Ned Stark’s HBO Prequel Return Addressed By Star Ahead Of New Game Of Thrones Release

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Young Ned Stark star Robert Aramayo addresses a potential return to the Game of Thrones franchise.

Before landing the role of Elrond in Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Robert Aramayo previously appeared as a young Ned Stark in flashbacks during season 6 of Game of Thrones. Though Game of Thrones concluded with season 8, a prequel focusing on Ned’s early life is coming soon. A stage production called Game of Thrones: The Mad King will be performed at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in England from July 20 to September 5, 2026.

During a conversation with Liam Crowley from ScreenRant about his new film, I Swear, actor Alfie Allen was asked if he’d be interested in returning as Ned in Game of Thrones, should HBO ever create a TV series based on the play. Allen shared how meaningful the role of Ned was to him personally and for his career, but he also noted that it’s been a long time, and he doesn’t plan to reprise the character. You can find his full response below.

Wow, that’s a first! Playing Ned in Game of Thrones was a really special experience for me. It was one of my earliest jobs, and I loved being a part of the show. I have such fond memories of that time, even though it was quite a while ago.

As a huge TV and movie fan, I remember when Season 6 of Game of Thrones dropped back in 2016 – Aramayo was great in it! But honestly, it’s been amazing to watch his career explode since then. He’s gone on to play a major role in The Rings of Power, and he’s been in a bunch of really cool projects – that Netflix miniseries Behind Her Eyes, an episode of Mindhunter, and even Matthew Vaughn’s The King’s Man. And now, get this – he just won a BAFTA for Best Actor for his work in I Swear! Seriously, the guy is on fire.

Considering how much time has passed and how far his career has come, it’s doubtful he’d reprise his role as young Ned Stark, even if HBO were to create a show focusing on the Mad King. The upcoming stage production will depict the Great Tourney of Harrenhal – where Rhaegar Targaryen first shows his affection for Lyanna Stark – and the subsequent Robert’s Rebellion, a war sparked by their relationship that dramatically changed Westeros.

In season 6 of Game of Thrones, we see Aramayo’s character during the final days of Robert’s Rebellion. He travels to the Tower of Joy to find his sister, Lyanna, and fights past the guards protecting her. As Lyanna is dying, he promises to protect and raise her son, keeping the boy’s true parentage a secret. The new prequel series takes place before these events.

As a huge fan, I’ve been hearing about a potential prequel series focusing on Robert’s Rebellion for ages, and it’s exciting to think about! What really appeals to me is how close in time it would be to the very beginning of Game of Thrones – much closer than House of the Dragon or A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. It feels like it would connect so much more directly to the characters and events we already love. However, it looks like The Mad King might end up being a live stage show only, similar to what happened with Stranger Things: The First Shadow. Though thankfully, a filmed version of the stage play is coming to Netflix later this year, which is something, at least!

Returning to the role of Ned Stark could be difficult for Ismael Aramayo in the near future because he’s still committed to filming The Rings of Power. While Season 3 is finished and will be released in 2026, the show has been renewed for a total of five seasons. Plus, his character, Elrond, is confirmed to survive and remain a central figure in the story based on The Lord of the Rings books, which would create scheduling conflicts with a potential new Game of Thrones spin-off.

I Swear comes to U.S. theaters on April 24.

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2026-04-22 03:13