There has been some obvious recasting in Game of Thrones for characters like Gregor Clegane and Daario Naharis. It also seems to be quite well known that Myrcella Baratheon was recast.
What characters in the show have been recast?
asked Mar 27, 2018 at 14:20
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3 Answers
At least eleven...
Gregor Clegane:
Conan Stevens season 1. Ian Whyte season 2. Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson starting season 3.
Myrcella Baratheon:
Aimee Richardson on seasons 1 and 2. Nell Tiger Free season 5.
Tommen Baratheon:
Callum Wharry season 1. Dean Charles Chapman season 4. (Fun Fact: Before Chapman was Tommen, he had already appeared as Martyn Lannister in season 3.)
Daario Narharis:
Ed Skrein season 3. Michiel Huisman starting season 4.
Beric Dondarrion:
David Michael Scott season 1. Richard Dormer starting season 3.
Bloodraven:
Struan Rodger season 4. Max von Sydow season 6.
Leaf:
Octavia Selena Alexandru season 4. Kae Alexander season 6.
Night King:
Richard Brake season 5. Vladimir Furdik season 6. Furdik is also the one we see in human form.
Dickon Tarly:
Freddie Stroma season 6. Tom Hopper season 7.
Lothar Frey:
Tom Brooke season 3. Daniel Tuite Season 6.
Rickard Karstark
Steven Blount Season 1. John Stahl starting season 2.
Selyse Baratheon
Sarah MacKeever season 2 (not credited). Tara Fitzgerald starting season season 3.
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7Do we know why? Does it happen so much on other shows? Some of those recasts were really bad and looked completely different (e.g. The Mountain and Daario Narharis). Commented Mar 28, 2018 at 7:07
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3@EricDuminil Some were stand in extra's until the cast an actual actor e.g. Selyse. Some were the actors having scheduling conflicts e.g. Daario. Some were them wanting to recast themselves e.g. Tommen. I'd imagine 3ER and Leaf were recast for a change of direction.– TheLethalCarrot ♦Commented Mar 28, 2018 at 7:55
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16Daario was the one that really got me. He looked like a completely different character - they didn't even try to match the hair/beard/etc to soften the jarring discontinuity.– Tim BCommented Mar 28, 2018 at 9:27
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@TimB If you look at the above images most of the recasts have changed completely, it's just more noticeable in Daario.– TheLethalCarrot ♦Commented Mar 28, 2018 at 9:51
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@TheLethalCarrot I think that was also partly because there was either a larger gap between the two appearing on screen (i.e. most had a season without the character before the new one appeared) or dramatic and recognizable costume (i.e. the mountain normally appeared in full armour) or a child growing older so larger changes are expected.– Tim BCommented Mar 28, 2018 at 10:00
Ghost
In Season 1, Ghost was played by a Northern Innuit pup (a variety of large wolf-like Dog) provided by the Mahlek Northern Innuits.
From Season 5 onward, Ghost was played by Quigly the real life wolf. Rescued and trained by trainer Andrew Simpson from Instinct Animals for Film.
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35I'd forgotten Ghost even existed; guess I have something in common with the show runners then.– TheLethalCarrot ♦Commented Mar 28, 2018 at 7:53
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Not sure it is a recast if you have different actors because they are due to significant age differences. A pub is not a grown up wolf.– TomTomCommented Mar 28, 2018 at 17:57
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1@TomTom It takes less than 4 years for a dog or wolf pup to reach adulthood. Commented Mar 28, 2018 at 18:41
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And it takes significantly less than that to shoot the scenes of one season, I would imagine. Ups. You seriously suggest they WAIT UNTIL THE PUP GROWS UP? SERIOUSLY?– TomTomCommented Mar 28, 2018 at 18:49
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I mean, they recast Tommen for the same age difference thing...– MöozCommented Mar 28, 2018 at 20:31
My answer is largely sourced from what I've seen myself from watching the show and this wikia post. Though the order will largely follow the wikia post so I don't end up forgetting someone.
