HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel begins filming in Northern Ireland

HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel pilot has begun filming in Northern Ireland, the same location the original Game of Thrones series also filmed, Entertainment Weekly has confirmed.

RELATED: Euphoria Season 1 Episode 1 Recap

S.J. Clarkson (The Defenders, Jessica Jones, Untitled Star Trek Sequel) will direct the pilot. The cast includes Naomi Watts, Josh Whitehouse and Naomi Ackie (Star Wars: Episode IX), Tony nominee Denise Gough (Angels in America, Guerrilla), Jamie Campbell Bower (Sweeney Todd, Mortal Instruments), Sheila Atim (Harlots), Ivanno Jeremiah (Black Mirror, Humans), Georgie Henley (The Chronicles of Narnia), Alex Sharp (To the Bone), Toby Regbo (Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald), Marquis Rodriguez (When They See Us, Saturday Church), John Simm (Strangers), Richard McCabe (Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams), John Heffernan (Dracula) and Dixie Egerickx (The Secret Garden).

The big-budgeted spinoff is created by Jane Goldman (Kick-Ass, Kingsman) and GOT author George R.R. Martin, written by Jane Goldman based on a story by her and Martin. The untitled pilot takes the prequel concept to a new level as it is set thousands of years before the events of Game of Thrones. The series chronicles the world’s descent from the Golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour. And 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.

Goldman (X-Men: First Class) is serving as showrunner and will executive produce alongside Martin as well as fellow Game of Thrones executive producer Vince Gerardis and co-creator/executive producer Daniel Zelman (Damages, Bloodline).

RELATED: Game of Thrones: Lena Headey ‘Wanted a Better Death’ for Cersei

Martin confirmed that none of the characters or actors from the current Game of Thrones series will be appearing in the prequel since it is set ten thousand years before the events of Game of Thrones. He also noted that “three more Game of Thrones prequels, set in different periods and featuring different characters and storylines, remain in active development.”