What would "Game of Thrones" be like with the actors they wanted to invite first

In July 2017, the premiere of the next season of the popular HBO TV series "Game of Thrones" will take place. It's almost a perfect TV project, but it could have turned out completely different. Imagine that the role of Daenerys would not be played by Emilia Clarke. And what if the charismatic Kit Harington hadn't been approved for the role of Jon Snow? Initially, other actors were considered for roles in the series. Screen Westeros could look very different…

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Source: Harper's Bazaar

Dominic West as Mance Rayder

"I was offered something in Game of Thrones," West said in an interview in 2012. Fans felt that it could be the role of the leader of the wildlings, Mance Rayder. He refused the role, because otherwise the actor would have had to go to Reykjavik for six months for filming. "The problem is that I have four children, and at the moment I try not to leave home for a long time," West explained. But actor Kiaran Hinds was lucky.

Gillian Anderson as Cersei Lannister

Undoubtedly, Lena Headey is the perfect choice of an actress for the role of the ruthless Cersei. But perhaps the only actress besides her who would be able to handle this role is Gillian Anderson. In 2013, the star of The X-Files hinted that she refused a role in Game of Thrones, but did not mention what she was offered. Some people think that it was about the role of Melisandre, the Red Woman, but it is unlikely that Anderson was considered for the role of Robert Baratheon's mistress.

Tamzin Merchant as Daenerys Targaryen

A world without Emilia Clarke as the ferocious Mother of Dragons is not worth attention. She is everyone's favorite Khaleesi. Emilia Clarke got this role after the pilot episode of "Game of Thrones" was filmed. Tamzin Merchant, at that time best known for her role as Catherine Howard in the TV series "The Tudors", was the first Daenerys, but HBO demanded changes, and the role was given to Emilia.

Jennifer Ehle as Catelyn Stark

Another victim of HBO's discontent with the original Game of Thrones pilot. Later, one of the creators of the series, Dan Weiss, recalled: "Watching them watch the original pilot was one of the most painful experiences in my life." Elle, winner of the BAFTA Award for the popular BBC TV series "Pride and Prejudice", filmed in the 1990s, had to concede in favor of Michelle Fairley. At least someone managed to avoid a bloody wedding.

Lily Allen as Yara Greyjoy

That's where we got a little uneasy. Allen said that she was offered the role of Yara, which had to be played side by side with her real brother Alfie in the role of Theon. Remember that scene where Theon gropes his sister on horseback? Ugh. Lily allegedly rejected the role precisely because there was "too much incest" in it, but Alfie later said that Lily made it up.

The next few actors weren't actually offered roles, but they were at auditions (at least that's what they claim).

Sam Claflin as Jon Snow

He auditioned for the role of the bastard from Winterfell, and for the role of Daenerys' brother Viserys Targaryen, who was eventually played by Harry Lloyd. Claflin was unlucky at the audition for "Game of Thrones", but he managed to get the role of Finnick in the big-budget franchise "The Hunger Games", which probably brightened up his disappointment.

Danny Dyer as Pipar

The actor claims that his attempts to get a role in the series were rejected by the creators not once, not twice, but as many as three times. Pipar was eventually played by Joseph Altin.

Izzy Meikle-Small as Sansa Stark

It is known that the actress was allegedly one of the two final candidates for the role of Sansa, but in the end the role was given to Sophie Turner, and Izzy got a successful role in the X-Men franchise.

Sam Ewen as Loras Tyrell

It's hard to believe, but the handsome man from the TV series "Stranger" was once not quoted in Hollywood. He auditioned for roles in Game of Thrones as many as seven times, but as a result, Loras Tyrell was played by Finn Jones, and Renly Baratheon was played by Gethin Anthony. He was not even taken on the role of one of the guards of the Night Watch. It's just outrageous.