We’ll have to wait ‘til April 2015 for the fifth season of HBO’s Game of Thrones, the ultraviolent, sex-fueled fantasy series that coined the term “sexposition.” But on Friday at San Diego’s annual gathering of the nerds, Comic-Con, the cable network officially announced nine new cast additions to the expansive TV universe.
The impressive list includes acclaimed British thespian Jonathan Pryce as the High Sparrow, a Westerosi evangelist of sorts who invades King’s Landing, Oscar nominee Keisha Castle-Hughes (Whale Rider) as Obara Sand, the eldest bastard daughter of Prince Oberyn Martell, a.k.a. the Red Viper—the rakish, Inigo Montoya-esque warrior played with panache to spare by Pedro Pascal who met a grisly end courtesy of The Mountain, and much more. Many of the new additions are denizens of the Kingdom of Dorne, as Thrones’ fifth season will shift to the home of the Red Viper—and, according to sources, be shot in Spain.
You can watch a video of the new cast members discussing their roles here:
And here’s the full list of the Game of Thrones cast additions, followed by HBO’s descriptions of their characters:
Jonathan Pryce as the High Sparrow: “A devout and pious man, the High Sparrow came to King’s Landing to serve those forgotten by much of the world—the poor, the downtrodden and the infirm—and quickly amassed a large following. His fellow believers have swarmed over the city, ministering to the lowest and decrying the corruption of the highest.”
Alexander Siddig as Doran Martell: “Doran Martell is the ruling lord of Dorne and older brother to the late Prince Oberyn Martell. Unlike his brother, Doran is even-tempered and deliberate. Now, all of Dorne waits to see how their lord will react to his brother’s death.”
Keisha Castle-Hughes as Obara Sand: “A fearsome warrior, Obara Sand is the eldest bastard daughter of the late Prince Oberyn Martell. Her mother was a Dornish peasant girl who caught the eye of the late Prince.”
Jessica Henwick as Nymeria (“Nim”) Sand: “Nym Sand is the second eldest of the late Prince Oberyn’s bastard daughters. Her mother was an Eastern noblewoman who brought Nym up to be cultured, graceful and deadly with a whip.”
Rosabell Laurenti Sellers as Tyene Sand: “Tyene Sand is the daughter of the late Prince Oberyn Martell by Ellaria Sand, his final paramour. Tyene is fiercer than she looks, especially with her twin daggers.”
Toby Sebastian as Trystane Martell: “Trystane Martell is Prince Doran’s son and heir to Dorne. His father betrothed him to Myrcella Baratheon as part of the alliance offered by Tywin Lannister, then Hand of the King.”
Nell Tiger Free as Myrcella Baratheon: “Myrcella Baratheon is officially the eldest child of Cersei Lannister and the late King Robert Baratheon, though in truth her father is Cersei’s own brother, Jaime Lannister. For years, she has been a guest and ward of Prince Doran, betrothed to his son, but her position has become tenuous with the death of Oberyn Martell, the Prince’s brother.”
DeObia Oparei as Areo Hotah: “Areo Hotah is the long-serving captain of Doran Martell’s palace guard, renowned for his loyalty and his longaxe.”
Enzo Cilenti as Yezzan: “Yezzan was an extremely wealthy slave trader before Daenerys Targaryen outlawed the slave trade.”