A New Challenge To The Iron Throne Emerges As Stannis & Melisandre Are Cast In ‘Game Of Thrones’ Season 2

Two major characters in Season 2 of “Game of Thrones” have been cast.

British actor Stephen Dillane, a star of “The Hours” and who played Thomas Jefferson in HBO’s “John Adams” miniseries is joining the cast as the much talked about, but never seen in Season 1 character Stannis Baratheon, Access Hollywood has confirmed.

Stannis is the brother of King Robert Baratheon, who died after being mortally wounded by a boar after drinking heavily while on a hunt in Season 1. He’s also the man Eddard “Ned” Stark said the Iron Throne rightly went to after his brother’s death.

He’ll enter Season 2 ready to assert that claim with the help of a powerful “red priestess” named Melisandre, who will be played by Carice van Houten.

Carice is a 34-year-old Dutch actress, who has appeared alongside Tom Cruise in 2008’s “Valkyrie” as Nina von Stauffenberg, and “Repo Men” in 2010.

Interestingly, she was also in the 2010 film “Black Death,” which also starred Season 1 “Game of Thrones” cast member Sean Bean, who played Ned, until his character’s untimely death in episode 9 of the Emmy-nominated series.

Stephen and Carice join previously confirmed actors Gwendoline Christie, who is playing a knight sworn to Renly Baratheon (Robert and Stannis’ little brother) and Natalie Dormer of “Tudors” fame, who is playing Renly’s wife, Margaery Tyrell.