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Emilia Clarke almost didn’t play the role of Daenerys Targaryen in the sensational HBO series,Game of Thrones. The unaired pilot of the series had another Mother of Dragons played by Tamzin Merchant. Merchant was initially cast in the role after her performance in another costume drama,The Tudors. However, she has no regrets about losing the role, as she revealed thatGame of Throneswas not a story she was excited to tell.
Series creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss screened the first pilot to a group of writers who gave it poor feedback. Besides Merchant, director Tom McCarthy and Jennifer Ehle, who played Catelyn Stark, was replaced in the original pilot.
Also Read:Emilia Clarke Wants Fans to Use the Magic Word After Her Miserable Experience That Came With Game of Thrones Fame
Tamzin Merchant Reveals Her True Feelings AboutGame Of Thrones
ForTamzin Merchant, shooting the unaired pilot ofGame of Throneswas an unforgettable lesson. In a Zoom interview with Entertainment Weekly, Merchant revealed that her instincts as an actress had warned her not to commit to the project. She even tried to back out from the contract process, but she revealed that“some persuasive people”talked her into signing the contract.
Merchant shared that she was not at all comfortable filming the series, stating that she found herself“naked and afraid in Morocco.”TheSalemactress further added that Daenerys was not a compelling character, nor wasGame of Thronesa compelling story for her. However, she praised the performance ofEmilia Clarke, who took up the role and made it iconic. Merchant believed that Clarke was excited to tell the story of Daenerys, unlike her. She toldEW:
“I didn’t have any training as an actor, I only have my instincts. And what excites me and what drives me is a compelling story and a compelling character. So for me, Game of Thrones was never that. I think it’s a testament to Emilia Clarke for making that role iconic—she was obviously excited to tell that story, and she was epic and excellent. But for me, it wasn’t in my heart to tell it.”
However, it certainly was an unusual experience for her when the series that rejected her became the biggest hit show of the 21st century. Merchant shared that it was“interesting”to travel to auditions on buses that had theMe Before Youactress’s face on them.
Also Read:“I was definitely not ready”: Emilia Clarke Blamed Her Lack of Experience for Her “Catastrophic Failure” After Game of Thrones
Game Of ThronesTeam Had The Hardest Time Informing Tamzin Merchant Of The Recasting
According to a source from theGame Of Thronescrew, informing theCarnival Rowactress about the recasting decision was one hard call to make. Former HBO boss Michael Lombardo also commented on Tamzin Merchant’s recasting, stating that her scenes withJason Momoain the unaired pilot just didn’t work. However, co-executive producer of the series, Bryan Cogman, thought that Merchant did a really good job. Cogman shared:
“I thought Tamzin did a really good job. It’s hard to say why things didn’t work out. Ultimately, it’s obvious Emilia Clarke was born to play that part.”
ScreenwriterCraig Mazinwas invited to both the screening of the unaired pilot as well as the premiere of the original series. According to hisScriptnotespodcast, where he interviewed series creators D.B. Weiss and David Benioff, Mazin’s reaction to the unaired pilot was,“You guys have a massive problem.”However, after the premiere, Mazin commented,“That is the biggest rescue in Hollywood history.”
Also Read:“I found myself naked and afraid”: Original Daenerys Targaryen Actress Had a Miserable Time After Game of Thrones Replaced Her With Emilia Clarke
Game of Thronesis now available for streaming on Max.
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3017
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
