Ray Stevenson as Harren Hoare
Now, I know I said we were looking for some fresh faces for this series, but hear me out. Ray Stevenson could be like the Sean Bean (Game of Thrones) or Matt Smith (House of the Dragon) of this series – a well-known veteran actor with plenty of Hollywood cache. And we think he’d be perfect for the role of Harren Hoare.
If you’re not familiar with Stevenson’s work, you might remember him from his role as Titus Pullo in the HBO series Rome, or as Volstagg in the Thor movies. He’s a versatile actor who can play both heroic and villainous roles with equal skill, and we think he’d be great as the last king of the Iron Islands.
Harren Hoare is a massive man with a thick neck and muscular arms. He’s known for building Harrenhal, a massive castle that was destroyed by Aegon’s dragons during the War of Conquest. Despite his intimidating appearance, Harren is not a great military leader, and he’s eventually killed by dragonfire.
But there’s more to Harren than just his physical appearance and his unfortunate end. He’s also a complex character with a rich backstory. Harren was born into a line of kings who had ruled the Iron Islands for centuries, and he had to contend with his own ambitious vassals and the ambitions of the mainland lords. He was a man of contradictions, a builder who created a great work of architecture but who was also known for his cruelty and tyranny.
Stevenson’s experience and skill as an actor would be perfect for bringing Harren to life on the screen. He has a natural gravitas that would suit the character, and he’s shown in his previous roles that he can convey both strength and vulnerability.