"There are so many quality shows on television that I love and admire but I don't think there's one with the scale of Game of Thrones... it's simply huge."
After teasing fans with those silly albeit effective Vine videos, HBO released the first full trailer for Season 4 of Game of Thrones last week: one that actually represented the immense scale of the fantasy series. And now comes a brief look behind the scenes at the truly epic production that also contains a few new insights into the upcoming episodes.
From a purely logistical standpoint, there's no denying that the production is immense and each season accomplished is quite a feat. Basically, the Game of Thrones crew — whether it's writer-creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss discussing the show's unparalleled scale or production designer Deborah Riley breaking down its crazy schedule — are trying to explain to fans why it takes a full year to create, shoot, and get a new season of the fantasy series onto the small screen. What did they say? Six hundred script pages. nineteen weeks, four countries and two simultaneous shoots. I'd say a 'wow' is in order.
The spot also mentioned that HBO has brought in six different directors to handle Season 4's ten episodes and the line-up is an impressive collection of the series' best, with Michelle MacLaren ("Second Sons" and "The Bear and The Maiden Fair") once again getting double duty this year and Neil Marshall ("Blackwater") returning to helm the penultimate installment. And though David Benioff and D.B. Weiss wrote most of the episodes, George R.R. Martin has once again taken one on, this time penning the second of the season.
The 'On the Set' promo can't help but show a few new looks at the upcoming season while going behind the scenes and interviewing several familiar faces. Maisie Williams' Arya shares hows she'll be shooting in two different countries while Ian Glenn's Jorah marvels at the giant yet well-oiled machine that is the Game of Thrones production. We also get to see that he and Emilia Clarke's Daenerys continue their journey in the warmest location while others, like Kit Harrington's Jon Snow, aren't so lucky. The final shot of Jon battling at the Wall is enough to get me excited for 'Winter,' not to mention the mystical image of Isaac Hempstead-Wright's Bran bonding with a Weirwood in the snowy North.
The spot wouldn't be complete without showing off King's Landing, and there are various looks at new sets and old — as well as glimpses of Jack Gleeson's Joffrey, Lena Headey's Cersei, Natalie Dormer's Margaery and Charles Dance's Tywin. Oh, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau's Jamie and Gwndolyne Chritsie's Brienne are also seen all cleaned-up and chummy in the capital city. Peter Dinklage's Tyrion gets the, uh, lion's share of the behind the scenes video, though: once again walking around King's Landing in those shackles and, out of character, commenting on the quality of the scripts. According to him, Season four has the best writing and most unexpected turns of the series thus far. For those that couldn't handle 'The Red Wedding,' you have been warned.
Game of Thrones returns for its fourth season on Sunday, April 6 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO. Based on the novels by George R.R. Martin, the series was adapted by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss and stars Peter Dinklage, Kit Harrington, Emilia Clarke, Lena Headey and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.
