The waiting is over for Game of Thrones fans: the casting for new characters in season 5 has been announced.
Whilst the series won't return to television screens until next year, casting for the new characters to be introduced in season 5 of the fantasy series has been rumoured for months. However at San Diego Comic-Con, HBO finally announced which nine actors would be joining the ensemble cast for 2015.
Who will be joining Cersei Lannister in Westeros next season?
Sudanese-English actor Alexander Siddig was announced as Doran Martell, ruling lord of Dorne and elder brother to Prince Oberyn Martell, who fans will know came to a grisly end last season. Siddig is best known for his role as Doctor Julian Bashir in 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' but has also starred in Syriana alongside George Clooney and action film Kingdom of Heaven.
Alexander Siddig is going from sci-fi to fantasy for his latest role
His son Trystane will be played by Toby Sebastian, a younger actor who only has a few credits to his name but will also be starring in new film Barely Lethal alongside fellow 'Game of Thrones' actor Sophie Turner.
Actress Nell Tiger Free (who appeared as Chloe in the BBC adaptation of David Walliams' book 'Mr. Stink') will play his betrothed, Mycrella Baratheon, who is the daughter of the scheming Cersei Lannister.
Meanwhile, ill-fated Prince Oberyn is survived by his daughters, who will also be making appearences. They are played by Jessica Henwick (Nymeria "Nym" Sand), Rosabell Laurenti Sellers (Tyene Sand) and Keisha Castle-Hughes (Obara Sand). Keisha is best known for her role as Paikea in the 2002 film Whale Rider. The Martell household is joined by Dredd actor DeObia Oparei, who will play Areo Hotah, the captain of Doran Martell's palace guard.
Meanwhile elsewhere in the world of Westeros, Daenerys Targaryen will face trouble when she runs into a former slave trader named Yezzan, played by Enzo Cilenti who will also appear in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. King's Landing will also see a new arrival in the form of Jonathan Pryce, who will play a preacher known as The High Sparrow. Price is an acclaimed stage and film actor, but is probably best known to younger audiences for his role in the Pirates of the Carribbean series, where he played the father of Keira Knightley's character, Governor Weatherby Swann.
From the High Seas to the Court for Jonathan Pryce
However, it's likely that more casting news will be announced as the new season draws closer; fans will have to keep their eyes and ears peeled to find out who will be joining the fray next!
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