# Game of Thrones - why so many roles recast? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 1, 2016, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-why-so-many-roles-recast/753624 "2016-05-01T19:01:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2016, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-why-so-many-roles-recast/753624/21 "2016-05-01T23:00:19Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > Funny, I was thinking just the opposite. With the dozens of named characters, it’s amazing that they can keep such a consistent cast. Especially since I’m sure many are presented with more lucrative opportunities as a result of the huge exposure from being on the show. > [@Colibri](#): > > There appear to be [nine recast roles](http://gameofthrones.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Recast_Characters) in GoT, which doesn’t seem like many to me with such a huge cast over six seasons. (I don’t know why Josh Stillwood is on the list, since he is played by an unidentified extra.) That. I was in fact surprised that there were so few recasts over 6 years, and none at all amongst the significant characters. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2016, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-why-so-many-roles-recast/753624/22 "2016-05-01T23:37:13Z")
It looks like the consensus is they just needed warm bodies for some of the roles in the first few seasons. I can’t think of a show like this that had a major role changed but there may be one. (not counting actors who died such as John Ritter) Also on Sopranos, Joseph Gannascoli who played Vito on the Sopranos had a minor role in 1 episode in season 1 before he played Vito. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2016, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-why-so-many-roles-recast/753624/23 "2016-05-01T23:46:27Z")
I didn’t even realize that Whyte was supposed to be the Mountain. He spends his entire run seated, doesn’t he, and looks normal sized as a result? And I’m not one of those people who is constantly confused, I knew most of the characters even back in S2. I thought Daario was recast unwillingly? Skrein stars in Deadpool, so he must be doing okay though. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2016, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-why-so-many-roles-recast/753624/24 "2016-05-01T23:54:34Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > I didn’t even realize that Whyte was supposed to be the Mountain. Whyte had even “bigger” roles in seasons 3, 4, and 5, playing giants Dongo the Doomed and Wun Wun.🙂 He also played the White Walker in the first episode. ---
**Author:** ![Waltzes\_with\_Cacti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90ced4/32.png) [@Waltzes\_with\_Cacti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waltzes_with_Cacti)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-why-so-many-roles-recast/753624/25 "2016-05-02T00:17:46Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > That. I was in fact surprised that there were so few recasts over 6 years, and none at all amongst the significant characters. Any of the significant actors could plausibly be replaced with other performers if push came to shove … except Dinklage. If he decided not to return or was unwell, who could substitute for him? David Rappaport is dead and Warwick Davis is too cute. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-why-so-many-roles-recast/753624.md?page=1)