Amazon’s Lord of the Rings Sets Main Cast, Including Young Ned Stark

Amazon Studios has announced the first wave of regulars who will star in its much-anticipated Lord of the Rings series, revealing the 15 actors at TCA and on Twitter. One particularly splashy name? Robert Aramayo, whom many viewers will recognize as having played a young Ned Stark in four episodes of HBO’s Game of Thrones. Aramayo is actually the second GoT alum Amazon’s LOTR series has recruited (the first being Joseph Mawle, aka Benjen Stark), signaling the streamer’s hopes to create a similarly successful fantasy epic.

Dubbed “the first members of our fellowship” by Amazon, Aramayo, Mawle, and previously announced stars Markella Kavenagh, Morfydd Clark and Ema Horvath will be joined in the series’ core cast by Owain Arthur, Nazanin Boniadi, Tom Budge, Morfydd Clark, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Tyroe Muhafidin, Sophia Nomvete, Megan Richards, Dylan Smith, Charlie Vickers and Daniel Weyman. “Join them as they embark on the journey of a lifetime,” the final tweet in Amazon’s thread teases. Naturally, there are no details on any of their characters as of yet.

You’ll notice Will Poulter’s name is not included on that list—though the Black Mirror: “Bandersnatch” and Midsommar star was tapped to star in the new LOTR series last September, he has since departed the project due to scheduling conflicts, per Deadline. It would appear that Aramayo is taking over the Poulter role: a character reportedly named Beldor.

“After undertaking an extensive global search, we are delighted finally to reveal the first group of brilliant performers who will take part in Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings series,” said showrunners and writers J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay in a statement. “These exceptionally talented women and men are more than just our actors: they are the newest members of an ever-expanding creative family that is now working tirelessly to bring Middle-earth to life anew for fans and audiences worldwide.”

LOTR table reads are currently ongoing in New Zealand, with production expected to begin in February—the series has already been renewed for a second season. Stay tuned for further updates on the show and catch up on everything we know so far right here.