The Game of Thrones begins

Tom McCarthy has come aboard to direct HBO's fantasy pilot Game of Thrones, on which the star of his first feature, The Station Agent's Peter Dinklage, has been tapped for a key role according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Based on George R.R. Martin's best-selling A Song of Ice and Fire novels, "Thrones" is described as an epic struggle for power set in a vast and violent fantasy kingdom. Dinklage will play Tyrion, the Queen's brother who is treated as an outsider because of his size.

"Thrones" is to begin filming this autumn in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in what the country's First Minister Peter Robinson hails as "the first TV production of such vast size and scale that has been filmed in Northern Ireland."

"Thrones" marks the first TV directorial gig for McCarthy, an actor who wrote and directed two features, 2003's "Station Agent" and 2007's "The Visitor," both of which landed him Indie Spirit Awards. On the acting side, McCarthy next appears in 2012.

McCarthy is a bit of an odd choice to direct this piece of fantasy as his previous work has revolved about quirky stories set in the here and now. Mind you, both his features have been excellent little movies and he may bring a different style to the proceedings that will hopefully make this something a bit special.

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