The official announcement has finally been made: HBO will begin filming "A Game of Thrones" in October.

http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/news/news-ofmdfm/news-ofmdfm-210409-hbo-to-film.htm

Fantastic News!  If they maintain the same quality as Band of Brothers, then this should be amazing.

I had heard they were going to film it like Team America World Police with marrionettes, but it would still be bloody!

Ok, so Danmick and I have been talking about this for almost a year now so I'll open it up to the rest of us.. who do you think should play which roles (presuming they could afford any actor/actress big or small??

When reading the books, I actually couldn't picture any actors I knew in the roles.  So my vote would be for an entire cast of unknowns.  (Also cuts down on cost )

Unlike you I couldn't stop picturing the entire cast of Harry Potter and Sex in the City... I'd imagine they will be able to afford them as long as they keep them all in roles that die off within the first three books

I can't believe that you and danmick have been debating for a year whether the cast of Harry Potter and Sex in the City is the best match for the Song of Fire and Ice series.  Clearly the cast of Wonder Years and Matlock have this one all wrapped up.

Waitaminnit... I never considered Sex in the City!  I thought most of the major characters could be found in "The Facts of Life".  Mrs Garrett would make the perfect Cersei, and I thought George Clooney would be a suitable Tyrion...

And actually, Louie Anderson as Jaime!  Imagine the sex scenes with Jaime and Cersei!  Go on, picture it...

I'm still laughing at the cast of Matlock.. I've never watched the show but since only the elderly DO watch it I must imagine the cast are all over 90 years of age and I was trying to picture a cast of over 90-year olds playing the VERY VERY young major roles throughout Martin's books (i.e. Daenerys, all the Starks, Podrick Payne, etc....)

Okay, but seriously now, what have you and danmick decided upon as prospective casting choices?

I picture Dan Goodman as King Baratheon... and Tim Curry as the spider.

Who was the spider?  Oh, I did picture an actor in one of the roles.  Christopher Plummer as Sandor Clegane (The Hound).  Think of Star Trek VI.
Here's the wiki list of characters from the series: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_characters_in_A_Song_of_Ice_and_Fire

I'll try to dig up some of the choices we've talked about in the past.  I think Clive Owen would be a great Ned Stark.  Melissa McCarthy (she plays Dena, the chubby friend on "Samantha Who?") would be great as Catelyn Stark's sister.  I think that the guy whoplays the undead pirate captain in Pirates of the Caribbean would be a good senior Greyjoy (I can't remember his name right now).  I thought Triple H would be a good Sandor Clegane too.

More to come.

If she could get a grip on the whole "cutesie" thing, Kelly Ripa would make a good Cersei, and I think Neil Patrick Harris could really pull off Jaime's attitude (I think Orlando Bloom would fit the look better, but I'm not sure he could do justice to the personality.)  David O'Hara as Stannis, Jeremy Irons as Tywin (Blonde of course), Patrick Stewart as Barristan Selmy.  Shabs and I had a good choice for Jon Snow, but I can't remember who we agreed upon.  Actually, I forget many of the names we agreed upon.