Following the news of David Bradley’s Walder Frey returning to Westeros, reports have now been claiming that Ned Stark is set to return to the series. This time, the noble head of House Stark will be returning to the hit HBO show as a younger version of the character that was shown in season one.
This week, reports point out that Sebastian Croft has signed on to the fantasy drama series as Ned Stark.
Several weeks ago, casting calls showed that ‘Game of Thrones’ will be adding a number of new cast members for season six.
Although HBO has limited the casting information disclosed to the public, the descriptions have left clues about some of the roles that are to be filled for the upcoming season.
According to Watchers on the Wall, the fantasy drama series is looking for a Northern boy who has “brown hair” and a “narrow face,” pointing towards a young Ned Stark and fueling reports that the younger version of the noble lord has indeed been cast.
The English actor has been in ‘Les Miserables’ and many more stage plays. At 13, he is expected to take on the role of Ned Stark as a young swordsman. The first casting description points out that the chosen actor will be practicing swordsmanship with an older boy in one of the scenes.
This will not be the first time that 'Game of Thrones' will be making use of flashbacks. In season five, the series began with a scene showing a young Cersei Lannister meeting Maggie the Frog, a fortune-teller, and finding out about her fate.
Although flashbacks have been deemed as an essential element to provide crucial details in the series and shed more light on the characters’ backgrounds, the news of Ned Stark returning as a teenage boy has been a surprise for many due to the fact that he has long been dead. Fans are also questioning as to where the flashback scene/s with the character that was once portrayed by Sean Bean will eventually lead.
In addition, another character is bound to return to Westeros in future episodes- the famous yet disliked Walder Frey.
David Bradley has announced his return to ‘Game of Thrones’ as the devious and cunning head of House Frey.
According to an interview with Zap2it, Bradley revealed at the 2015 Television Critics Association summer press tour that he is set to make his comeback on the hit fantasy drama series, although the 73-year-old actor has kept mum on which episodes his character will show up once again.
"He will be coming back, but I can't say when," Bradley said about his character's imminent return. "I can't really say because things are in a delicate situation."
At present, ‘Game of Thrones’ is filming its sixth season, and HBO programming president Michael Lombardo announced at the 2015 TCA summer press tour last week that showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss is expected to finish the HBO series after eight seasons.
If Walder Frey does not return for ‘Game of Thrones’ season six, which is set to premiere next year, the character could make his comeback in the seventh or in the final season.
’Game of Thrones’ season six is set to air in April on HBO.
