Game Of Thrones Season 6: 14 New Cast Members You Need To Know About

The Actor: Ian McShane is one of the biggest names Game of Thrones has cast this year - or any year for that matter - with the actor having starred in a number of successful shows and movies. He broke through in the BBC series Lovejoy, playing the titular character, and has appeared in the likes of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Kung Fu Panda, and Kings. 

Perhaps his most famous role though, and the one that won him a lot of critical acclaim, was the lead in the short-lived Western series Deadwood, which was cancelled after three seasons and 36 episodes, and saw McShane nominated for an Emmy and win a Golden Globe. And now he's headed back to HBO in 2016, which is super exciting news. 

The Role: It's still unknown at this stage who exactly McShane will be playing, although by virtue of other characters being cast the pool of candidates is a bit shallower than when it was first announced. Then, the two big theories were Randyll Tarly and Euron Greyjoy, and as discussed both of those have gone elsewhere. We do know it is an important role, albeit quite a small one in terms of screen time. 

There are still a few other possibilities, including Howland Reed (we can but dream of him appearing), a Northern Lord, or Marwyn the Mage. However, the most likely at this stage seems to be Septon Meribald, or rather a composite of him and the Elder Brother. This is based on the casting call of a priest who happened to be an ex-soldier. It would certainly fit the bill of being a key role without appearing too much, and McShane would be an excellent fit for it.