WATTS TO STAR IN GAME OF THRONES SPIN-OFF
THERE are currently five Game of Thrones spin-offs in the works over at HBO – and one of them is set to star a leading North Wales actress.
It’s just been revealed that Oscar-nominated Naomi Watts will be the lead in one of the highly anticipated prequels, reports The Guardian.
Watts, best known for roles in David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive and horror franchise The Ring, will play “a charismatic socialite hiding a dark secret”.
The actress was born in Kent but spent a number of her formative years in North Wales, living in Llangristiolus in Anglesey with her grandparents.
She also spent time in Llanfairpwll and brought the spotlight to the area after pronouncing the town’s name during an appearance on American chat show Jimmy Kimmel Live.
It was at age 14 that the actress left the UK for Australia along with her mother Myfanwy and brother Ben.
Watts’ new role is the work of Kingsman screenwriter Jane Goldman, who will pen the pilot.
Goldman, the wife of presenter Jonathan Ross, will be working alongside the franchise’s original author George R R Martin, who will co-create the new series.
Currently untitled, it will take places thousands of years before Game of Thrones, chronicling the descent from the Golden Age of heroes to the world’s darkest hour.
HBO said: “Only one thing is for sure: from the horrifying secrets of Westeros’ history to the true origin of the White Walkers, the mysteries of the East to the Starks of legend – it’s not the story we think we know.”
Goldman previously revealed that the series will include both humour and gore, telling Digital Spy: “Those are things I love, and things I like to do.”
The series, if ordered, isn’t expected to air until at least a year after the end of Game of Thrones, which will conclude in 2019 with “six one-hour movies”.