Quick hits: More extras, Helfer auditions, and ratings

Here are a few Game of Thrones-related tidbits from the past 24 hours:

First up, a new casting call for Game of Thrones extras has gone out from Extras NI via email and the Northern Ireland Screen website. It is an urgent call, asking for “dark, swarthy skinned, muscly men that are at least 5ft 10 to 6ft 6 in height to be part of a warrior tribe – the Dothraki’s.” If you think you have the right look, be sure to click the link above to find out how to apply. This casting call also means that they still have some Dothraki scenes that will be filmed in Northern Ireland. Unless they plan to ship these extras to Malta, which I highly doubt.

Secondly, a report popped up last night about Tricia Helfer, of Battlestar Galactica fame, apparently auditioning for Game of Thrones at some point. Helfer, you may remember, was a big fan favorite for the role of Cersei. The report indicates that the audition was “recent” and that the role she auditioned for eventually went to Elizabeth Banks. Both of which would be untrue, in my opinion, as the only role Helfer could have been auditioning for is Cersei. As we know, the role of Cersei was cast with Lena Headey over a year ago now.

My guess as to what happened? Helfer did in fact audition for Cersei and when she learned she didn’t get the role she, or one of her people, did some Googling to find out who did and stumbled upon Banks being talked about as Cersei. This was because of a misinterpreted casting clue from GRRM. Helfer must have assumed Banks won the role and never bothered finding out more info. The inclusion of “recently” seems to have been a mistake on the reporter’s part.

UPDATE: Tricia Helfer has confirmed via her Twitter that she auditioned for the role of Cersei and adds that because of the audition she has begun reading the books and has been enjoying them.

Lastly, reports of the ratings for Boardwalk Empire have just been released and they are impressive. 4.8 million viewers for the initial airing, 7.1 million if you add in the multiplays [and it got picked up for a second season straight after]. This is great news for fans of Game Of Thrones because HBO reportedly spent $10 million on marketing Empire, and it looks like it worked. Hopefully they will now give Thrones the same treatment.

UPDATE: Ran from Westeros was able to uncover a similar casting call in Malta that sounds very much like it is for Game of Thrones. Interesting that they specifically ask for blond and fair-skinned extras, more proof to the speculation that they may be filming more than just Dany’s scenes in Malta?

[Thanks to ninepennyking for the Helfer report and TVMoJoe for the ratings info.]

• Published on 09/21/2010 at 12:02 PM CDT
• Last updated on 09/23/2010 at 3:41 PM CDT