What Every Game of Thrones Star Has Done Since the Series Ended

by

Bringing Game of Thrones to television wasn’t straightforward. In the early 2000s, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss approached George R.R. Martin about adapting his popular A Song of Ice and Fire book series into a TV show. While others had pitched ideas to Martin before, Benioff and Weiss agreed with him that a series would be a better fit than a movie. HBO commissioned a pilot episode, but it didn’t impress executives. They asked Benioff and Weiss to revise the story and replace some of the actors.

The second attempt at the pilot proved successful for Game of Thrones, giving HBO exactly what they wanted. The show then enjoyed eight seasons of immense popularity, largely thanks to its talented cast. It’s disappointing the series had to end, but here’s a look at what the Game of Thrones actors have been up to since then.

15) Iwan Rheon (Ramsay Bolton)

Ramsay Bolton was a truly frightening character in Westeros, known for his willingness to kill anyone – even family – to get ahead. Iwan Rheon played the cruel character for six seasons, until Ramsay met his gruesome end, betrayed by his own hounds. Since finishing his role on Game of Thrones, Rheon has continued to act in various projects, including the series American Gods and Barbarians. Most recently, he’s lent his voice to the character of Remus Lupin in the full-cast audiobooks of Harry Potter.

14) Charles Dance (Tywin Lannister)

Tywin Lannister, the patriarch of House Lannister, didn’t appear until late in the first season of Game of Thrones. Despite being absent for several episodes, he quickly became a major threat to the Starks during the War of the Five Kings. After leaving Game of Thrones, Charles Dance, the actor who played Tywin, joined the Godzilla franchise, appearing in Godzilla: King of the Monsters. More recently, he’s been part of the success of Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein series on Netflix.

13) Aidan Gillen (Peter Baelish)

Peter Baelish, known as Littlefinger, always seemed to know everything happening in Westeros, whether he was in King’s Landing or the Eyrie. He operated behind the scenes, manipulating events, but his scheming ultimately led to his downfall and left actor Aidan Gillen seeking new roles. Gillen recently appeared with Jeremy Renner in the series Mayor of Kingstown, and he’s currently filming a movie called Panic Carefully with Julia Roberts, Elizabeth Olsen, and Eddie Redmayne.

12) Kit Harrington (Jon Snow)

When Game of Thrones started, Jon Snow seemed happy enough joining the Night’s Watch. But things quickly changed, and he found himself right in the thick of it, ultimately forced to make a really difficult decision that led to his banishment. It’s interesting to see Kit Harington, the actor who played Jon, move on. He’s mostly left that iconic role behind, popping up in Marvel’s Eternals and even The Family Plan 2. It shows he’s eager to explore different kinds of projects, which is great to see.

11) Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark)

I remember when Sansa Stark first arrived in King’s Landing – she genuinely believed it was the center of the world, the place to be. That idealism didn’t last long, of course, as she quickly found herself navigating a really brutal landscape just to survive. And it’s fascinating to see Sophie Turner consistently choose complex characters after that role. From the intense Jean Grey in the X-Men films to the deliciously ruthless socialite in Do Revenge, she clearly isn’t afraid of a challenge. Now, she’s taking on another iconic character – Lara Croft – in the upcoming Prime Video Tomb Raider series, and I’m really excited to see what she brings to it.

10) Maisie Williams (Arya Stark)

I was completely captivated by Arya Stark’s journey in Game of Thrones. Seeing her go to King’s Landing and face so much hardship was tough, but she really grew into this incredible, resourceful person – it was amazing how she ultimately became the one who defeated the Night King! It’s no surprise that Maisie Williams, who played her so brilliantly across all eight seasons, needed a bit of a break after such a huge role. I’ve been following her work since then, and she’s been fantastic in things like The New Mutants, The Luckiest Man in America, and now The New Look on Apple TV+. It’s great to see her continuing to shine.

9) Isaac Hempstead Wright (Bran Stark)

Bran Stark went through a lot in Game of Thrones, starting with a fall from a window and being exiled from his family. Despite everything, he became the powerful Three-Eyed Raven and ultimately ended up as king. It’s understandable that playing such a transformative character might have been hard to follow, as Isaac Hempstead Wright, the actor who played Bran, has only appeared in one project since the show finished – the sci-fi movie Voyagers.

8) Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen)

Daenerys Targaryen, unlike many characters in Game of Thrones, didn’t begin the series in Westeros. Her story started in Essos, where she gathered an army to reclaim her family’s throne. Although her character’s ending was divisive, actress Emilia Clarke has continued to thrive in Hollywood, appearing in the Marvel series Secret Invasion and providing voice work for several animated films.

7) Iain Glen (Jorah Mormont)

As a huge fan, I always felt Daenerys really relied on Jorah – he was essential to her journey. It was great to see them reconnect when things got tough, and their relationship felt so much stronger for it. But you know, Iain Glen, the actor who played Jorah, is incredibly versatile! He’s not just someone who supports other characters. He’s proven that with roles like Batman in Titans and Dr. Pete Nichols in the fantastic Silo on Apple TV+. He really shines in those parts too.

6) Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister)

While Game of Thrones led viewers to believe the Night King was the main villain, Cersei Lannister was actually the show’s true antagonist, ruling through fear and punishing anyone who opposed her. Lena Headey brilliantly played Cersei for all eight seasons, and she’s now using those skills in her new role as the lead in the Netflix series The Abandons. The show centers around a woman battling to defend her property in Oregon.

5) Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jamie Lannister)

As a huge fan of Game of Thrones, I always understood Cersei’s actions stemmed from her deep, and very secret, love for her brother, Jaime. It was heartbreaking to watch Jaime try to break away from her, only to end up back with her when everything was falling apart. It doesn’t surprise me that Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, who played Jaime so well, seems right at home in historical dramas – I just found out he played William the Conqueror in the BBC’s King & Conqueror, and honestly, he looks amazing with a sword and on horseback!

4) Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister)

Tyrion Lannister had a strained relationship with his family, who didn’t accept him. This led him to offer his skills to Daenerys as her Hand. Actor Peter Dinklage brilliantly portrayed the complexities of Tyrion’s character, earning widespread recognition. He’s gone on to star in successful projects like The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and Wicked.

3) Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth)

People often dismissed Brienne of Tarth simply because she was a woman in a traditionally male field. But she consistently proved them wrong, defeating every opponent she faced. Similarly, Gwendoline Christie, the actress who played Brienne, has overcome challenges to become a sought-after performer. She currently stars as Lorne in the Apple TV+ series, Severance.

2) Richard Madden (Robb Stark)

The ‘Red Wedding’ is widely considered the most shocking and upsetting scene in Game of Thrones, largely due to the death of Robb Stark, a generally honorable character. Despite his character’s relatively short run – only three seasons – Richard Madden, who played Robb, has found considerable success afterward. He’s become well-known for his roles as Ikaris in Eternals and Mason Kane in Citadel.

1) Sean Bean (Eddard Stark)

Eddard Stark, also known as Ned, was a central figure at the beginning of Game of Thrones. However, his character was killed off at the end of the first season. Fortunately, Sean Bean, the actor who played Ned, was already well-known before the show. He’s continued to have a successful career, recently appearing in the Snowpiercer TV series and MGM+’s Robin Hood.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/movies/list/12-major-franchises-netflix-would-own-after-buying-warner-bros-what-might-be-planned-for-them/embed/#

Read More

2025-12-18 22:16