There are few shows in TV history that are as widely beloved as HBO's Game of Thrones. As such, the giant ensemble cast of actors have all rose to the top of the pop culture lexicon, and many of them have been picking up major movie roles while the show is on hiatus. Sophie Turner and Emilia Clarke have hitched their wagon to the X-Men and Star Wars franchises respectively, and now it looks like Petyr Baelish won't be left behind. Actor Aidan Gillen, who has played the Littlefinger since Season 1 of Game of Thrones, is no exception as he's just landed the lead role in an upcoming film about acclaimed author James Joyce.
This news comes to us from Deadline, which reports that Aidan Gillen has just been cast as James Joyce in the upcoming film James and Lucia. The film will revolve around the legendary Irish author James Joyce, and his relationship with his daughter named (you guessed it) Lucia. While he was writing his novel Finnegans Wake, Lucia's mental health began to deteriorate. She's eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia in the 1930s-- a time where mental healthcare wasn't even close to what is available now. At the time Joyce was nearly blind and trying to take care of both himself and his daughter, in addition to his prolific work in literature.
This sounds like a great opportunity for Aidan Gillen, as James and Lucia sounds like the type of emotional concept that award shows love. The role of Lucia Joyce hasn't been cast yet, but if the studio is able to get an even bigger name than Gillen, then James and Lucia may have a chance at some acclaim. At this juncture no other details about the upcoming film are public, except that British director Robert Mullan (Mad to Be Normal) is set to helm the project.
Spoilers ahead for the Season 7 finale of HBO's Game of Thrones. If you haven't caught up, don't read on!
The announcement Aidan Gillen's involvement in James and Lucia comes fresh off of the Season 7 finale of HBO's Game of Thrones. Aiden Gillen's tenure as Petyr Baelish was an absolutely fantastic one, as Littlefinger was probably the most skilled player in the Great Game. But his game was finally over this past Sunday, as Sansa, Arya, and Bran collectively teamed up to call Littlefinger out on his scheming and many betrayals to House Stark.
Littlefinger's story ended with a slash of his own Valerian steel dagger, which is likely why James and Lucia's announcement came this week. If it were revealed earlier, then the fans might have put it together that Littlefinger wouldn't be in the eight and final season of the series. So I guess Aidan Gillen is still playing the game, after all.
