HBO confirmed “Game of Thrones” will premiere next spring.
One executive said that he thought it will premiere March 3rd, though another corrected him and just said “spring.”
“It’s a genre we’ve approached somewhat cautiously,” said Michael Lombardo, HBO’s programming president. “We have two writers … who are so smart and so talented. Neither of us are particularly fans of the genre. It was such enormously compelling reading. It wasn’t the genre we responded to it was the storytelling.”
“It’s really about power,” added Richard Plepler, co-president. “And that’s a theme which has resonated throughout history. You’ll forget where you are very quickly and will find yourself immersed in the storytelling.”
Both executives noted that the show’s intense online fandom is helpful for growing an audience … yet also adds pressure.
“It’s a ravenous audience,” Lombardo said. “You have to get it right. Those fans are waiting. They’ve set a bar that, if you do it, you have to do it right.

Source: THR

It’s not often that you find the country’s leading literati sipping Polynesian cocktails in Mayfair nightclubs, but last Wednesday, when Esquire threw a party to celebrate the launch of our editor at large, Andrew O’Hagan’s new novel The Life and Opinions of Maf the dog & his friend Marilyn Monroe, that’s exactly what happened.

Source: Esquire

INT. WINTERFELL – GREAT HALL – DAY [2.5 pages]

Bran is carried to the hall by Hodor to watch Robb treat with the guests; Tyrion Lannister has returned from the Wall, and with him is Yoren from the Night’s Watch. Robb speaks with cold discourtesy to Tyrion. Despite Robb’s veiled hostility, Tyrion gives them his design for a new saddle for Bran. Tyrion declines an invitation to stay and makes to leave, but he is attacked by Rickon’s direwolf Shaggydog. The wolf is pulled off before Tyrion is truly injured, and Tyrion leaves with all but his pride intact.

INT. WINTERFELL – GREAT HALL – DUSK [1.5 pages]

Robb and Bran dine with Yoren, who had traveled south with Tyrion; Yoren reveals that Benjen Stark is missing and presumed lost.

INT. WINTERFELL – BRAN’S ROOM – NIGHT [2 pages]

Robb and Bran talk quietly; Robb confides his worries to the only brother he has left at Winterfell. Bran is hopefully optimistic their lives may soon return to normal; he speaks of their mother’s return, and how he hopes they can both ride north to visit Jon at the Wall. Bran remains positive despite his crippling injury. Robb, touched by his brother and clearly feeling the pressure of expectations, breaks down and quietly sobs.

Dramatisation by Donna Franceschild of John Steinbeck’s seminal 1937 novel about migrant workers in 1930s California whose dream of one day owning a place of their own is tragically destroyed.

George …… David Tennant
Lennie …… Liam Brennan
Carlson/Crooks …… Jude Akuwudike
Lennie …… Liam Brennan
Candy …… Christopher Fairbank
Curley’s Wife …… Melody Grove
Slim …… Neil McKinven
Curley’s …… Richard Madden
George …… David Tennant

Directed by Kirsty Williams.

Source: BBC

HBO looks ready to reinvigorate the fantasy genre with their adapation of “A Game of Thrones,” set to go into production this June. With just an initial pilot ordered, we kept our excitment about George R.R. Martin’s beloved tale of political intrigue and warring families at bay. But now that HBO has gone medieval on ‘Thrones with a ten episode order, we’re ready to start obsessing about this new series. We sent our band of rogues out into the far reaches of the Seven Kingdoms and they’ve returned with a bounty of spoilers. Now, let’s take a look at the cast who’ll return HBO to its rightful place among network royalty.

5. Richard Madden as Robb Stark

Where You’ve Seen Him Before: Game of Thrones might just be young Scot, Richard Madden’s big break, whose only priors are a few Scottish television series.

His Role in Game of Thrones: First son of Eddard (Sean Bean) and heir to Winterfell. Charactized as honorable and just, Robb makes enemies of former allies when breaks an oath made by someone very close to him on his behalf.

Source: Ugo.com

Winter is, indeed, coming.

HBO has greenlighted highly anticipated fantasy series “Game of Thrones.”

The premium network has picked up the project for a first season debut next spring (below is the first released photo from the series). Nine episodes plus the pilot have been ordered. Production will begin in Belfast this June.

From the moment the project was first announced in development, the series based on the George R.R. Martin novels has generated enormous, perhaps unprecedented, online interest for a series at such an early stage.

The sprawling tale set in the mythical land of Westeros tells the story of the noble Stark family who become caught up in high court intrigue when patriarch Eddard (played by Sean Bean) becomes the king’s new right-hand man. The four-and-counting books in the series would each be used as one season of the series.

Unlike many fantasy novels, the “Thrones” series largely avoids relying on magical elements and instead goes for brutal realism — think “Sopranos” with swords. Martin, a former TV writer (“Beauty and the Beast”), writes each chapter as a cliffhanger, which should lend itself well to series translation.

Source: THRFeed

Sunday 7 March
3.00-4.00pm BBC RADIO 4

David Tennant and Liam Brennan star in Donna Franceschild’s dramatisation of John Steinbeck’s seminal novel about migrant workers in Thirties California, whose dream of one day owning a place of their own is tragically destroyed.

Of Mice And Men explores the friendship between George Milton and Lennie Small via the last three days in Lennie’s life.

On the run from a town where Lennie has been accused of rape, they pick up new jobs on a ranch further north – a place where the boss has recently married a flirtatious young woman.

She’s trouble, however, and George knows it, so he warns Lennie about the woman. They dream about a better life – a life they think is just around the corner. The boss’s wife then finds Lennie alone in the barn and their dream is ripped apart.

David Tennant stars as George Milton and Liam Brennan as Lennie Small. The cast also features Jude Akuwudike as Carlson/Crooks; Christopher Fairbank as Candy; Melody Grove as Curley’s wife; Neil McKinven as Slim; and Richard Madden as Curley.

Source: BBC.co.uk