Inside the ‘Game of Thrones’ New York City Premiere (PHOTOS)
Stark family patriarch Ned may have died in Season 1, but Sean Bean was alive and well on the carpet
Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin also attended the red carpet event
Maisie Williams traded Arya’s gritty look for her red carpet walk
Gwendoline Christie, who plays Brienne of Tarth, wins the red carpet game with her showstopping gown
The former Ygritte, Rose Leslie, poses with series star and hubby Kit Harington, known to most as Jon Snow
The former Khal Drogo, Jason Momoa, poses with wife Lisa Bonet on the carpet
The former Queen Margaery, otherwise known as Natalie Dormer, showed up
Khaleesi, Daenerys Targaryen, breaker of chains and mother of dragons’ Emilia Clarke serves up a regal look
Nathalie Emmanuel, aka Missandei, stood out on the carpet in a striking blood orange gown
Peter Dinklage, who plays Tyrion Lannister, poses with his wife Erica Schmidt
Sophie Turner strikes a Sansa Stark confidence-level pose
Aidan Gillen, known as Lord Baelish or Littlefinger on the show, poses with Camille O’Sullivan
Oberyn gets his revenge on “The Mountain” when Hafþor Julius Bjornsson and Pedro Pascal meet on the carpet
Indira Varma and Pedro Pascal channel Ellaria and Oberyn on the carpet
Pedro reenacts his character Oberyn’s demise
Hafþor Julius Bjornsson, aka “The Mountain,” serves up a smile
Euron Greyjoy actor Pilou Asbæk presents a smile to the crowd
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, aka Jaime Lannister, puts his best foot forward
Kristofer Hivju, who plays Tormund, walked the carpet with Gry Molvær Hivju
Isaac Hempstead Wright stands tall… unlike his onscreen counterpart Bran Stark
John Bradley, aka Samwell Tarly, was also present
Jerome Flynn expresses Bronn-like charisma on the carpet
Alfie Allen represents his character Theon Greyjoy on the carpet
Jacob Anderson smiles big while wearing a color close to his character’s name, Grey Worm
Liam Cunningham presents a clean-cut red carpet look, unlike his onscreen counterpart Davos Seaworth
Sibel Kekilli, who played Shae, made an appearance
Mark Addy, also known as Robert Baratheon, cracks a smile
Hannah Murray, who plays Gilly, made an appearance
Carice van Houten traded her dark Melisandre look for a bright white gown
Iain Glen, better known as Jorah Mormont, looks dapper
Joffrey rose from the dead as Jack Gleeson walked the carpet
The former Tywin Lannister actor Charles Dance also stopped by
Rory McCann is nearly unrecognizable without his Hound makeup
Kristian Nairn gave Hodor’s many fans some excitement on the carpet
It’s not every screening where the audience is warned, should anyone’s phone go off during the show, that their face could end up “on my sister’s wall.” Laughter greeted the voice of Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner), floating over the cavernous interior of New York City’s Radio City Music Hall — followed by sister Arya’s (Maisie Williams) voice quipping, “Remember the last person who f**ked with us!”
Reinforcing the high stakes of Wednesday’s world premiere screening of the long-awaited first episode of Game of Thrones‘ final season (airing on HBO April 14), “Keep the Secrets” buttons were handed out, bearing the visage of master spy Varys (Conleth Hill) and in smaller print, “No Spoilers Please,” to the roughly 6,000 invited guests.
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Thrones stars past and present took a bow on the Radio City stage after navigating the (blood?) red-carpet festivities in a Rockefeller Center plaza dominated by a mammoth replica of the Iron Throne, almost rivaling the iconic Christmas tree in size. As the episode began — nearly an hour later than scheduled — the audience clapped and cheered when each fan-favorite character appeared on screen.
The first hour is light on action but filled with memorable reunions and long-anticipated meetings — and a surprising amount of humor: Peter Dinklage as the witty Tyrion gets off the first LOL crack, and a general skittishness around dragons is good for some physical comedy. One significant plot advancement earned gasps and applause.
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Following the screening, stars, executives and guests flew (metaphorically) to the nearby Ziegfeld Ballroom, where a smaller throne sat behind a bar in front of a screen of fire. On an upper level, the more daring could participate in a VR game facing off against an evil wight — think: skeletal zombie — or get a makeover courtesy of Urban Decay’s GoT-branded products, with a “Touch-Up Menu” including a “White Walkers” eyeshadow palette and a “House Lannister” eye pencil in Lannister Gold. It’s what all the best-dressed warriors will be wearing in Westeros this season.
Click through the gallery above to see cast members past and present — Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Peter Dinklage, Maisie Williams, Sophie Turner, and even Sean Bean! — walking the red carpet at the event!
Game of Thrones, Season 8 Premiere, Sunday, April 14, 9/8c, HBO
