'Game of Thrones': Season 3 premiere date and latest casting news
'Game of Thrones': When is it coming back for a third season and who are the latest actors (and musicians) to sign on for appearances?
'Game of Thrones' stars Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen.
Matt Sayles/Invision/AP
The long wait for the return of聽聽is almost over. This week HBO finally revealed the Game of Thrones season 3 premiere date in poster form, setting the highly anticipated return to Westeros for March 31, 2013.
The poster (see below), which is as basic as they come, simply states the date 03.31.13. If a more colorful poster is what you鈥檙e after, you鈥檒l have to keep an eye out for HBO鈥檚 familiar release of teaser posters, character posters and season posters in the coming weeks (and months).
When Game of Thrones returns next year for season 3, there will be , hinting at what potential storylines await fans. The most notable addition is that of Mackenzie Crook as Orell, a wildling and 鈥渟kinchanger.鈥� Cook鈥檚 character comes from the source novels, but will likely be combined with the story of a similar character, Varamyr Sixskins, for the TV series, making the character of Orell much stronger than he originally was (as well as giving him abilities).
In addition to Orell, King Joffrey Baratheon will also be receiving some new guests in season 3, now that Diana Rigg has been cast as Olenna Tyrell, grandmother to Joffrey鈥檚 fiance, Margaery Tyrell. Lady Olenna, nicknamed the 鈥淨ueen of Thrones,鈥� isn鈥檛 fond of playing simple games (or being around simple minds), so it鈥檒l be interesting to see how she gets along with everyone鈥檚 favorite evil boy King.
Not to be left out, Snow Patrol lead singer Gary Lightbody and Coldplay drummer Will Champion will also play a part in Game of Thrones season 3. As to what role they鈥檒l play:聽, while Lightbody has said that his role is 鈥渘ot pivotal.鈥�
Unlike in Game of Thrones season 2, which was based on the entirety George R. R. Martin鈥檚 second novel, 鈥�A Clash of Kings,鈥� season 3 will only use half of Martin鈥檚 third novel, 鈥�A Storm of Swords,鈥� after produces decided to split the novel up between Game of Thrones season 3 and season 4.
Considering the length of 鈥淎 Storm of Swords,鈥� splitting it up between two seasons seems like the best option for HBO鈥檚 hit series. With so many compelling character moments, providing the producers more time to highlight those moments will certain pay off for fans of the book series who are waiting for their favorite plot-points to be depicted onscreen. That being said, I鈥檓 sure fans of just the TV series wouldn鈥檛 argue against getting more Game of Thrones聽for their buck, either.
Anthony Ocasio blogs at .