A few days ago, Game of Thrones announced the Blu-ray and DVD sets for Season 3, which is usually a good indicator that casting for the new season is about to begin. Fans didn’t have to wait very long. On Friday, it was announced that Chilean Actor Pedro Pascal will be joining Game of Thrones in Season 4, playing none other than Oberyn Martell, otherwise known as “The Red Viper.”
Having read the A Song of Ice and Fire Series, I could get into the nitty gritty details of Oberyn’s character. However, many people who love HBO’s epic television series haven’t yet gorged themselves on George R. R. Martin’s novels. If you want a refresher on the character, you can catch that here. Otherwise, all you really need to know is that Pascal is a prince of Dorne, which is a kingdom at the southernmost tip of Westeros. The character is a wolf in sheep’s clothing type, and is well-liked by all but his enemies. He also hates the Lannister clan due to the oft-mentioned war waged against King Aerys, who ruled the Iron Throne before Robert Baratheon.
EW first reported the news and spoke with creators David Benioff and Dan Weiss to discuss a little more about the character. Additionally, it seems like The Red Viper may have been a tough role to cast.
“The Red Viper is sexy and charming, yet believably dangerous; intensely likable, yet driven by hate. The boys love him, the girls love him, and he loves them all back. Unless your last name is Lannister. We found a fellow who can handle the job description and make it seem effortless. He wasn’t easy to find and he won’t be easy to stop.”
Pascal has had plenty of experience on television, having taken on roles in The Good Wife, Red Widow, and USA’s recent drama Graceland, where he plays the control officer of rookie FBI agent Mike. Playing Martell should allow the actor to flex his acting muscles and really get into the mindset of a different sort of character living in a fantasy world. However, his addition to the cast is also good news for fans of the series, as well, and not just because it means casting is underway for Season 4. It also means we’ll finally be introduced to some of the history and mindsets of the Dornish, and I can’t wait to see where HBO takes those plotlines.
Currently, that’s the only casting news that has wafted our way, but we should be hearing more about GOT in the coming weeks, since San Diego Comic Con is coming up. Although Game of Thrones has yet to announce a panel, if last year is any indication, there’s a good chance the show will set something up and announce some more casting news around that time.
