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Ian McShane Basically Confirms a GAME OF THRONES Return and His Character

Listen up, citizens: this one is a major, major Game of Thrones spoiler-filled post. Meaning: what happens in this post is likely to shed light on a major plot point for season six of the series—which doesn’t debut until April 24—so if you don’t want to know? Turn away now!

Alright, now that we’re settled: Ian McShane has confirmed his character’s sole purpose is to bring back a long-dead character. In an interview on Thursday morning with BBC Breakfast, a morning news program, the recently announced Mr. Wednesday (from Starz’s American Gods adaptation) will play a character who’s “really an ex-warrior who has become a peacenik. So I have this group of peaceful sort of a like cult, a peaceful tribe. Who brings back…I bring back a much-loved character who everyone thinks is dead.”

Previously—in a quote from Pop Goes the News—McShane’s brief stint on the series was hinted as “responsible for bringing somebody back that you think you’re never going to see again. I’ll leave it at that.”

Now, this leaves us with two options: Lady Stoneheart—otherwise known as dead Catelyn Stark—and the Hound, a.k.a. Sandor Clegane, the Mountain’s little brother (also newly undead thanks to the creepmaester over in King’s Landing). In the books, you’ll all no doubt remember that Stoneheart is brought back by Lord Beric Dondarrion, leader of the Brotherhood without Banners. Now, could they change this? Of course, but it feels sort of pointless, especially since Beric was introduced seasons ago.

This leaves the latter option, Clegane, as the most likely. First of all: fans love him, and we all figured him dead. But what’s most striking is the description of his character, “an ex-warrior-turned-peacenik,” that especially solidifies this theory. In the books, there are rumors that Clegane’s galavanting about the countryside, being a bit of a bandit with the Brotherhood without Banners behind him (which turns out to be the former Brave Companions, Rorge, and Biter), so it’s no coincidence the description of the character feels as though it could fit the Beric mold (that’s what makes it vague enough for him to say!).

But there’s a long-held fan theory that says a now-peaceful gravedigger on the Quiet Isle is actually the reanimated corpse of the Hound, brought back to life by the Elder Brother, a one-time Targaryen knight with features similar to McShane’s (large, square head, a heavy jaw). He has the powers of a healer, making him fully capable of reanimating the dead—which mirrors his own trajectory as a sort of revenant of the Battle of the Trident (he was thought and left for dead, stripped of his armor, and floated downriver).

So, if we were a betting sort—and we’re really not, but sometimes wish we were—our money would be on McShane’s role as being the Elder Brother. So get your Cleganebowl airhorns ready, folks.

Want to know about the Cleganebowl? Watch this episode of Nerdist News for more details!

Are you looking forward to Ian McShane’s time on Thrones? Let us know in the comments below.

HT: The Hollywood Reporter
Image Credit: HBO

Alicia Lutes is Managing Editor of Nerdist and President Queen Khaleesi of the Known Realm of Los Angeles. Find her on Twitter (@alicialutes).

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