Latest news with #GeorgeRRMartin
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
What 'shocking' chapters of real royal history influenced Game of Thrones' Red Wedding and Cersei Lannister's walk of shame?
From the War of the Roses to Hadrian's Wall, author George RR Martin drew extensive inspiration from real British history to construct his fantasy series A Game of Thrones. On this week's episode of the Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things podcast, hosts Kate Williams and Robert Hardman explore how two of the series' most shocking moments mirror shameful chapters from the monarchy's history. This episode is part of a new miniseries which explores how history's most wicked royals rival any fictional villain. You can listen to the latest Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things by clicking the below or here. Podcast All episodes Play on Spotify Cersei Lannister's Walk of Shame and Richard III One of the most arresting scenes from Martin's fantasy epic is Cersei Lannister's naked walk of shame through King's Landing. Peasants throw stones and faeces at the Queen Mother while a religious fanatic follows slowly behind her chanting 'shame.' In the book and popular television show, Cersei must walk through the streets as an act of penance after her incest and adultery are uncovered by the High Septon. Historian Kate Williams draws parallels between Cersei's slow march and the real-life fifteenth-century flogging of Jane Shore, ordered by the infamous Richard III. She explained: 'Jane Shore was a mistress of King Edward IV and she continues to be his mistress until his death. She's almost like a Queen herself. 'Jane's a fixer, a diplomat – she's very intelligent. When Edward dies, his son comes to the throne – who's one of the famous princes in the tower. 'When Richard succeeds Edward – the new King realises Jane's allied to his enemies. After Edward, Jane begins an affair with the old King's stepson, Thomas Grey, the first Marquess of Dorset. 'That is dangerous for Richard – but he chooses not to kill her, instead making her undergo a public penance.' On trumped up charges of adultery and conspiracy, Jane was forced to strip and stand before the peasantry near St Paul's Cathedral. For a noblewoman, this treatment was highly unusual. Punishments of this nature, as Williams told the podcast, were typically reserved for prostitutes and courtesans. 'Jane is forced to walk the streets of London wearing only a kirtle, a type of underwear', Williams said. 'Her promiscuous lifestyle was used against her because she's had affairs. This form of shaming is strange, the same ritual used for sex workers. 'To see a woman dressed like that, is absolutely shocking. One account says her beauty attracts a lot of attention from men, who line the streets to watch her progress. 'The big difference from Game of Thrones is the public's reaction. The crowds don't throw stones, nobody shouts shame. They just watch and feel sorry for her.' The event only adds to Richard III's already divisive reputation - he would eventually lose the crown to Henry VII after being killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field. Jane would have the last laugh: after spending some time in Ludgate prison, she was freed and would marry Thomas Lynom, Richard's solicitor general. The marriage was reportedly a happy one and Jane was able to live out the rest of her years as a member of the English aristocracy. 'What you have here is Richard the III behaving very cruelly', Williams said. 'Overturning social mores in this way, as this is what you'd expect to do to a working-class woman - the people were absolutely shocked by it.' The Red Wedding and Scotland's 'Black Dinner' Another chapter of British history that Kate Williams believes Martin drew inspiration from was Scotland's Black Dinner of 1440. One of the most memorable moments of Game of Thrones is when 'King in the North' Robb Stark is murdered at his own wedding. The Red Wedding, the result of scheming between the ruling Lannisters and minor lords, sees an entire rebellion extinguished as Stark's family is brutally murdered in a surprise attack. The surprise killing of a rival noble family did occur in Scotland, with the Earls of Douglas being drawn to Edinburgh Castle on the promise of peace talks with a 10-year-old King James II. The brothers William and David, who led the rebellious Douglas clan, were invited to dine with the new King in late autumn but a trap had been laid, as Kate Williams explained. 'The brothers think, perhaps with a new king, there might be an alliance', she said. 'They think that they're going to set aside their differences and have a conversation. They all dine together in a great hall and reportedly are having a good time. 'Then, someone leaves a black bull's head on the table in front of the brothers. This is the Scottish emblem of death. 