Game of Thrones is arguably the most successful HBO show of all time. People from all walks of life love the show–probably because of the gruesome deaths, the complicated plot, and the nearly-constant nudity.
But despite the fact that more than 14 million people tune in to every episode live, not to mention those who DVR, buy the DVDs or stream illegally, there are a bunch of things about the beloved show that people don’t know. We’ve rounded up a list of the craziest, funniest, and most random facts from behind the scenes to hold you over until next Sunday night.
1. Gwendoline Christie (Brenne of Tarth) does not know her birthday.
2. Rose Leslie, who plays Ygrette, grew up in an actual castle in Scotland.
3. Jerome Flynn, otherwise known as Bronn, was in a 90’s doo-wop group called Robson and Jerome. They had three #1 singles in the UK. Including this one:
4. You might know that the Dothraki language was created just for the show, but there are some fun easter eggs in the language, like the word for “eagle” being kolver–after Stephen Colbert.
5. Hodor is actually a world-famous DJ.
6. There is a severed head of George Bush in the background of one scene.
7. Bet you didn’t notice this: there have actually been 13 different intros to the show, because the locations in each episode keep changing.
8. The average episode costs $6 million dollars to make. If that sounds like a lot, each episode of Boardwalk Empire and True Blood each cost $5 million, while each episode of Friends cost $10 million in it’s final season.
9. The show is filmed over six countries: the United States, Croatia, Morocco, Malta, Iceland and Northern Ireland.
10. Allegedly, Gandalf’s sword can be found in the center of the Iron Throne. So is the sword of Robin Hood. Who knew the Iron Throne could be any cooler?
11. There is a rare species of sea-slug named after the Mother of Dragons: Tritonia khaleesi.
12. Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, who plays The Mountain, is the third strongest man in the world. And because of his crazy strength, the show’s most gruesome death (RIP Oberyn) would actually be possible.
13. The CGI effects for the three dragons was based on movements of geese and bats.
14. There was almost a Game of Thrones movie instead. But the author, George R. R. Martin, thought that a movie couldn’t do the story justice, and would only sign on with HBO.
15. Martin tries not to let the show affect the books (since they are still being written). The one exception: Osha, played by Natalia Tena, who was originally intended as a “throw-off” character, but after seeing the show, Martin decided she had more depth.
16. The idea of killing off so many of the stories heroes comes from a comic book character: Wonder Man, who was killed tragically in his first appearance in the “Avengers” comics.
17. George R. R. Martin has revealed his story’s ending to the producers of the show, just in case he never gets to finish the books. Which is both amazing and incredibly disappointing. Finish the books, Martin!
[Featured Image Credit: viralblog.com]
