More actors get land bigger roles on ‘Game of Thrones’ than ‘The Walking Dead’
The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones are the two most popular TV shows but, according to recent reports, only one show seems to launch the careers of their actors.
Four actors from HBO’s Game of Thrones have landed high-profile movies, while The Walking Dead actors tend to land lesser known roles. For example, currently HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones‘ has launched the careers of Carice van Houten, who plays a priestess Mesliandre, she is expected to star in an upcoming Jesse Owens biopic, ‘Race’. In addition, Aiden Gillen will move from his character Littlefinger to the villain in The Maze Runner Chapter II: The Scorch Trials and that is only naming a few of the big name stars.
What is surprising is that the leading actor in The Walking Dead, Andrew Lincoln has not had a single lead role in a feature film since 2010’s Made in Dagenham. Steven Yeun, who has frequently complained about the lack of opportunities outside of the zombie drama, has not worked a major production since the show has started.
According to Hollywood casting directors, here is why Hollywood likes Game of Thrones actors versus The Walking Dead talents:
The mostly European Thrones cast is more appealing to U.S. studio executives and audiences, says a casting director who has worked with actors from both shows: “They have a fresh feel.” Even veteran actors have benefited from Thrones‘ exoticizing effect. Dance briefly was on Hollywood’s radar in the early ’90s with Alien 3 and The Last Action Hero before returning to his native England. Now, in addition to Zombies, he’s in Dracula Untold and the upcoming Stalin-era thriller Child 44, opposite Tom Hardy. “These parts are making the actors be seen in a new light,” says the casting director. [via]
According to research by studies on the two TV series, people tend to like Game of Thrones because of the colors, sets, costumes and the characters are attractive and sexy. While The Walking Dead is the complete opposite, “When you’re being chased by a dead person, it’s hard to make them look as appealing.”
If you were an aspiring actor and given the chance to work on ‘The Walking Dead’ or ‘Game of Thrones’ it seems the best decision for your career would be to choose the HBO drama.
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