'The brothers are seized and taken away to a mock trial. They are charged with treason, and the jury sentences them to death.' The child king James II was supposedly unaware of the plan to lure the Douglases to the castle and pleaded with his guards not to go ahead with the execution. 'He's only ten', Williams said. 'The King thought maybe they were going to be friends – so he begs for them to be spared. 'But the axes indeed fall and in the end, it's on James's authority because he is King. 'This is seen in Scotland as a huge moment – to lie, lure and break the rules of a diplomatic dinner is really shocking. 'Game of Thrones goes further, having the murders set at a wedding, there's no fake trial either – it all just happens in a moment.' James II would meet his own tragic end at the tender age of 29, after being killed in a freak accident while besieging an English castle in 1460. The King had pioneered the use of cannons by the Scottish army but died after a cannon exploded and a piece of metal sliced through his thigh. To hear more connections between Royal history and Game of Thrones, search for Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things now, wherever you get your podcasts.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
House of the Dragon Adds Annie Shapero as Alysanne ‘Black Aly' Blackwood in Season 3
Rhaenyra Targaryen just acquired quite the fighter. Annie Shapero has been cast as Alysanne 'Black Aly' Blackwood in Season 3 of HBO's House of the Dragon, our sister site Deadline reports. In George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood, the character fights for Queen Rhaenyra's #TeamBlack in the Dance of the Dragons. She later marries Lord Cregan Stark and is credited with helping the realm return to peace after such an extended period of war. More from TVLine The Librarians: Next Chapter Season 2: Lindy Booth to Reprise Cassandra - Dominic Monaghan, Jeremy Swift Also Among 15+ Guest Stars (Exclusive) Suzanne Rogers Exiting Days of Our Lives...?! Rep Addresses Wild Rumor Casting News: The Pitt Adds Sistas Vet, Jack Reynor Joins Presumed Innocent and More Per Deadline, Shapero is not a series regular but will appear in five of Season 3's eight episodes. Her previous credits include Israel's Red Skies and YouTube's Unverified. In April, the fantasy drama added Barry Sloane (Revenge, SIX) as Ser Adrian Redfort, Tom Cullen (Knightfall, Downton Abbey) as Ser Luthor Largent and Jopin Sibtain (Andor) as Ser 'Bold' Jon Roxton. They joined other Season 3 newbies Tommy Flanagan (Sons of Anarchy, Power Book IV: Force) as Ser Roderick Dustin, Dan Fogler (The Goldbergs, the Fantastic Beasts films) as Ser Torrhen Manderly and James Norton (The Nevers) as Ormund Hightower. House of the Dragon Season 3: Everything We Know So Far View List Production on the Game of Thrones prequel's third season began on March 31. faithful, are you looking forward to seeing all of the new characters in action? Hit the comments, and let us know! Best of TVLine Stars Who Almost Played Other TV Roles — on Grey's Anatomy, NCIS, Lost, Gilmore Girls, Friends and Other Shows TV Stars Almost Cast in Other Roles Fall TV Preview: Who's In? Who's Out? Your Guide to Every Casting Move!
Gizmodo
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
‘House of the Dragon' Casts Another Key Member of Team Black
The fight for the Iron Throne will continue in season three of House of the Dragon—just don't ask George R.R. Martin for his thoughts about it—and the HBO series is adding another key cast member to reflect that. So far we've learned about new knights joining various sides of the war, including fan-favorite Northman 'Roddy the Ruin.' And now we've got a new woman entering the male-dominated fray to throw her support behind Rhaenyra Targaryen: Alysanne Blackwood, to be played by Annie Shapero. A Song of Ice and Fire fans will recognize that last name as one of the key houses in the Riverlands. We met Ser Willem Blackwood in season two of House of the Dragon—Daemon Targaryen encourages his terror offensive against the Blackwood's longstanding regional allies, the Brackens—but Alysanne has yet to join the story. In Martin's source-material book Fire & Blood, she's a fierce, tough-talking master archer who becomes a major player in some key battles during the Dance of Dragons. Her nickname is 'Black Aly,' which speaks to her ruthlessness as well as her loyalty to Team Black. Later in the story, she allies with Lord Cregan Stark—who popped up at the beginning of House of the Dragon season two to meet Rhaenyra's son Jacaerys at the Wall—and steers him toward some important moral choices (no spoilers, but it involves some of Rhaenyra's younger sons and where they end up in all this) during the event known as the 'Hour of the Wolf.' As Deadline puts it, she's 'Lord Benjicot Blackwood's aunt and fights for Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) in the Dance of the Dragons before marrying Lord Cregan Stark, who is played by Tom Taylor. She becomes a legendary figure in House Stark lore and her storyline looks likely to be told in House of the Dragon season three.' The trade further notes that Shapero, whose credits include Prime Video's Jacob Elordi-starring World War II miniseries The Narrow Road to the Deep North, will appear in five of House of the Dragon season three's eight episodes, so Black Aly is clearly going to be playing a major part in what's next. The next installment should hit HBO next year. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
