Lena Headey Cast in HBO’s GAME OF THRONES Pilot

‘Tis the season for TV news: pilot orders, pickups and casting stories have started flying as television networks, large and small, shake off the dust of their long summer hiatuses.  Earlier today we reported that HBO had picked up Martin Scorsese’s “Boardwalk Empire” to series and yet we’ve sort of let another pilot from the one-time king of pay cable, “Game of Thrones”, fall through the cracks.  But that all stops today because the network’s adaptation of the wildly popular fantasy novel has just added “300″ star Lena Headey to its cast.  If that got your attention feel free to hit the jump for details.

According to Maureen Ryan of The Chicago Tribune Lena Headey – Sarah Connor of Fox’s “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” – has come aboard “Game of Thrones” in the role of Cersei Lannister.  Prior parts in the fantasy miniseries have been filled by Sean Bean, Peter Dinklage, Jennifer Ehle and Mark Addy.  Filming will begin this October in Ireland.

HBO’s “Game of Thrones” pilot is based on author George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Fire and Ice” series of medieval fantasy novels.  Martin is an author who has a serious and devoted following in the sci-fi/fantasy genre, but for those of you who may be just learning about the planned “Game of Thrones” series, let me put it to you this way: if you like epic quests, jousts, knights and freaky creatures than this is probably the show for you.

All of the casting reports on “Game of Thrones” have been followed avidly by Martin’s fans, although it took the addition of Headey to get me to finally pay attention.  Trust me though, I will be following the pilot proceedings from this point on… which means, if HBO ends up passing on the “Game of Thrones” pilot, I will now have a reason to be truly disappointed.