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'Game of Thrones' Actor Joseph Mawle Reportedly Cast in 'Lord of the Rings' TV Show as Villain

By Jessica Bowman

BBC One's "Troy: Fall Of A City" Preview Screening At The BFI Southbank
BBC One's "Troy: Fall Of A City" Preview Screening At The BFI Southbank / David M. Benett/Getty Images

It seems that we will be seeing a citizen of Westeros take up station in Middle Earth.

ScreenRant reports that Joseph Mawle has been cast to be the lead villain, Oren, on Amazon's upcoming Lord of the Rings series. Mawle is best known for playing Benjen Stark on Game of Thrones, the brother of Ned Stark who famously saves Jon Snow (Kit Harington) from the Night King beyond the wall.

The highly-anticipated show, based on the treasured novels by J.R.R. Tolkien, is created by Patrick McKay and John D. Payne. Though little is known about the storyline or Mawle’s character, ScreenRant does report that the series it will be shot in New Zealand much like the blockbuster Lord of the Rings films in 2001-2003. Also, the series is said to take place before the events of the movies, during Middle Earth's Second Age.

Us ultra-nerds of both fandoms are finally going to get our George R.R. Martin/J.R.R. Tolkien crossover with good ol’ Uncle Benjen.