The airplane landed smoothly at Belfast International Airport. From there, Lucas and the rest of the production team set off for their first filming location. The group was filled with excitement as they made their way to Castle Ward, a journey that took a few hours but was filled with anticipation for the initial scenes of the "Seven Kingdoms" series.
Traveling through the rolling landscapes of Northern Ireland, the air was alive with conversations about the upcoming scenes and the dynamics between characters.
Castle Ward, known for its historic architecture and stunning natural scenery, promised to be the ideal setting for the ambitious reshoot of the series pilot.
***
So far, Lucas had only become close to one member of the cast, Kit Harington, who portrays Jon Snow. They hit it off before Lucas excused himself to dive into "A Song of Ice and Fire," comparing it with the script he held.
In his past life, Lucas had read "A Song of Ice and Fire," and from merely watching the series back then, he noticed a significant discrepancy in the portrayal of Robb Stark compared to the book. In the novels, Robb Stark is depicted as a more complex character, with a deeper insight into his strategic mind and the burdens of leadership he faces. Conversely, the series tends to focus more on his romantic relationships and personal dilemmas, somewhat sidelining his tactical acumen and the political aspects of his role.
Noticing the discrepancy, Lucas decided to approach the director, Tim Van Patten, who was deeply engaged in a discussion about upcoming scenes with the crew and the showrunners, David and Weiss.
Eventually, Lucas found the right moment to share his thoughts without interrupting the ongoing conversation.
"Lucas, do you have something to add?" David inquired as he noticed Lucas approaching, prompting the director and crew members to turn their attention to him.
"Hi, I wanted to discuss my portrayal of Robb Stark," Lucas started, getting straight to the point.
"Oh, is that so? We're always open to hearing the actors' perspectives on their roles to enhance the series," D.B. Weiss expressed his interest, adding, "Let's hear what you have to say..."
Lucas nodded, then began, "I've been reading the book on which this series is based, and I noticed that my character, Robb Stark, is portrayed differently. In the novel, Robb is more strategic and reserved, and he's depicted as a strong leader who earns the respect of his men and navigates the complexities of war and politics with a mature sense of duty. I believe that adding these layers to his character on screen could deepen the audience's connection with him..."
Hearing Lucas's suggestions, the showrunners, director, and crew members exchanged looks.
Then, Timothy, the director, spoke up, "There's no issue in making Robb Stark's character in the series more aligned with the book. However, the real challenge lies in..." He paused, giving Lucas a discerning look, "Whether an actor can accurately embody the character as he's depicted in the novel. A misstep here could prolong our shooting schedule and increase the likelihood of errors."
David and D.B. Weiss nodded in agreement, with David adding, "Exactly."
D.B. Weiss then turned to Lucas, "If you're truly confident in your acting abilities, we could consider your suggestions..."
Lucas nodded in response, filled with confidence. After all, he had honed his skills meticulously in the Mind Workshop.
While Lucas was engaged in conversation with the showrunners, director, and crew members, the rest of the cast and some crew members shot curious glances their way, intrigued by the discussion about Lucas's suggestions.
This sparked whispers among some of the cast members who were familiar with each other. "Who's that guy? He's actually suggesting changes to make his character more like the one in the novel?"
"I think what he's saying makes sense. After all, if the character he's supposed to portray doesn't match up with the one from the book, his performance and his scenes might fall flat..."
"Doesn't he look familiar to you?"
"Isn't he the one who performed 'Perfect'?"
As the whispers spread, a few cast members recognized Lucas.
After the discussion about his role with the showrunners and director concluded, Lucas moved towards the area where the actors portraying the Stark family were gathered, including Kit Harington, Sean Bean, and the young actors and actresses playing Ned Stark's children.
Having already made his introductions earlier, Lucas started discussing their upcoming scenes with them before they all dove into rehearsal.
They rehearsed for a while, and then it was time for some of the cast members, including Sean Bean, to break away for the filming of the first few scenes.
As for Lucas and Kit, they bided their time until their turn to film. Following Lucas's discussion with the showrunners and director about his character, there were slight adjustments made to the scenes involving Lucas as Robb Stark.