New Roles for Hinds and Barrowman

One of the big attention-getters about season 3 of Game of Thrones has been the casting of Wilding leader Mance Rayder, the so-called King Beyond the Wall--a prominent behind-the-scenes figure who's been talked about so far as he moves toward rallying the Wildings but will only now be stepping forward into view. HBO has just announced that Julius Caesar himself--that is to say, top Irish star Ciaran Hinds, who played the scrappy dictator on Rome, has been given the role. He's also known for Munich (2005) and the recent remake of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) and a lot of other films--so many you might not have noticed him. (Case in point: who played Aberforth Dumbledore in Deathly Hallows? Yup.)

Yet another cryptically described character is being added to The CW's stylish superhero series Arrow: this time it's Torchwood and musical theater star (and Central Park West veteran--does he think we've forgotten?) John Barrowman playing a mysterious, but stylish, figure being referred to as the Well Dressed Man. (Appropriate enough--perhaps the creators caught Jack Harkness on the futuristic version of What Not to Wear in the Doctor Who story "Bad Wolf." Fans, of course, are wondering whether a World War II-era officer's greatcoat will somehow figure in his extensive wardrobe.) About the character, producers will say only that is "as mysterious as he is wealthy ... he is an acquaintance of the Queen family and a prominent figure in Starling City." Barrowman's clotheshorse social doyen will be a recurring character.

Tags: Game of Thrones, Ciaran Hinds, Arrow, John Barrowman Follow me on Twitter  |  Follow me on Facebook