Fairley to replace Ehle in HBO's 'Thrones'

The cast of HBO's much buzzed about new fantasy series "Game of Thrones" is undergoing minor tweaking.

Related Topics

•Asia Movies, Entertainmen...

Irish actress Michelle Fairley has been tapped for a co-starring role on the adaptation of the George R.R. Martin book series.

The project, recently picked up to series to premiere next spring, is a sprawling tale set in the mythical land of Westeros that tells the story of the noble Stark family who become caught up in high court intrigue when patriarch Eddard (played by Sean Bean) becomes the king's new right-hand man.

Fairley will play Catelyn Stark, Eddard Stark's wife, who originally was betrothed to his older brother. When the older brother is killed, she fulfills her duty by marrying Eddard and securing the alliance between their two houses.

Fairley replaces Jennifer Ehle, who played the role in the pilot.

Production on the show's nine-episode order will begin in Belfast this June.

David Benioff and Dan Weiss created the series, whose pilot was directed by Thomas McCarthy.

Leading the large ensemble cast are Bean, Lena Headey, Mark Addy, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Peter Dinklage.

Fairley, who is little known in the U.S., will play Mrs. Granger in the final two "Harry Potter" movies.