “the Black Dread” was Aegon the Conqueror’s dragon, who died of old age over a century before the events of the show. Daenerys’ three dragons are Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion — named after Khal Drogo, Rhaegar, and Viserys.
✗ Dracarys! The answer is Balerion. Daenerys’ three dragons are Drogon (black and red), Rhaegal (green and bronze), and Viserion (cream and gold). Balerion the Black Dread was Aegon the Conqueror’s mount, dead long before Daenerys was born.
04
The Red Wedding is one of the most shocking moments in TV history. At whose castle does this massacre take place?
✓ Correct! The Red Wedding took place at The Twins, the castle of House Frey. Lord Walder Frey violated the sacred guest right by slaughtering Robb Stark, Catelyn Stark, and their bannermen during the wedding feast of Edmure Tully and Roslin Frey.
✗ Dracarys! The answer is The Twins. Walder Frey’s castle — two towers spanning the Green Fork — was where he broke sacred guest right to massacre the Starks. “The Lannisters send their regards” remains one of the show’s most chilling lines.
05
Jon Snow wields a Valyrian steel bastard sword given to him by Lord Commander Jeor Mormont. What is the sword’s name?
✓ Correct! Longclaw is a Valyrian steel bastard sword that was the ancestral weapon of House Mormont. Jeor gave it to Jon after he saved the Lord Commander from a wight, replacing the bear pommel with a white wolf for House Stark.
✗ Dracarys! The answer is Longclaw. Ice was the Stark greatsword (melted down by Tywin Lannister), Heartsbane belonged to House Tarly, and Oathkeeper was one of the two swords forged from Ice. Longclaw is the Mormont blade Jon carries throughout the series.
06
Tyrion Lannister serves as Hand of the King to which ruler, expertly managing the defense of King’s Landing during the Battle of the Blackwater?
✓ Correct! Tywin sent Tyrion to serve as Hand in his place during Joffrey’s reign. Tyrion brilliantly orchestrated the defense against Stannis Baratheon’s fleet using wildfire, though he received no credit and was nearly killed in the battle.
✗ Dracarys! The answer is Joffrey Baratheon. Tyrion served as Joffrey’s Hand of the King in Season 2, appointed by his father Tywin. He later served as Hand to Daenerys, but it was under Joffrey that the Battle of the Blackwater took place.
07
Jon Snow’s true parentage is one of the show’s biggest reveals. What is his real Targaryen name, given by his mother Lyanna Stark?
✓ Correct! Lyanna Stark named her son Aegon Targaryen. He is the legitimate son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna, who were secretly married. This made Jon the true heir to the Iron Throne — a fact that changed the course of the final season.
✗ Dracarys! The answer is Aegon Targaryen. Lyanna whispered the name to Ned Stark in the Tower of Joy. Jon is the son of Rhaegar Targaryen (not named after him), making him Aegon — a name carried by many Targaryen kings, including the Conqueror himself.
08
In the series finale, who is chosen by the lords and ladies of Westeros to rule the Six Kingdoms as king?
✓ Correct! Bran Stark — now Bran the Broken — was chosen as king of the Six Kingdoms at the Dragonpit council. Tyrion argued that Bran’s story was the most compelling reason to rule. Sansa became Queen in the North, and Jon was sent back to the Wall.
✗ Dracarys! The answer is Bran Stark. Tyrion nominated Bran at the great council, arguing “who has a better story than Bran the Broken?” Sansa was crowned Queen in the independent North, Jon returned to the Wall, and Tyrion served as Bran’s Hand of the King.
The Citadel · Results Sealed Your Westeros Record
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Did you claim the Iron Throne — or lose your head?
That said, Game of Thrones season 8 was far from ideal, and fans of the HBO series have been asking for years for a remake of the final season. Well, in the age of reboots, if HBO were to start fresh with Game of Thrones in 2026, perhaps making it closer to the books, then these are the perfect actors for many of the fantasy series' key roles, leaving out most of the younger Starks and such, as those roles are better left for unknown actors, like in the original series.
10 Ned Stark - Andrew Lincoln
Ned Stark is the most crucial role to cast for a Game of Thrones reboot, as he is the main character viewers follow at the start of the story. Sean Bean brought a gravitas to Ned that perfectly suited the character, making him feel like a man who would put honor and doing what was right above everything else. Well, The Walking Dead's Rick Grimes actor, Andrew Lincoln, has the same gravitas to him, able to go to more intense ends if needed. He has experience leading a global fan-favorite and playing a compassionate and honorable leader.
