"Game of Thrones" Season 6 is now filming and more characters are being added to the show. The amazing Ian McShane -- formerly of another HBO show, "Deadwood" -- has been announced for the 2016 season in an unnamed role. Entertainment Weekly was told "McShane has a relatively small amount of screen-time during the season, yet his character is of key importance."

UPDATE: He's not a Tarly! New Tarlys have been cast, but McShane told BBC Breakfast, "My character is an ex-warrior who's become a peacenik. So I have this group of peaceful...it's like a cult, peaceful tribe... who have brought back...I bring back this beloved character that everyone thinks is dead. So, I'll leave it at that." There's speculation that he's playing a version of a book character who brings back The Hound.


Everyone has a relatively small amount of screen-time with such a large cast, but who will Ian be playing? The No. 1 guess is Randyll Tarly, Lord of Horn Hill, a fierce, renowned fighter and father of the very different Samwell Tarly (John Bradley). Sam and Gilly (Hannah Murray) are now on their way to the Citadel so Sam can train to be a maester, and that's close to where Sam grew up in Horn Hill. Also, King's Landing could use some help restoring law and order after the mess of Season 5, so Randyll Tarly could also be use over there.

A main reason Randyll is the casting guess is a GoT Season 6 casting notice for "Father" that was issued a while back, describing a character "Aged 50's to 60's, he's one of the greatest soldiers in Westeros- a humorless martinet, severe and intimidating. He demands martial discipline in the field and in his home. It's described as 'a very good part' for next year and that he's 'centrally involved' in a protagonist's storyline." A protagonist like Sam, or Cercise, or Margaery, or Tommen?

What do you think of Ian McShane joining the cast, and do you agree that he'll play Randyll Tarly or do you think he could be Euron Greyjoy (another popular guess, but he seems too old for that) or someone else?

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