In this past week’s episode, Roose Bolton mentions that he has a bastard son at his castle, the Dreadfort, and suggests to Robb that he could be sent to take back Winterfell. Although he isn’t named in the show, book readers know him as Ramsay Snow and/or Ramsay Bolton. He is a character that appears for the first time in the second book, although he was not cast for the second season, leading some fans to speculate whether the character had been cut entirely. But now we know he is in!

In the books, Ramsay is described as having a “fleshy appearance, with large, wormy lips, long hair … and pale eyes” (per AWOIAF). A recent casting breakdown for season three indicated that the production is looking for a “male 20-30, but weird and extreme looking.” Sounds like Ramsay to me!

Let’s take a look at some popular fan choices for the role of the Bastard of Bolton.

Cillian Murphy – This Irish actor has been a top choice of the fans for the role of Ramsay for a while. Most people would probably recognize him from Batman Begins or Inception. While I think he does have the look (those pale eyes are perfect) and the acting chops to be a good Ramsay, and he has even been cast by Nina Gold before, I think his career in Hollywood may derail any hope of him signing up for the role.

Robert Sheehan – Another Irish actor, Sheehan is perhaps best-known for his role in the E4 sci-fi show Misfits. He also appeared in the Nina Gold-cast Red Riding mini-series, alongside other Thrones cast members Sean Bean and Mark Addy. While he’s definitely got the pale eyes, I’m not sure his overall look is “weird and extreme” enough. He also looks to have a pretty busy schedule currently. But a role like this could be a good move for him career-wise, as he is mostly unknown in the States.

Domhnall Gleeson – Yet another Irish actor, there’s no doubt Gleeson has the right look for the role. He wouldn’t even need a wig. (Any time they can avoid using a wig, they should.) His previous credits include appearances in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 & 2, Never Let Me Go, and True Grit. He has also been cast by Nina Gold before… twice actually. His film career seems to be burgeoning at the moment though, with roles in a number of upcoming movies, which could be a strike against him.

Iwan Rheon – A Welsh actor who has also appeared in Misfits, Rheon has gained a good bit of support from the fans for the role of Ramsay. He’s got the look and with it being confirmed that he won’t be returning for the fourth series of Misfits, he seems to have an open schedule. Like the others, he also has been cast by Nina Gold before which, as we know, can be a help. I’d say out of the four choices presented here, Rheon has the best shot.

What do you think? Do you like any of these four choices? Or do you have someone else in mind for the Bastard of Bolton? Sound off in the comments!