Harry Potter Alum Miranda Richardson joins the Game of Thrones Prequel

The Harry Potter-Game of Thrones Crossover Club is growing, folks. Miranda Richardson, whom we loved to hate as the (in)famously nosy journalist Rita Skeeter in the HP films, has joined the cast of the yet unnamed Game of Thrones prequel. The role has been described as a ‘series regular’ and she will be present in the pilot. So it can be safely said that it’s a major role, although no other details have been revealed.

The Harry Potter franchise has been loaning actors to the Game Of Thrones universe for quite some time now. Most famous of these include ‘Tonks’ Natalie Tena assuming the role of Osha in GoT,  and David Bradley, the man behind Hogwart’s often despicable caretaker Argus Filch, as an even more despicable Walder Frey.

Michelle Fairley had a blink-and-you-miss appearance as Hermione Granger’s mother in the penultimate Harry Potter film but Game Of Thrones gave her a meatier role as Catelyn Stark. The prequel continues this trend, with Jamie Campbell Bower (young Grindelwald) and Toby Regbo (young Dumbledore) also joining the cast.

The prequel series is being developed by George R.R. Martin and Jane Goldman. HBO has provided a short synopsis, and not much else:

“Taking place thousands of years before the events of ‘Game of Thrones,’ the series chronicles the world’s descent from the Golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour. And only one thing is for sure: from the horrifying secrets of Westeros’ history to the true origin of the white walkers, the mysteries of the East to the Starks of legend … it’s not the story we think we know.”

The pilot was commissioned in June last year and if greenlit by the channel, may start to air from late 2020 or 2021. Throughout the year, big names have been confirmed to join the cast, Naomi Watts, Naomi Ackie, Denise Gough, Sheila Atim and Ivanno Jeremiah notable among them. With the BAFTA and Golden Globe-winner Richardson pitching in, the prequel sure looks like a star-studded affair.