Naomi Watts will reportedly be the “cornerstone” star of HBO’s upcoming Game of Thrones prequel series.
The King Kong star will play a “charismatic socialite hiding a dark secret”, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Watts, whose character’s name in the fantasy series has not been revealed, is a highly celebrated actor with Academy Award nominations for her roles in 21 Grams and The Impossible.
The prequel is being developed by X-Men: First Class and Kick-Ass writer Jane Goldman and A Song of Ice and Fire author George RR Martin.
It will be set thousands of years before the events of the current series and chronicle the world of Westeros and Essos’s descent from the golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour.
HBO says: “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 new series won’t premiere until at least a year after the current one ends with its eighth season in 2019.