Major Roles
Ser Gregor Clegane (The Mountain)
Originally played by Conan Stevens in Season 1 he was recast to Ian Whyte in Season 2 and finally to Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson for Seasons 4 to 7 (and I believe 8).
For a bit of trivia here Ian Whyte is credited as playing White Walker #1 in the prologue to the series.
Daario Naharis
Was originally played by Ed Skrein in Season 3 but was recast to Michiel Huisman for Seasons 4 to 6 due to a scheduling conflict for Ed.
Tommen Baratheon
Played by Callum Wharry for Seasons 1 and 2 but was recast to Dean-Charles Chapman. Bryan Cogman talks about this here but he essentially states that they wanted a more experienced actor.
For a bit of trivia here Dean-Charles originally played Martyn Lannister in Season 3 before that character was killed off.
Three-Eyed Raven
Was played by Struan Rodger in Season 4 in the finale and was taken over by Max von Sydow for Season 6.
Night King
Was originally played by Richard Brake for Seasons 4 and 5 but was recast to Vladimír Furdík for Seasons 6 and 7 (and likely 8). The new actor also played the First Man version of the character.
Beric Dondarrion
Was played by David Michael Scott for Season 1 in a minor role but changed to Richard Dormer for Seasons 3, 6 and 7 (also potentially 8).
Minor Roles
Myrcella Baratheon
Played by Aimee Richardson for Seasons 1 and 2 but was recast to Nell Tiger Free for Seasons 5 and 6.
Lord of Bones
Was played by Edward Dogliani for Seasons 2 and 3 but was recast to Ross O'Hennessy for a brief appearance in Season 5.
Lothar Frey
Played by Tom Brooke for Season 3 and Daniel Tuite for Season 6.
Dickon Tarly
Was played by Freddie Stroma for Season 6 but recast to Tom Hopper for Season 7 due to a scheduling conflict.
Leaf
Originally played by the child actor Octavia Alexandru in Season 4 and was recast to Kae Alexander for Season 6.
Richard Karstark
Played by Steven Blount for Season 1 and John Stahl for Seasons 2 and 3.
Ghost
As mentioned in @Möoz's answer the pup Ghost was played by a Northern Innuit for Season 1 and then the wolf Quigly from Season 5 and 6 (and hopefully 8).
Summer and Nymeria
Andrew Simpson from Instinct for Film is credited as having been involved in the show since Season 5. He is credited for Season 7 Episode 2, "Stormborn", where only Nymeria shows up. Season 6 Episode 5, "The Door", where only Summer shows up.
It is likely that Grey Wind and Shaggydog were also recast after Season 1 but I haven't found anything to confirm this yet.
The above mentioned wikia page lists a few "Placeholder" characters who were essentially extras and then cast into named roles later on. As such the characters weren't really recast but they are worth a quick mention.
- High Septon
- Selyse Baratheon
This page does mention Beric Dondarrion and Richard Karstark here but I disagree with the wikia here and instead think of these as actual re-castings.
Worth a mention are the characters that were recast from the pilot to the main production.
Daenerys Targaryen
Played by Tamzin Merchant and then changed to Emilia Clarke.
Catelyn Stark
Played by Jennifer Ehle and then changed to Michelle Fairley.
Illyrio Mopatis
Played by Ian McNeice and then changed to Roger Allam.
Gared
Played by Richard Ridings and then changed to Dermot Keaney.
Ser Waymar Royce
Played by Jamie Campbell Bower and then changed to Rob Ostlere.
An honourable mention is Grand Maester Pycelle who was originally meant to be played by Roy Dotrice. However, due to health reasons he had to pull out and we got Julian Glover instead for Seasons 1 through 6. Dotrice eventually plays Hallyne, the pyromancer in Season 2.
answered Mar 27, 2018 at 14:51
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1Would have been interesting to see Tamzin Merchant play Daenerys– VahxCommented Mar 29, 2018 at 20:51