House of the Dragon Adds Annie Shapero as Alysanne ‘Black Aly' Blackwood in Season 3
Rhaenyra Targaryen just acquired quite the fighter. Annie Shapero has been cast as Alysanne 'Black Aly' Blackwood in Season 3 of HBO's House of the Dragon, our sister site Deadline reports. In George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood, the character fights for Queen Rhaenyra's #TeamBlack in the Dance of the Dragons. She later marries Lord Cregan Stark and is credited with helping the realm return to peace after such an extended period of war. More from TVLine The Librarians: Next Chapter Season 2: Lindy Booth to Reprise Cassandra - Dominic Monaghan, Jeremy Swift Also Among 15+ Guest Stars (Exclusive) Suzanne Rogers Exiting Days of Our Lives...?! Rep Addresses Wild Rumor Casting News: The Pitt Adds Sistas Vet, Jack Reynor Joins Presumed Innocent and More Per Deadline, Shapero is not a series regular but will appear in five of Season 3's eight episodes. Her previous credits include Israel's Red Skies and YouTube's Unverified. In April, the fantasy drama added Barry Sloane (Revenge, SIX) as Ser Adrian Redfort, Tom Cullen (Knightfall, Downton Abbey) as Ser Luthor Largent and Jopin Sibtain (Andor) as Ser 'Bold' Jon Roxton. They joined other Season 3 newbies Tommy Flanagan (Sons of Anarchy, Power Book IV: Force) as Ser Roderick Dustin, Dan Fogler (The Goldbergs, the Fantastic Beasts films) as Ser Torrhen Manderly and James Norton (The Nevers) as Ormund Hightower. House of the Dragon Season 3: Everything We Know So Far View List Production on the Game of Thrones prequel's third season began on March 31. faithful, are you looking forward to seeing all of the new characters in action? Hit the comments, and let us know! Best of TVLine Stars Who Almost Played Other TV Roles — on Grey's Anatomy, NCIS, Lost, Gilmore Girls, Friends and Other Shows TV Stars Almost Cast in Other Roles Fall TV Preview: Who's In? Who's Out? Your Guide to Every Casting Move!
Geek Tyrant
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
George R.R. Martin Shares His Thoughts on James Gunn's SUPERMAN: 'Supes and I Are Old Friends' — GeekTyrant
George R.R. Martin, the creator of Game of Thrones , has officially weighed in on James Gunn's Superman , and like a lot of fans, he loved it. Posting on his Not a Blog page, Martin expressed his excitement for Gunn's big-screen reintroduction of the Man of Steel, saying: 'Supes and I are old friends, and this is one of the best Superman movies in a long time… maybe ever. This new Superman reminds me of the version I used to read about when I was a kid, the strange visitor from another planet who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. (And yes, an innocent, of course, he's always been an immigrant. And an illegal immigrant, when you stop to think of it).' Martin then praised the film's look, tone, and the casting: 'The film looks great, and James Gunn did a great job with the casting. Rachel Brosnahan was terrific as Lois Lane; I'd say it's between her and Margot Kidder for Best Lois Ever. 'And there's no doubt whatsoever for the Best Lex. Nicholas Hoult was far and away the Best Luthor of All Time, a truly chilling villain. The kid in the cape was excellent as well. I hope he gets to play Kal-El in another dozen movies.' That 'kid in the cape' is David Corenswet, making his debut as Superman in this highly anticipated film. Martin clearly thinks Corenswet nailed it, and a lot of fans will agree with him. Gunn's Superman is the first big-screen chapter in the new DCU Chapter One: Gods and Monsters. This new cinematic era is rolling out with a mix of movies and shows. After Superman , we'll see Peacemaker Season 2 later this year, followed by Supergirl hitting theaters next year. Martin also teased what's happening in his own world. House of the Dragon Season 3 is expected to arrive next year, along with the upcoming A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms series. And for gaming fans, Martin also touched on the Elden Ring movie that's currently in development. Oh, and if you're a Star Wars fan, Martin praised Andor Season 2 as 'the year's highlight.' High praise from a master storyteller. Gunn promised a bold new vision for Superman, and I think it's safe to say he delivered.
