Season four filming winds down in N. Ireland by Ours is the Fury

Yeah, filming is just about wrapped. That doesn’t mean there can’t still be casting news! HBO has officially announced, via Entertainment Weekly, that the wildling leader Styr will be played by Russian actor Yuri Kolokolnikov.

Kolokolnikov has appeared in numerous Russian films and TV shows, but this looks to be his first English-language role.

Styr is a leader of a group of wildlings called the Thenns. He bears the title the Magnar of Thenn. The Thenns are different than most wildlings in that they speak the Old Tongue and have a leadership that passes down via bloodlines. They are savage fighters, tough as nails and often bald.

Winter Is Coming: A good choice! He’s got the look of a tough, weathered wildling alright. Interesting that they seem to have gone a bit younger than the Styr of the books, but not a change that bothers me in any way. I look forward to seeing what Kolokolnikov brings to the role. Welcome to the cast, Yuri!