As the moderator of the "Game of Thrones" panel at this year's San Diego Comic-Con, author of the source novels (fantasy series "A Song of Ice and Fire") George R.R. Martin was quite the naughty one, making frequent references to his so-called co-creator -- a breast-obsessed 13-year-old who was introduced in a "Saturday Night Live" sketch earlier this year -- and he explained the boy's truancy by saying, "There was a scene in Belfast with no boobies in it, and he needed to go there to put that to rights."
Moderator Martin nudged the actors to discuss their numerous nude scenes. To Alfie Allen (who plays Theon Greyjoy), he joked, "You've had a lot of sex scenes, all thanks to things I wrote. And I haven't even gotten a box of chocolates from you."
Emilia Clarke, the ethereal English actress who plays Daenerys Targaryen, was also teased by the saucy scribe. In Martin's books, the Qarth-ian wardrobe was quite revealing, but in the series, not so much. "My 13-year-old producer in charge of boobies has fallen down on the job," he cracked at Clarke. "Someone has changed the design of the Qarth-ian gown." The actress nodded and said, "We did change it slightly, so we could be more warm."
No word on whether new cast member Dame Diana Rigg will, as they say in Britain, get her kit off, but excitement in the room certainly swelled when it was announced the now-blond beauty would be playing Olenna Redwyne, the Queen of Thorns. An icon, especially to those of Comic-Con ilk, she is best known for her role as cat-suit clad Mrs. Peel in the swinging '60s spy-fi series "The Avengers," but Rigg has been working steadily ever since, especially onstage (she's won Tony Awards -- black leather not required).
Rigg is just one of 14 new characters introduced at the SDCC 2012. "I'm going to have to start killing off some of these characters to make room for the new ones," Martin laughed. (Presumably Sean Bean, who died famously unexpectedly at the end of Season 1, could not be reached for comment.)
Here's a quick rundown of who's new and what they'll do:
Anton Lesser as Qyburn -- former maester of the Citadel
Clive Russell
as Bryndon "The Blackfish" Tully -- brave knight, uncle of Catelyn Stark, estranged brother of Lord HosterDiana Rigg as Lady Olenna Tyrell -- grandma, tough cookie, clan leader
Ellie Kendrick as Meera Reed -- stark loyalist, protector, northward bound
Kerry Ingram as Shireen Baratheon -- lonely only child, bookworm
Kristofer Hivju as Tormund Giantsbane -- wildling warrior, chief lieutenant, bearded
Mackenzie Crook as Orell -- wildling raider, skinchanger, animal control expert
Nathalie Emannuel as Missandei -- Naath native, educated slave, cunning linguist
Paul Kaye as Thoros of Myr -- card-carrying member of Brotherhood Without Banners, Red Priest, citizen of Myr
Philip McGinley as Anguy -- archer, outlaw
Richard Dormer as Beric Dondarrion -- former Lord of Blackhaven, Brotherhood Without Banners leader, vigilante outlaw
Tara Fitzgerald as Selyse Baratheon -- Mrs. Stannis Baratheon, banished, tower-tethered
Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Jojen Reed -- ally to Bran Stark, youthful, mysterious
Tobias Menzies as Edmure Tully -- the new Lord of Riverrun
"Game of Thrones" Season 3 premieres March 31, 2013, on HBO.
