Game of Thrones to film soon in Villa Sheherezade – with Illyrio? 

Thanks to a tip from a reader, we’ve learned of a new filming location in Croatia for

Reader WillDo has captured several images in Dubrovnik of GoT production crews working on a new site that is being readied for use in the next few days- the Villa Sheherezade. Our reader spotted the crews and took note of prop boxes waiting outside marked “Illyrio’s.”

will recall the character Magister Illyrio Mopatis, introduced in season one and played by Roger Allam. Illyrio, the wealthy merchant of Pentos who sheltered Viserys and Daenerys for a time, has not been seen since episode five, “The Wolf and the Lion.” Arya came upon him mysteriously plotting with Varys in King’s Landing at that time.

These are the photos our reader has shared of the villa being set up for the show. The luxurious coastal villa would be a very suitable location for Magister Illyrio’s Pentos home.

Fans have been dying to confirm Roger Allam’s return for ages, due to Illyrio’s role in

If our reader’s sighting (and he is very positive about what he saw) is correct, then it sounds like we can expect the magister to receive a visitor soon, and the plotting to begin again.

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Please tell me Roger Allam is coming back to reprise the role? I love that guy, he was hilarious in The Thick of It.

It does look remarkably like the place in Malta from s1. But as was pointed out in last thread by Ser Florian, Allam is doing a play at the moment that goes until November 1st.

I guess he could fly in for the weekend? (a recast isn’t an option because the entire point of him showing up is to connect with him being around at the beginning of the show).

Hurrah – I hope the speculation is correct. The Illyrio – Varys plotting has always intrigued me.

Another amazing location in Crotia. Such a beautiful country!

along with Varys and Tyrion, in the next couple days (they were filming on Sunday right?).

But maybe that’s hoping too much. At least I hope we do get to see how they dress the set to look more like Illyrio’s manse.

This is big news. But it has me biting my nails hoping for Roger Allam and not another recast.

I guess he could fly in for the weekend? (a recast isn’t an option because the entire point of him showing up is to connect with him being around at the beginning of the show).

Maybe Illyrio is seen only inside the house, in which case he could film his scenes any time in the Belfast studios.

Yeah I’ll be pissed if they recast. Roger Allam is an amazing actor. I don’t care if he’s not fat enough or whatever. He’s just great, and could shine with the ADWD material.

edit: yeah he may not actually need to be in Croatia, which makes things much easier.

Honestly, what’d be the point? I’d love to have Illyrio back, but he’s not “crucial”, especially for show-watchers, who probably don’t expect him to come back ay all. If Roger couldn’t come back, Varys could take his role and most people would be none the wiser. If they are bothering to have the character back, I cannot imagine not having the same actor.

I guess it could be just Tyrion and Varys in a scene out in the balcony, the rest could be indoors.

We’ll know soon enough, I guess. But that scene isn’t likely to involve many extras. Someone will need to snoop around. Maybe we can too off seeknewtravel(?) so they can go check the place out in Saturday.

If they are bothering to have the character back, I cannot imagine not having the same actor.

Exactly! If Allam isn’t available that there is little reason to re-cast the role.

Yay news where we don’t get bogged down with arguing…perhaps!

That’s a wonderful idea… Someone tell her!

There is no arguing in the post, so why are you bringing it up? Don’t cause trouble, please.

This is awesome news! I’ll be glad to see Illyrio again, even if it’s only for an episode or two.

Ohhh man, Varys/Illyrio conversations will be fantastic! Maybe it’s finally time for the end game curtains to be lifted for show Varys.

Some cross-series spoilers related to this news-

Allam is in this mystery show, Endeavour (he’s great in it and it’s a great show), and at the end of the most recent season, his character was seriously wounded, possibly fatally. Not that it’s uncommon for actor’s to film multiple things at once, but he’s quite likely free of his commitment to that show.

Great to hear the news, and had had a thought on general plot trajectory-

Even though I know upfront that just because Illyrio might return doesn’t mean Aegon, I will say that it seems extremely unlikely that Varys is going to remain with Tyrion indefinitely. I don’t really see Varys ending up a slave, and in my head, I kind of see him letting Tyrion get captured and then showing up at Illyrio’s place later in the season.

This is amazing news. I was nervous about D&D cutting Illyrio but this looks like pretty solid evidence that he’s back. I hope Allam reprises the role he did a good job in the first season.

