‘Game of Thrones’ Season 6 Casts ‘Harry Potter’ Alum as Sam’s Brother

Most Game of Thrones Season 6 castings have come through on-set observation, or at best, vague announcements from HBO, but the latest offers a much clearer look at a major storyline. Harry Potter and UnREAL star Freddie Stroma will join the sixth season, in a role suggestive of Samwell Tarly’s arc this year.

Stroma will take the role of Dickon Tarly, brother to Sam in the books, but never actually appearing directly in George R.R. Martin’s written word. Prior casting calls suggested we’d likely meet Samwell’s family in Season 6, as both he and Gilly (Hannah Murray) head to Oldtown to begin Sam’s training as a Maester.

Elsewhere 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, and Borgen star Pilou Asbæk will play fan-favorite Euron Greyjoy. 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.

We may yet have an additional two seasons beyond the sixth year to pad out George R.R. Martin’s story, but what else can we infer of future Game of Thrones from the arrival of Dickon Tarly?