9 Catelyn Stark - Carrie Coon
By Lincoln's side as Ned Stark's wife, and a much bigger character than HBO's Game of Thrones made her seem, would be Carrie Coon as Catelyn Stark. Coon has shown in projects like HBO's The White Lotus and The Leftovers that she has the necessary dramatic skills for Catelyn. Not only should the character have the complexity that is needed for someone who wrestles with Ned having a bastard against his honorable reputation, but a Game of Thrones reboot could adapt Catelyn's resurrection as Lady Stoneheart, which the show did not use. Coon has the grit for that part.
8 Cersei Lannister - Vanessa Kirby
Cersei Lannister was one of the characters that defined Game of Thrones, anchored by Lena Headey's magnetic performance. She was a villain that fought fiercely to get everything she wanted and became a character many fans loved to hate. The Fantastic Four: First Steps' Vanessa Kirby has shown that she would be a great option for Cersei in projects like Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible franchise, Netflix's The Crown, Pieces of a Woman, and more. Kirby has a regal air to her, and can play characters who can be cold, defy norms, and have a sharp wit to them.
7 Jaime Lannister - Dan Stevens
Joining her as Jaime Lannister would be Dan Stevens, who is an incredibly underrated actor. Stevens' work in the Marvel series Legion, which explored the psyche of his character, David Haller, for three seasons, was magnetic. It was in that nuanced, character-focused story that Stevens showcased that he has what it takes for Jaime's big life change in Game of Thrones, able to explore the character's insecurities after losing a hand and how his morals shift. Additionally, the Monsterverse franchise shows that Stevens has what it takes for the showboating and cocky attitude Jaime is known for in his prime.
6 Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish - David Tennant
David Tennant just has the necessary energy to make Littlefinger the most cunning political player of Westeros. Tennant has shown in projects like Marvel's Jessica Jones series, where he played the mind-controlling villain Killgrave, that he can easily portray a manipulator to Sansa Stark and anyone else who he deems might be of use to him in Game of Thrones. Tennant can also quickly flip between charismatic and dark for Petyr Baelish whenever is needed.
5 Jorah Mormont - Joel Edgerton
Jorah is the man charged with protecting Daenerys Targaryen until the end of his days, coming with a grit and presence that someone like Dark Matter's Joel Edgerton could portray well. In that Apple TV sci-fi series, Edgerton plays several multiverse variants of his character, Jason Dessen. Through that, the actor showcases that he would be perfect to explore the ghosts in Jorah Mormont's past, his regret, his bond with Daenerys, and more. Edgerton could also play the more despicable version of Jorah from the books well, as shown by The Green Knight and other projects.
4 Robert Baratheon - Stephen Graham
Robert Baratheon is a character with a lot of history in the Game of Thrones world, but not that much screen time before he dies in the show. To play him for a possible HBO reboot, Adolescence's Stephen Graham, who is in the business of sequels/remakes/reboots through Heat 2, is the perfect choice. He can play the role of the grizzled, gritty, veteran king well, making Robert less of a caricature, which many see the character in Game of Thrones as, and more of a complex player who is past his prime and dealing with regret and grief.
3 Robb Stark - Jonah Hauer-King
Robb Stark is a key role for a Game of Thrones reboot, as his tragic death marked a turning point for the series. Jonah Hauer-King, the actor most known for having played Prince Eric in Disney's live-action The Little Mermaid movie, has the necessary charm and regal quality to him that made Robb Stark seem like the perfect replacement for Ned among the Starks and also the next King before Walder Frey betrayed him. Hauer-King also has vast experience in historical dramas, which would translate well to a gritty fantasy series like Game of Thrones.
2 Daenerys Targaryen - Emily Alyn Lind
Emily Alyn Lind is a star in the making, having led Prime Video's We Were Liars and played a key role in the HBO Max Gossip Girl reboot. The actress would be able to play the two different sides of Daenerys Targaryen. Lind has the charm to play Dany's initial vulnerability well and make viewers empathize with the character. That said, the star has shown the dramatic range to properly build up the character in her pursuit to become the new Queen. Lind has the needed experience with complex characters.
1 Jon Snow - Corey Mylchreest
Finally, Corey Mylchreest is another actor who has been part of hit projects but is not yet a massive name, which would work well for Jon Snow at the start of a new Game of Thrones series. In the Bridgerton spin-off Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, Mylchreest made the tragic George III a charming but closed-off character that the audience could not help but fall in love with. That makes him perfect for Jon Snow. That quiet suffering was crucial to Mylchreest's character and Kit Harington's Jon Snow, which is why he is perfect as the final name for the Game of Thrones list.
- Release Date
- 2011 - 2019-00-00
- Showrunner
- David Benioff, D.B. Weiss
- Directors
- David Nutter, Alan Taylor, D.B. Weiss, David Benioff
- Writers
- D.B. Weiss, George R.R. Martin, David Benioff
- Franchise(s)
- Game of Thrones
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