‘Game of Thrones’ is set to bring in the return of Bran Stark’s storyline as the hit fantasy drama series finds its Three-Eyed Raven in veteran actor Max von Sydow.
The mysterious character last appeared in the concluding episode of season four, when Bran and his company came across the powerful one played in the finale by Struan Rodger.
Such episode had put the Three Eyed Raven forward as a tutor to Bran, who is played by Isaac Hempstead Wright and has developed Warg powers, which provides him the ability to inhabit the bodies of animals.
Although Bran's storyline was set aside in ‘Game of Thrones’ season five, fans have already begun speculating that his story will be revived after he has been under the Three Eyed Raven's guidance for quite some time.
Wright, who plays Ned Stark's crippled Warg son, confirmed his comeback on the series last month.
"I can't say a lot, but I am back this sesaon and it's going to get particularly interesting with Bran," the 16-year-old actor said. "He has some interesting visions."
Earning award nominations for his performances in ‘Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close’ as well as ‘The Exorcist,’ von Sydow will make an appearance next in the highly-anticipated ‘Star Wars: Episode VII- The Force Awakens’ along with ‘Game of Thrones’ star Gwendoline Christie, who plays Brienne of Tarth in the fantasy drama series.
Von Sydow's casting follows the news ‘Deadwood’ alum Ian McShane has also signed on to the HBO fantasy drama series for a mystery role.
In the past years, HBO usually had announced cast members by this time, but McShane and von Sydow are the first actors to be confirmed for the upcoming season.
With speculations claiming that ‘Game of Thrones’ is set to reach only seven seasons, HBO programming president Michael Lombardo has confirmed that the series is expected to continue for at least eight seasons.
"Seven-seasons-and-out has never been the [internal] conversation," he explained to the media at the Television Critics Association's press tour last Thursday, July 30.
"The question [now] is: How much beyond seven are we going to do? Obviously we're shooting six now, hopefully discussing seven,” Lombardo added. “[David] Benioff and [Dan] Weiss feel like there's two more years after six. I would always love for them to change their minds, but that's what we're looking at right now."
‘Game of Thrones’ season six is set to make its premiere in spring 2016 on HBO; an official date is yet to be announced.