Just when you thought the “shared universe” idea couldn’t get any more insane, HBO has once again made a breakthrough, and we are finally getting the Deadwood/Game of Thrones crossover we’ve been waiting for.

Well, maybe not, but it’s still VERY cool that Emmy Award-winning actor Ian McShane will be joining the Game of Thrones cast in a “mystery role” for Season 6. McShane is no stranger to HBO, as he F-bombed his way through the old west on Deadwood as the infamous Al Swearengen. Other credits include a recent arc on the Showtime program Ray Donovan, and the movies Hercules and John Wick.

With the television series finally caught up to the books and now delving into the “original narrative” territory, it’s anyone’s guess as to where we will see McShane appear. The theories will be endless, but I do know how nervous I would be if I was part of the Night’s Watch and THIS was who was in charge:

According to Entertainment Weekly, McShane will have very little screen time, but his character will be pivotal to the story.

Not only is there speculation as to who his character is, there’s also question as to how long that character will be around. As Season 5 showed, every (and I mean EVERY) character has a target on his or her back, so we don’t even know if McShane will be around for Seasons 7 and 8.

Season 6 of Game of Thrones has just begun production, and will premiere next spring on HBO.

So what do you think? Is Ian McShane a perfect addition to the cast? Let me know on Twitter or in the comments below.

H/T: Entertainment Weekly, IMDB

IMAGES: WODKATONIC, Lasica357 via DeviantArt