All we need is a Varys sighting and puzzle pieces may start coming together. However, I am still having difficulty noodling through this scenario without the Griffs.

Has everyone given up on them ,then? Not impossible they could still show, Wyman Manderly hasn’t been cast yet, and there’s no way they would have bothered casting someone as a very distinctive Wendel Manderly to die at the Red Wedding if they weren’t planning on bringing him in. So reckon there’s some casting news to come yet. (And if it isn’t Brian Blessed or Robbie Coltrane, I shall be very disappointed.)

(fingers-crossed) I’ll never give up hope. Imho, the Griffs are essential to complete many storylines and justify some prophesies, including dance-with-dragons/Targs, Blackfyre rebellions, and HotU unfinished business.

(fingers-also-crossed for Ashara Dayne — I mean Septa Lemore — as well)

I’ll post what I posted in the previous article’s comments…

On Illyrio… Roger Allam is currently appearing on stage in London in a play called Seminar, up until the 1st of November, with no breaks of more than 2 days. I’m not sure if that would rule his return out completely… maybe he can pop over to Croatia for a day or two. But I’d imagine they’d be dressing the place in order to film there shortly, and certainly not next month. Mayhaps, Illyrio won’t be in any exterior shots, and will only shoot interior scenes in Ireland? Maybe they’re reusing some props from the first season? Or, maybe it’ll just be Tyrion and Varys, making use of the place while Illyrio is absent and we won’t see him?

Edit: Or, Ian McNeice will be the new, recast Illyrio.

I wanna say Kristofer Hivju was in the same position last year, and was able to work around.

You could well be right that he won’t be needed for exterior shots, so will shoot his material later in Northern Ireland. However, if they did need him for an exterior scene, or two, especially if there are two day breaks in the play’s performance schedule, it can be done. It is not unheard of, especially if a theatre really wants a certain actor, to cast them knowing there is a performance or two for which they will not be available, in which case the understudy will perform. I’ve seen it happen more than once. That would give him enough time to get to Croatia, shoot for a day or two, then get back to the play. I’m not trying to suggest that’s absolutely the case, but it is certainly possible.

Please D&D, You already took away Victarion, Aeron, Arianne, Quentyn….just give us Aegon. Please. Ill forgive those POV character omissions….

I really hope they bring back Roger Allam.

Last year I got pretty into Les Miserables for the first time, and found out he was the original Javert. That makes him even cooler.

After all these years, I’m STILL bitter about not getting pilot-episode Ian McNeice Illyrio. He was a goddamn beautiful sight to behold.

But I love Roger Allam too, so it’s not too too bitter.

I don’t think a flight to Croatia would be TOO much for him, so it’s possible they’d get him in for a very short period of time for some quick exterior shots/short outdoor scenes. But it would be much more leisurely for him to shoot the bulk of his scenes in N.I. indoors.

, I’m not as excited for Illyrio to return, but it will be nice to see the actor again. Now, Little Birds, bring me news on ‘Lord Too Fat To Sit His Horse’.

There’s still more than two months of shooting left and casting is ongoing. I’d say that Wyman is a pretty likely addition for s5.

Wonderful !! Thank you ! I was about to go to bed and now I’m wide awake

That villa is spectacular. Is it a private residence? If so, what a lucky person/s that get to live there.

Also, nobody likes a recast, so here’s hoping they can avoid one with Illyrio.

I’ll likely be in Dubrovnik tomorrow, so crossing fingers I’ll have time to pop down to the location.

Another picture of Loras and Tommen’s filming (they definitely had a scene together)

Will you be there for next week? IIRC that’s their last week there…

Beautiful villa! I’d rule out Varys and Tyrion plotting inside Illyrio’s villa without him. Hope he can do scenes in his 1-2 day breaks from his current engagements.

Most of it will be interiors anyway, and they can shoot that after Roger Allam’s play is done (hopefully). And I doubt that that was the real Natalie Dormer, considering her other tweets. Come on now, TW.

Most of it will be interiors anyway, and they can shoot that after Roger Allam’s play is done (hopefully). And I doubt that that was the real Natalie Dormer, considering her other tweets. Come on now, TW.

I can verify that it isn’t her… Anyways, the fact the name is spelt wrong should be a huge indicator that it isn’t.

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