‘Game of Thrones’ Season 6 Reportedly Casts Young Ned Stark

Beyond all the Jon Snow speculation, Game of Thrones Season 6 has book and TV fans alike uncertain what to expect from the next chapters of George R.R. Martin’s story. The return of Bran and his new teacher has many presuming a variety of flashbacks, which may yet have been confirmed, if a new report casting a young Ned Stark is to be believed.

As had been suggested with recent casting descriptions, Watchers on the Wall reports that 13 year-old English actor Sebastian Croft will play a young Ned Stark in a flashback scene, sparring with an older boy. Who experiences the flashback, or what it reveals will remain to be seen, but many have speculated that Season 6 will illuminate a number of events from Ned Stark’s past, including the potential truth behind Jon Snow’s lineage.

Thus far of Game of Thrones Season 6, screen legend Max von Sydow has been cast as the mysterious Three-Eyed Raven to a returning Bran, while Deadwood alum Ian McShane will also appear in a limited, mysterious role. Apart from a list of directors, debate continually rages as to whether Kit Harington’s Jon Snow will participate in Season 6, even as Harington can clearly be seen in Belfast, and story logistics seemingly confirm scenes set at The Wall next year.

HBO likely won’t offer any official confirmation, but can you see Croft as a young Sean Bean? What might we learn from revisiting Ned Stark’s youth? Game of Thrones Season 6 bows in 2016.